4 out of 5

Label: House of Underground

Produced by: DMX Krew, DVDE

For those down with DMX Krew’s clubbier side – and I’d think anyone beyond a casual listener likely is – this EP offers up some dense, amazingly produced acid house, landing in a sweet spot between DVDE’s more classic anthems and Ed DMX’s ability to mingle 80s beats with 90s and beyond enhancements; whatever the line was between the two creators, it results in a nearly classic set – Robert Owens is here, after all – that really harkens back to an analog era, but is shot through with glimmers of the more cutting acid to come.

The title track practically sells this thing, though: Owens vocalizes gorgeously across an equally gorgeous, warm beat, the music vibing off of the singer’s passion. This is very clubby, but the fact that Owens isn’t looped, and the way our composers keep mixing up the effects, gives the track a real edge. Followup Lost in Music also includes an Owens’ credit, but its just a sample of the song title, chopped up across a slightly more acid-y take on the openers sound. Without full vocals, it’s a bit slower to get into the groove of this one, but it turns out to be a slowburn: Ed’s hands feel very much on this one, keeping the beat alive with subtle nudges to pitch and tone throughout.

On the B-side, we move more towards acid, downplaying the fully analog sound of the beat. Gangster Acid is really the only letdown here, even though it opens awesomely, with a how-dare-they slow drum track that makes you giggle when it emerges in full form. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go much further after that point.

Closer Madness of Rhythm corrects this, though, bringing in some pure squelch as the duo manipulate vocals of the title o’er an ever-changing beat that doesn’t betray the house angle of the record (everything kinda lands in that standard BPM range of early acid), but also is a tune that would’ve felt at home on early Rephlex.

Set Free seems kind of casual at first listen, but the tunes easily get stuck in yer head, prompting return visits which show off the careful balancing act happening between DMX Krew and DVDE.