Moja EP AIKON / Daniel Rateuke

Ukrainian producer AIKON joins forces with Germany’s Daniel Rateuke for the superb ‘Moja’ EP on the Stereo MC’s connected label which comes backed with remixes from Dorian Craft and Fake Mood. AIKON has been making waves with a string of productions appearing on the likes of Exploited Ghetto, Sol Selectas and Disco Halal over the last year, now he comes correct with possibly his strongest release to date, this time in collaboration with Stil vor Talent and Monaberry man, Daniel Rateuke. They team up here for some lovingly detailed, Afro inspired percussive and synth driven dance floor delights, never short of surprises, drive and tension. The release kicks off with title track ‘Moja’, offering spartan bass and drums with percussive counter rhythms laying the ground work for the pads and chanted vocals to create a tense, agitated atmosphere. It’s a mesmerising and spacious production that’s primed to transport you to another dimension. The second original comes in the form of ‘Mbili’, a six and a half minute electronic workout structured around chanting tribal vocals, chugging bass and a compelling Xylophone melody. First to remix is French producer Dorian Craft, a regular on labels like Saved, Radiant and Mo’Black. Here he takes ‘Moja’ into hypnotic territory with a mix that marries wonky synths with an entrancing rhythm section to wonderful effect. The package is completed as Russian duo Fake Mood rework ‘Mbili’ into an eclectic and unique sounding piece fuelled by conga loops, electric guitar riffs, and subtle synth motifs.