Da Luka & Electric Dada - Rubicon (Subandrio Remix) / roku

Release Date: 2024-02-16
Label: roku
Catalog: ROKU004

Buy/Stream: https://fanlink.tv/roku004

roku opens the new year with a fresh collaboration from label boss Da Luka and rising talent Electric Dada. Hailing from Albania, Da Luka emerged from his country’s electronic music landscape just over a decade ago. Whether operating in solo capacity or alongside occasional production partner Jorgio Kioris, Da Luka’s creative vision would summon the praise of progressive music tastemakers Cid Inc, Guy J, Eelke Kleijn, Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren and more, in turn leading to releases via Droid9, Juicebox Music, Movement Recordings and WARPP. Choosing his projects wisely across 2023, the year would prove to be impactful for the Berat resident, with the formation and subsequent success of roku, along with key releases via Electronic Groove and Mango Alley. Meanwhile, made up of German artists Jan de Vice and JP Silence, the Electric Dada alias was revealed to the world in 2020. The duo's progressive style was immediately recognized for its emotive qualities and strong dancefloor sensibility. A transcendent sound which would see them go on to release key projects via Clubsonica, Dopamine White, Massive Harmony and Univack, while also earning praise from the underground's premiere tastemakers. Having been paired together once previously for a release via Electronic Groove, Da Luka and Electric Dada combine their extensive forces once again, getting 2024 off to a strong start with ‘Rubicon’, alongside remixes from Subandrio and Forty Cats.

Da Luka and Electric Dada continue to explore emotive progressive house sensibilities on their second joint production ‘Rubicon'. Sleek and energetic, it's a framework of warm kick drums and undulating bass tones which lay the foundation for rolling percussion and emerging atmospheres to create a strong sense of cruising. Panoramic arps and orbiting effects take centrestage across the first act, with a series of poignant chord changes fully initializing the main break. Cosmic and tense in equal measure, the interlude further solidifies the duo’s dancefloor vision, melting down to an icy calm, before the groove re-engages for a properly epic finale.

Making his label debut with the first interpretation of ‘Rubicon’ is Subandrio. As one of his country's most highly regarded progressive music talents, the Sri Lankan artist has long been a favourite of genre tastemakers Hernan Cattaneo and Nick Warren. Releases on Balance, Mango Alley, Replug, Sudbeat and WARPP sit prominently on his discography, as he continues to lie amongst the progressive house elite. Also beloved as a DJ, Subandrio has been recognized for his unique taste and impeccable programming across the course of his career, winning PALME and Pioneer's 'Middle East DJ Of the Year' on two separate occasions, while also travelling the world and performing at some of the trendiest venues and biggest festivals. Continuing to earn parise for his creative approach to remixing, Subandrio now begins 2024 on high note with a rousing interpretation of ‘Rubicon’. Opting for a dubbier, more groove-centric approach, Subandrio aims squarely at a peak-hour dancefloor, taking the track into tougher territory. Complete with punishing kick drums and chunky basslines, it's a storyboard of windswept effects and mesmerizing synth progressions which make for an exhilarating sonic experience leading into the break. Here, Subandrio leans towards the emotional sensibility of the original, showcasing the primary theme and building anticipation towards a thunderous conclusion.

Making her label debut with the second and final interpretation of 'Rubicon' is Forty Cats. With well over a decade's worth of DJ experience, Russian artist Christina Gavrilova aka Forty Cats has been a fixture of her country's nightlife, sharing the stage with Jody Wisternoff, Nick Warren, Yotto, Dave Seaman and more. Christina's production breakthrough would come shortly thereafter, with a debut on Lane 8's This Never Happened, a release which would make her an in demand remixer and rising progressive house phenom. Now, four years on and Forty Cats is regarded as one of her country's premiere electronic music artists, with standout discography credits for Juicebox Music, Mango Alley, Sound Avenue,The Soundgarden, Sudbeat Music and WARPP. Coming off a prolific 2023, Forty Cats now adds roku to her resume with a haunting interpretation of ‘Rubicon’. Mysterious and thought-provoking throughout, it's a heady amalgamation of sound which makes for a club-effective yet uniquely atmospheric journey, elegantly flowing through trippy melodic clusters and wintry overlays, before a dreamy take on the lead and immersive break sparks a trippy finale. Forty Cats has also provided an intro version of her remix which broadens the scope of its usability and overall programming potential.

Words by Mitch Alexander - www.releasepromo.com
Mastered by Cid Inc.