Some artists chase trends. Others build time machines. The Retrodelic EP by Luke Tangerine does so, with five straight tracks of nothing short of mirrorball euphoria and less nostalgia and more of rediscovery. It is the response of the golden age of disco and funk filtered through the modern production sensibilities without losing a drop of analog warmth, in Frankfurt.
Retrodelic leaves little to the imagination regarding its aims: these songs want you dancing. Funky Times is a warm and easy-going track with catchy rhythms and an easier feel that is like driving with the windows down at sunset. Basslines are prevalent and squashy in the EP, providing a ground to each of the songs with that distinctly 80s pop bounce. Discotheque throws its full disco DNA weight with heavy-handed instrumentation and production decisions that were created to move bodies on the dance floor.
The reason why this EP is so effective is that Luke Tangerine strikes a balance between accessibility and craft. The arrangements are flawlessly tight–there is not a single note that is overstated, but every song seems to be well-developed. Vocals swing between passages of instrumentation and passages of vocalization, without ever taking away the immersive aspect. It is music which knows the art of moderation.
The final song “Velvet Afterglow” changes the gears a bit, adding the sound of string arrangements and manipulated vocals that merge the modern EDM-influenced background with the retro basis of the EP. It is a clever decision that also demonstrates the diversity of Luke, but keeps the same sonic thread that runs through each of the five songs.
Having switched live guitar sounds on funk and jazz-rock to electronic music production, Luke Tangerine introduces a touch of a musician to the genre. Retrodelic is as comfortable as it is energizing- the work of an artist who is confident about what he is constructing and does it perfectly. It is ideal during night time or house parties or anyone who wants to have good throwback vibes.
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