By: Christina Schmidt @tinalovethiscitytv
SHADED has had a crazy year, playing at some of the world’s most influential festivals like WMC, BPM and Desert Hearts, and hitting us with some unforgettable tracks like “She She” on Turbo and “Gender Bender” on SCI-TEC.
Well, the Cali boy is back, and he’s back with some serious vibes on this one. When a producer releases even a highly anticipated EP, we usually expect 1 or 2 dope tracks and then a few that are present but not leaders like the rest. SHADED’s latest EP “Ripped Kick” is anything but that…4 heavy tracks with solid production beginning to end. Each track has a vision of it’s own while incorporating SHADED’s signature funky vibe throughout the entire EP. He explores the dance floor vibe while combining an energetic yet minimal sound that he does with such class. After his killer release of “She She” on Turbo Records last year, it was exciting to see him back on the label with this release.
SHADED kicked off the EP with “Ripped Kick”. With summer just around the corner this track takes you straight to a hot as hell day on a boat cruise with nothing but amazing vibes…every single person on that boat is bouncing and at some point saying “I fucking love this track”! One of SHADED’s most respected qualities as a producer is creating such diversity within each track— boat, club, festival, after party, you hear a SHADED track like “Ripped Kick” and your getting up and you are dancing. Period. Sporadic sound effects, a super bouncy baseline, razoring drums and a wicked kick, this track pulls us in for the entire EP.
Second up, a familiar vocal like we heard in “Gender Bender” – “Sandy Candy” makes us want to get know this robotic alien women on a whole new level. Or just party with her…ALL. NIGHT. LONG. A track with an over flow of bounce, Sandy Candy sounds like the perfect fitting name for this chick, and she perfectly reminds us not to give a fuck! An oh so sexy vocal, a heavy baseline, echoing bubbly sound effects and the perfect amount of snare hits keeps us grooving beginning to end.
With another perfect fitting name “Take Me Down” gets right to the point. Dark, crisp, and with another heavy thumping baseline it takes us straight to the underground and with some classic techy electric sounds we keep floating evenly throughout the track. We really like where SHADED is going with this sound.
“Threewayd” closes off the EP perfectly. Let’s start off by talking about that first drop- well actually it needs no explanation…perfection. With a dangerous yet inviting vibe this track will get everyone in the party on their feet and hit them with a deep and polished flow throughout the entire track. A great ending to a great EP.
SHADED’s “Ripped Kick” EP easily takes our pick for our favourite release of April. Keep it coming SHADED we are absolutely loving how your sound has developed into a signature vibe we all want more of.
Download is available on Beatport and Juno Download.
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