Square Looqs

Chicago's Fresh Meat is pleased to welcome long time friend Ludovic Llorca to our tight knit family. Written under his critically acclaimed Art Of Tones pseudonym, the "Square Looqs" EP expands on the soul drenched, futuristic signatures of past releases on 2020 Vision, Room With A View and F Communications. Llorca's productions are winding, dramatic and full-on, which had us thinking a stripped back rendition by one of our favorite Londoners, Shenoda, would round out this collection perfectly. The opening composition "The Looq" is a three-part odyssey. The initial section revolves around a jumping slap bass guitar that immediately reminded us of the DJ EFX remix of an old 90s favorite called "I've Got The Music" on Moonshine Music. The intricately programmed AOT discoesque beats build with a flurry of cymbals and loose percussion topped by swollen echoing pads. In its second phase, the track evolves with sweet electric pianos and the faintest of synth arpeggios. A timely breakdown ensues and eventually the track explodes with multiple layers of cascading synth stabs. "The Looq" is loaded with the kind of melodies and textured rhythm that has made past AOT tracks like "Praise" and "Terres Conquises" instant classics. Shenoda's remix of "The Looq" uses quite a bit of the original material whilst putting things together from a radically different point of view. In step with his highly acclaimed "Front Of Mind EP" from 2009, Shenoda focuses reduced edits of the original stems into a continually undulating hypnotic groove. He adds cut up vocals as cadence and writes a new syncopated sub sonic bass. His arrangement is made for long blends. Although there are subtle breakdowns peppered throughout, Shenoda always keeps at least part of the rhythm section chugging along. On his last visit to Fabric, label mainstay Mazi aka Audio Soul Project had to play the Shenoda remix twice as demanded by the crowd! "Square Knocking" is a bit of departure for Fresh Meat, with roaring synths and square oscillating bass line not typical of our other releases. But the timeless nature of the track, its slick production and dance floor appeal instantly endeared us. This again is pure Art Of Tones. Modulating analog synths, ratcheting bombastic beats anchored to a heavy disco clap, outer space sound effects and an epic breakdown followed only by more and more building are all AOT hallmarks we've come to love. Llorca knows how to make powerful music, rooted in the funky past while looking straight at tomorrow.