- Peggy Gou is a South Korean-born DJ and producer who, after a period spent living in London, moved to Berlin. It's a well-trodden route for house and techno producers, but her debut, Art Of War, is a strong introduction that sets her apart. The EP bristles with organic textures and understated nods to traditional touchstones: on "Troop," a regal Detroit synth sweeps over the surface of sprightly double-time bells and rich bass tones. It's a light stroke applied without too much fuss, and everything else Gou stirs in feels like her own recipe.
"In Sum" shares "Troop"'s muggy atmosphere and dense, thrumming percussion, but Gou inserts a smacking clap and a deeper, concussive kick. Short synth squelches pinch "In Sum" regularly, but the bursts don't unfold with the kind of melodic dynamism in "Troop" and the six-minute runtime only accentuates how flat it is. Galcher Lustwerk's remix of "Troop" loosens the original's tightly-wound rhythm, scooping out some of Gou's busier sounds and lining the beat with a luxuriant synth line that tumbles outward like a long, unrolling carpet. It's Art Of War's highlight, but Gou's original shouldn't be overlooked.
トラックリストA1 Troop
A2 In Sum
B1 Troop (Galcher Lustwerk Remix)