- Massive, melodic house music released on Bicep's label.
- Bicep, the duo of Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar, might see a bit of themselves in Brame & Hamo, the latest signings to their label. Beyond the simple fact that they're both DJ and production duos from Ireland, they both seem to share a love of classic dance music tropes, spinning them into contemporary updates for massive audiences. They both built their reputations through traditional house music, before broadening their range and embracing the power of trance-indebted melodies. With the Waves Reach EP, Brame & Hamo turn in a pair of suitably large original tracks backed by a pair of suitably large remixes.
It's great to see Brame & Hamo are trying to find fresh ways of creating big moments in their music, but for me they go a shade too far on "Dust." It rattles along nicely for the first couple of minutes, the robust four-on-the-floor stomp layered with an opulent synth part. But the pan pipes and kinda celtic synth melody that follow? Maybe a bit much. Private Press ditch most of that on their remix, a slamming techno treatment with periodic spin-backs and a ballsy attitude. "Waves Reach," the other original, also goes for it but strikes a better balance. The choral synth reveal after the break will be too much for some DJs, but it's a decent complement for the arpeggio, and will definitely stand out among similar material. Given his taste for widescreen synth lines, Voiski was a strong choice for a remix. The mood it creates is pretty similar to the original, although the French producer opts for a steadier groove and less breakdowns. The cripsy hi-hats, as a finishing touch, give the track a satisfying bite.
トラックリストA1 Waves Reach
A2 Dust
B1 Dust (Private Press Remix)
B2 Waves Reach (Voiski Remix)