Tiny Moves is the latest EP from ZKY, the solo project of Berlin club stalwart Jens Augustowsky (one half of Cab Drivers, co-founder of Cabinet Records). It's a well-observed contribution to Germany's longstanding love affair with minimal tech-house, even if it doesn't quite innovate in any way. Those still hungry for no-frills (albeit expertly crafted) 909 beats and subterranean acid squiggles in 2017 could do far worse than this slick four-track EP, which will no doubt get bodies moving in the club.
Things start out straightforwardly enough with the deep thump of "Don't Decelerate," its gradually escalating ebbs and flows clearly illustrating Augustowsky's familiarity with the style. Hats and claps are added just when you'd expect them to be, and there's a certain pleasure in knowingly tracing the contours of such a well-worn format. Later on, "That Track" opens with the clamouring sounds of a crowded club under its bass line, an homage to the scene that keeps this music fresh and in demand — it's a classy touch. Left to the end, the title track is definitely the most immersive of the bunch, a classic acid-house journey that'll have you seeing trails no matter where you are. It's a fitting climax to the release.
The title of Augustowsky's Tooltime EP from 2014 cheekily highlighted the purely functional nature of its contents, and Tiny Moves arguably follows in its footsteps, offering up four solid club bangers that favour dance floor pragmatism over creative expression. While it won't win any awards in the category of bold innovation, its sheer danceability will no doubt land it in many a DJ's playlist.
(Ground Service)Things start out straightforwardly enough with the deep thump of "Don't Decelerate," its gradually escalating ebbs and flows clearly illustrating Augustowsky's familiarity with the style. Hats and claps are added just when you'd expect them to be, and there's a certain pleasure in knowingly tracing the contours of such a well-worn format. Later on, "That Track" opens with the clamouring sounds of a crowded club under its bass line, an homage to the scene that keeps this music fresh and in demand — it's a classy touch. Left to the end, the title track is definitely the most immersive of the bunch, a classic acid-house journey that'll have you seeing trails no matter where you are. It's a fitting climax to the release.
The title of Augustowsky's Tooltime EP from 2014 cheekily highlighted the purely functional nature of its contents, and Tiny Moves arguably follows in its footsteps, offering up four solid club bangers that favour dance floor pragmatism over creative expression. While it won't win any awards in the category of bold innovation, its sheer danceability will no doubt land it in many a DJ's playlist.
