laak

Leonid & Laak – Yesterday For Tomorrow [SLPVNL006]

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The sixth vinyl missive from Soul Print Recordings is a double-header featuring two tracks apiece from Leonid and Laak. The former handles the A-side, laying down two deliciously intergalactic chunks of spacey deep house. On “Urania 1”, he wraps psychedelic acid lines, supernova chords and Motor City melodies around a snappy drum machine groove, before working the acid lines further on the deep and hypnotic “Urania 2”. Laak takes over on the flip, peppering a bouncy, off-kilter drum machine groove with cyclical melody loops and undulating acid lines on “Sp”. “Waiting For Tomorrow” is arguably even better, with the fast-rising producer wrapping a tactile, synth-bass heavy backing track with fluttering electronics and sunrise melodies.

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Leonid & Laak – Yesterday For Tomorrow [SLPVNL006]

LAAK – Invocations EP [CW007]

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Laak has been invited over to Contrast-Wax for a solo EP. The EP kicks off with “Invoke A Response”, a driving deep house jam built around arpeggios and energetic synth lines for an uptempo end result, which contrasts neatly with the easy roll of the bongo-laden “Cadedance”. “Recant” nudges back into more intricate territory with a cheeky square wave bass line and slick hi hat shuffle, before “Coming Through” cools things off with a crafty broken beat excursion that works a little acid into the bottom end of the mix.

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LAAK – Invocations EP [CW007]

Laak – Obsessive Compulsive Desires [AUS006]

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LAAK return on Austere with four cuts, only available on vinyl as usual. LAAK are on point with the opening track Unbalanced, an intensely gritty track. There is also a remix of an archive LAAK track by DJ Spider who completely dismantles the original to create a dark menacing remix. The B side kicks off with Mental & Emotional which continues the theme along with the more laid back track, the Rituals.

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Laak – Obsessive Compulsive Desires [AUS006]

Laak – The Beyond EP [AUS002]

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The second offering from Laak on their Austere imprint is another defined four tracker. “Back of Beyond” kicks things off, a sincere heads down jam combining Latin percussion elements with a killer bass line and warm chords. The second track, “Don’t Ever Leave” is a heartfelt lament on the feeling of loss, slowing the tempo down. On the flip, “Cosmic Causeway” offers something a little different although keeping with the warm pads, this time the use of a spaced out trumpet keeps things flowing. The remaining track “Cantankerous Emotions” is a little different as regards to the beats, but loses none of the soul and profoundness of the other tracks.

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Laak – The Beyond EP [AUS002]

Laak – Negatively Seductive [AUS001]

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The first EP on Austere is coming from Laak, underground music for the deep heads, with a sound palette of warm pads, discreet analog melodies and vintage drum patterns. The tracks give a huge nod to Chicago, Detroit and the forefathers of the genre but remain contextual and fresh.

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Laak – Negatively Seductive [AUS001]