As the days get shorter and the nights grow longer, its pissing it down with rain and the festival season is over. We find ourselves overcome with amazing music from producers getting back in their studios. A person who has been doing just that is Mauro Campana, the man behind Mauoq. Originally from Italy – now based in London, Mauoq has been pushing the “deepest and grooviest” elements of the drum and bass spectrum with some solid releases on his own imprint Mauoq Music as well as appearing on Nurtured Beatz, Flexout and Dispatch over the years. MQM007 is the most recent release to come out, this one focusing on two tracks from an earlier Mauoq Music single which gets some VIP and remix treatment.
Listening through Mauro’s releases on Mauoq Music, you can really hear his dubstep influences coming through in certain aspects of tracks, stripping back the raw elements to give a “less is more” vibe to the music he makes, this style can definitely be heard in his latest release.
‘Both Worlds VIP’ builds slow. A 2 step intro, rattling soundscapes transform seamlessly into the drum beat after the first 32 bars, bringing in dubby atmospherics to add to the vibe. When it drops, you can’t help but nod your head to the beat, getting lost in the music as the deep bass hits your ears. Mauoq shows perfectly that a groovy and technical sound can be created without having masses of sounds and effects.
From across the pond, US producer Kozmo remixes “Mannoy”, the original track is a vibesy roller, loads of bass and crisp drums. Kozmo has flipped the style completely, turning it into a synth orientated half time rhythm. This has real funk to it, the wobbly bass cuts in and out enhances the percussion to give it that something a bit different.
Both of these tracks have grown on me a lot since the first listen. The minimal dub inspired vibes of Both Worlds VIP and bleeping half step beat that is the remix of Mannoy both kill it.
I do kinda hope the weather stays as it does and the music stays as good as this.
Release date 30th November, Pre Order here and get it on the 16th November.
