»The Integration LP« is trying to be brave, but appears cowardly in the most crucial moments. Two ladies by the names of LA Vampires and Maria Minerva are trying to avant-garde mix analogue house beats with erratic singing – but what’s meant to be creative, gives the listener the impression that both musicians have tried to avoid poppy moments in an almost compulsive manner. Then again, it’s not really surprising that LA Vampires (co-founder of Not Not Fun and founder of 100% Silk) and Maria Minerva are trying to dodge the pop. Minerva, especially, has experimented on her previous records quite a lot and has thereby often missed to really enfold a track’s full potential. Most of the times, she drops melodies before they even have the slightest chance to steady. But thanks to the charming vintage-house-production somewhere between gay disco and keyboard-kitsch from the 90s, the »Integration LP« is not half as hazy as Minerva’s solo-releases. Still: If both musicians had allowed themselves to condescend to a little more pop, the record could have become a real big hit. »Seasons Change« is one of the examples proving their potential. Instead, it happens too often that the beats seem to be coming out of the off, while Maria Minerva scamps on top of them like on a sloppily stretched bed sheet. Don’t get me wrong: The »Integration LP« is one of the most unconventional and interesting house-music productions of this year – but it could have done so much better!
Various Artists
John Gómez & Nick the Record present »Tangent«
Mr Bongo