UMEK & Mike Vale - Chosen EP [Great Stuff] by UMEK published on 2012-06-15T10:13:46Z Slovenian electronica ambassador Umek's transformation from purveyor or thrashing, chunky techno to overlord of chunky, tech-meets-house grooves wasn't what people were necessarily expecting of him – but as ever, he's continued to deliver the goods on a consistent basis. Mike Vale has popped up on Great Stuff before, with his track Pretty Woman cropping up on the Munich Disco Tech series and his remix of Pleasurekraft's Anubis going down a storm not so long ago. Umek signed his track Rising Up to his own 1605 Recordings imprint last year, and this new release sees the duo in fine form. Chosen is light of touch, plump of bass and full of swing, offbeat tech chords sashaying in tandem with the bottom end while cheeky little snare fills keep the rhythm section ticking over. Kids With Money is a seriously cool cut, wiggling, weaving and bobbing all over the place to keep the listener on their toes. Infectious percussive tapestries are woven around a low-down , chugging b-line, with jazzy percussion and big effects sassing up the breakdown. A remix of Kids With Money from the infallible Ant Brooks completes the package, with more of a twisted, maniacal glint in its eye that harks back to Umek's musical past. If you survive the enormous breakdown, you'll be rewarded with some full-on, face-smashing techno lashing. Not one for the weak-bladdered. Genre Techno / Tech House / House