Darin Epsilon - PERSPECTIVES 100

Perspectives Digital's place in underground dance music history is assured. Since its launch in 2010, it has consistently combined household names including Einmusik, Hernan Cattaneo, Quivver, and Miss Monique with a legion of emerging talents, some of whom began successful careers on the label. Beatport called Perspectives "one of North America's leading labels", while DJ Mag nominated it for "Breakthrough Label" in their 2017 "Best of North America Awards". Remix competitions for Beatport Play and Sonic Academy enhanced a 24-carat reputation for label head honcho, Darin Epsilon, as PD now celebrates a landmark event with its 100th release. "PERSPECTIVES 100" revisits four classics from Darin's extensive back catalog with remixes from some of today's leading producers. Collectively these artists have worked with the industry's most respected imprints such as Afterlife, Stil Vor Talent, Anjunadeep, Diynamic, and Bedrock Records.

During the pandemic-struck 2021 edition of Amsterdam Dance Event, a chance encounter led to Darin being introduced to Spanish artist, DJ CHUS, former member of the legendary duo Chus and Ceballos. After performing a livestream for Monad.Social together and learning that the Madrid-based star was a fan, the pair stayed in touch ever since. Looking for an opportunity to work together, Darin knew the label's 100th release would be the perfect time to involve him. Having already seen his music featured on such esteemed imprints as Monaberry, Sol Selectas, Defected, and his own Stereo Productions, the "creator of a pioneering Iberican sound" now sees DJ CHUS make his PD debut. Reworking Darin's 2018 hit track "Karakoram", the remix is driven by a rasping 16th note bassline pattern and intricately programmed percussive toms that stand out dramatically at the midpoint. Cleverly taking the themes of Darin's original and extending them into new directions, arpeggios and familiar pads are revealed at the breakdown before the dramatic bass drops back into the rhythmic landscape in the latter stages.

An Italian star requiring little in the way of an introduction, Sasha Carassi has been involved in the dance music industry for 30 years. From resident DJ in his Napoli hometown to renowned producer with releases on a plethora of top imprints including Afterlife, Drumcode, Diynamic, and Bedrock, Sasha Carassi has constantly found himself at the cutting edge of an ever-changing industry. With a trademark cross-genre sound that has often featured on his own Phobiq label, Sasha now joins Perspectives Digital with a potent new interpretation of 2019's "Jormungandr". A huge kick propels the track forward alongside metronomic offbeat hats as a filtered arpeggio and growling stuttered bassline vie for attention in the early movements. As the rhythm section fades away at the breakdown, the rich arpeggio and emotive chord progression shine unencumbered, reprising familiar motifs from the original. Building to a rousing crescendo, the storming beat and cadenced bassline come to the fore once more in the latter stages.

A quarter of a century spent in music has seen KIKO rise to rarefied heights and a stellar career in the electronic dance industry. From being chosen by Carl Cox as warmup for his 2011 "Revolution" tour and then working alongside a who's who of underground dance acts including Stephan Bodzin and Jack Back (aka David Guetta), KIKO has also made a distinctive impression in the studio. Over 600 production credits signed to the likes of Afterlife, Bedrock, Watergate Records, Toolroom, and Get Physical light up a glowing reputation. Reworking Darin's 2019 collaboration with Marc DePulse titled "Aerodyne", KIKO's remix is an uptempo Indie Dance affair that makes intelligent use of the melodic themes resonant in the original. Full of retro synths and head-shaking percussion, a new motif and additional production work shines through to give the remix an impressive new direction and vibrancy.

Based between Berlin and Valencia, the Polish born VONDA7 has overseen a career that has resulted in more than 150 production credits for Last Night On Earth, Knee Deep In Sound, Einmusika, Lost and Found, Sudbeat, This Never Happened, plus 2022's "High Tide EP" for the ever impressive, Anjunadeep. Using her own art | werk label to showcase a swathe of production material since its 2018 inception, VONDA7 has found her music supported by such leading lights as Sasha, John Digweed, Pete Tong, and Laurent Garnier, among many others. Now making her debut appearance on Perspectives, her remix of 2019's "Sonoran" is an intelligent reworking that transforms the spine-tingling melodies from the original into a driving club floor-filler. With a huge whip-cracking kick and ticking percussive groove, recognizable refrains float across the midrange while a complementary and cavernous bassline sequence makes its presence felt in the second half to devastating effect. The result is a triumphant Melodic Techno update that pays tribute to VONDA7's incredible production skills and technique.