Hardware Hustlerz - Stack It Up EP

Chicago pair Hakim Murphy and Specter formalise their Hardware Hustlerz collaboration in fine style with this superb record for the Paris label Syncrophone. There's a pedigree associated with the respective discographies of both producers that lends a sense of anticipation to this new collaborative endeavour and hopefully Stack It Up is the first of many releases from the pair. Listening through, "Silent Monk" is an obvious choice for lead track, settling into a midtempo groove (for a techno cut at least) and drenched with emotional richness. Complementing it are two "HAS" cuts that take on a more twisted DJ tool form, with the first expertly wrapping a mind bending synth tone around loose drums and the second a breezy, effervescent cut reminiscent of a MOS Deep B Side.