Aroop Roy - Re Bulele EP (FNX Omar Remix) [Freerange Records]

Aroop Roy's star is deservedly on the rise! As one of London's most exciting selectors, he has managed to position himself in the sweet spot of being a DJ's DJ and causing wild scenes wherever he plays, with headline-grabbing sets at Defected Croatia, We Out Here, Gilles Peterson's Worldwide, and many more.

As a producer, musician, and label owner, he continues to stand out, armed with a vast knowledge of outernational sounds, from rare African disco, jazz, funk, to house, UKG, and seemingly everything in between. His open-minded approach has led to brilliant releases and remixes for labels as diverse as Soundway, Heavenly Sweetness, Permanent Vacation, Club Bad, Delusions of Grandeur, Atjazz Recordings, and his own Vive La Musique imprint.

Having played together at a few gigs, it was only a matter of time before Jimpster convinced Aroop to put together an EP for Freerange, and the result, the Re Bulele EP, couldn't be more satisfying!

Leading the charge, 'Mama Mwana' captivates with hypnotic thumb piano loops and a traditional African vocal, all backed by a subtle yet hard-hitting house beat to get dancers grooving.

'Re Bulele' features the hypnotic vocals of Botswana native, Fox Meropa. Aroop masterfully combines a deep, technical Afro House rhythm with shimmering synth pads to form a stripped-down instrumental with the vocals front and center. Seemingly disparate elements sparkle in this wonderful alternative to the onslaught of maximalist Afro House tracks being released these days.

Moroccan producer FNX Omar delivers the goods with a sublime remix of Re Bulele. Creating tension with layers of looped vocals alongside a percussive, enveloping rhythm. Like the original, this remix transcends genres and will create special moments on the dancefloor, whether in a dark, sweaty basement or at a daytime festival in the sun.