Velvet Velour – Hard To Explain EP (BSU008)

Hot on the heels of the Sweely album comes a new EP on Butter Side Up from Velvet Velour. The silky four tracker comes in early December with artwork by Sophie Douala.

Velvet Velour is based in Portugal and has made a quick impression in the last two years with music on Welt Discos, Nuances De Suit and Small Hours. His signature sound is a vibrant fusion of catchy hooks and characterful basslines that fuse UKG, breakbeat and house into something fresh. That is the case again here with a mouthwatering mix of stylish, club-ready sounds.

Opener ‘Ready’ is a playful cut with nimble bass and crisp broken beats. Neon hues and colourful synths add up to a vibey bit of electronic funk that will get fists pumping. ‘Hard 2 Explain’ ups the ante with a driving tech house groove overlaid with bright chords. The knotted bassline tells its own story down low as this feel-good cut cruises on through the stars.

There is extra grit to ‘Jetski’ with its mechanical drums, stiff arps and thumping kicks demanding you dance. Chopped-up vocal stabs and balmy pads add detail as this subtly euphoric and kaleidoscopic jam races into the future. Closer ‘Introduce This’ sinks into a deeper garage groove with twitchy acid and sharp hits. The muted chords bring warmth and soul that really shines through.

On this EP, the ever-more essential Velvet Velour proves he has real range.