It should come as no surprise to any regular readers that we here at InYourSpeakers are pretty staunch supporters of Italian rave superheroes the Bloody Beetroots. To anyone unfamiliar with the stylings of the Beetroots: It’s high time you made yourself aware. That said, no musical movement is ever led by a single act. For every figurehead, there are countless others standing behind, pledging allegiance to the same drum and bass deity. One such case comes to us in the form of Congorock, whose debut EP Runark takes something borrowed, something blue, and creates something new and, honestly, just damn awesome.
Hailing from Milan, Italy, Congorock has already begun to make a name for himself on the global club circuit, spinning alongside artists such as the Beetroots and Rex the Dog. Even here on Runark, Congorock is blessed with a remix laid down by fellow Fool’s Gold labelmates, Jokers of the Scene. So what is it that’s giving this guy so much love now with just a few cuts under his belt?
Runark is a hodgepodge of influences, fusing European dancehall with retrograde cuts from what could have easily been any number of childhood videogames. I’m calling it here—the new shit is Nintechno. Congorock even seems to acknowledge this wide array of soundscapes in his listing of musical influences: Squaresoft, Capcom, EA Sports, and Konami are among more traditional shout outs.
The album’s title track “Runark” I can only liken to an infection that you can’t get rid of, in the best possible sense. It’s no wonder three fifths of the Runark EP comprises the title track and its two remixes. This is a club banger if I ever heard one. The beat is driving with energy, and the Mortal Kombat-esque breaks can only help. It’s impossible to listen and not at the very least move your head, as I am doing now while writing this. “Runark” is an unrelenting drone of drum and bass that will follow you around all day.
The wailing sirens of “Exodus” welcome in a track so thickly layered in sound, it takes multiple listens to finally hear them all. The most interesting aspect of “Exodus,” as with all of Runark, is how a sound so mired in the old can sound so fresh. The backbone of Congorock’s style is 1980’s-inspired tones, yet they are utilized in a way that helps keep things new. “Exodus” is a frenetic, practically schizophrenic-sounding track, bombarding the listener almost to exhaustion. But then again, this is some dance happy shit, so maybe that’s the whole idea.
The easiest criticism of Runark is that at no point does the BPM seem to change from track to track. “Hybro” brings together a new cast of sounds and loops, but all on top of the beat reminiscent in both “Exodus” and “Runark.” A couple minutes into the song I was head-banging along to that same familiar beat. “Hybro” does vary in its brief breakdown and staccato callouts that move with the tempo, but it’s hard to see where “Exodus” starts and this begins.
I would love to say that Runark is the next “Cornelius” but I can’t quite bring myself to do it. Congorock has got some serious promise in his use of what could be seen as outdated samples, but with no variety in the beat construct, the ep gets a bit bogged down. A couple hot drops and breakdowns would do Congorock a world of good. Nevertheless, the man is currently sitting pretty high, and the Runark EP is most definitely destined for banger heaven.
Track List
1. Runark (4:37)
2. Runark (Jokers of the Scene Remix) (6:43)
3. Exodus (4:30)
4. Hybro (4:09)
5. Runark (His Majesty Andre “Growl” Remix) (5:18)
Links
Congorock’s MySpace
Facebook
