• Maddix’s trading Big Room for Techno signature
• Hypnotic breakdown, manipulative atmosphere
• Huge hit or miss with the drop
There was a lot of hype gathering around Maddix in the past weeks. Mysterious teasers, social pictures turning pitch-black, rumours about albums, collabs, a new label… Too much noise for a “normal release”, in my opinion; playing with hype can be extremely unpredictable. I didn’t like these exaggerated marketing choices.
Terming “Normal release” however, maybe reductive for “Ecstasy”, the Revealed Recordings release for this Friday. Sure it’s original, and it signifies a radical change in Maddix’s style, subtly presented by the new artwork style (akin to Hardwell and Sick Individuals). In fact, the Dutch artist is going in a different direction altogether, but keeping his signature imprint intact: a detail that I noticed and truly appreciate.
“Ecstasy” is evidently influenced by Techno (in the break) and Bass House (in the drop) sounds, but somehow is familiar to the listener. The lead, trying to get noticed between these devastating horns, is clearly a selectively chosen dirty and aggressive element! In addition, the tune introduces a noisy, hypnotic drop sequence that caught me unawares. It’s an experiment, coalescing together distinctive styles, keeping Maddix’s unmistakable essence at the core.
I won’t listen to “Ecstasy” and nominate it as a masterpiece, with all honesty. The drop presents a dilemma, it can become almost annoying with that repetitive presence of horn, along with the risks taken. However, one can appreciate the hours of work behind it, the courage and boldness to evolve his style into something completely new, the delicate balance between familiar and the alien… It seems a promising concept that brings a breath of fresh air in a saturated scene.
In short, I’m a bit divided about this review. I am not crazy about “Ecstasy” because of how the drop sounds in my head, but I recognize a good idea when I hear one. I’m glad to see Revealed supporting this intriguing experiment, and there’s a certain surety that we will be hearing other extravagant projects from Maddix. Maybe with a less “hype-based” marketing strategy, fingers crossed.
What do you think?
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