CHAD ANDREW — Ooo002

Chad Andrew – OOO002 is the second vinyl-only release from Out Of Office, a four-track 12-inch built around dark, hypnotic and acid-driven house and techno. Released in December 2023 as catalogue number OOO002, the record pairs two original productions by Chad Andrew with two remixes from Len Lewis, creating a focused package that moves between rolling 303 pressure, heavy low-end grooves, atmospheric electronics and stripped-back club functionality. The release is aimed squarely at DJs looking for distinctive underground material with enough rhythmic detail and tension to work deep into a set. The record opens with “Battle 303”, a track whose identity is established immediately through its relationship with the classic Roland TB-303 sound. Rather than treating acid as a decorative effect, Chad Andrew places the resonant sequence at the centre of the arrangement, using its movement as the main source of tension. Punchy bass drums and a progressively developing rhythmic structure give the track a physical drive, while the 303 line continually changes the sense of space around the groove. The production has a clear connection to the sound of 1990s techno, but its arrangement remains rooted in contemporary underground house and tech-house functionality. As “Battle 303” develops, additional elements gradually enter the framework rather than arriving as a conventional breakdown-and-drop sequence. The rolling acid pattern remains the constant thread, while a crisp, understated vocal element appears later in the arrangement. This approach keeps the track hypnotic without overcrowding the mix. The result is a particularly useful DJ tool for the point in a set where a groove needs to become more intense without abandoning its underlying rhythmic continuity. “A2 – Area 15” takes a very different route. Instead of immediately establishing the acid-driven momentum of the opening track, Chad Andrew creates a darker and more atmospheric environment. The track begins with a swirling, spacious character before gradually increasing its rhythmic activity. Distorted effects, eerie drones, chimes and arpeggiated synthesizer patterns become increasingly important as the arrangement develops, giving “Area 15” a distinctly futuristic and mysterious quality. The contrast between the two original tracks is one of the strengths of OOO002. “Battle 303” is physical and rhythmically direct, while “Area 15” is more exploratory and cinematic. Both tracks nevertheless share a fascination with repetition, gradual development and carefully controlled tension. Rather than relying on large melodic hooks, Chad Andrew builds their impact through sound design, bass movement and incremental changes in the arrangement. The B-side brings two interpretations of “Battle 303” by Len Lewis. The first is the “Len Lewis S!th Remix”, followed by the “Len Lewis G.H.M. Remix”. Lewis's involvement shifts the emphasis of the record from the original production's acid-focused identity toward alternative club interpretations of the same material. For DJs, this makes the B-side particularly useful: instead of simply repeating the A-side concept, the two remixes provide different ways of incorporating the central “Battle 303” motif into a longer house, acid or techno sequence. Len Lewis has a long-standing connection with underground electronic music, and his remixes fit naturally into the darker aesthetic established by the originals. The release as a whole sits comfortably between acid house, tech house, minimal and techno rather than belonging exclusively to one category. That stylistic flexibility is important to the character of OOO002: the tracks can be approached as acid tools, but their spacious production and emphasis on groove also make them suitable for deeper and more stripped-back sets. Chad Andrew himself is closely associated with the contemporary European underground house and minimal scene. His music has appeared across labels connected with deep tech, minimal and electronic house, while his own Bandcamp catalogue places him in Berlin. His production style frequently works with extended arrangements, detailed percussion and a balance between hypnotic repetition and subtle shifts in atmosphere. OOO002 reflects that approach particularly well, combining the physical impact of acid and techno with a more spacious deep-house sensibility. The release also has significance within the Out Of Office catalogue. OOO002 followed the label's first release, OOO001, and established a clear direction for the imprint: limited vinyl, underground club music and a willingness to operate outside rigid genre boundaries. The record was issued as a limited vinyl-only 12-inch, with mastering by Analogcut Berlin and distribution through Vinyl Future. The physical package was also conceived as a collectible object, with the label's releases incorporating additional artwork and a holographic sticker alongside the record. For collectors, OOO002 represents an early statement from the Out Of Office label and a strong example of the vinyl-only culture surrounding contemporary underground house and techno. For DJs, it is a practical four-track package with several different functions: “Battle 303” provides direct acid-driven energy, “Area 15” introduces a darker atmospheric dimension, while the two Len Lewis remixes offer alternative approaches to the main theme. Chad Andrew – OOO002 is therefore more than a straightforward acid-house EP. Its strongest quality is the balance between recognizable 303-driven club language and a more experimental approach to atmosphere, texture and arrangement. With its combination of acid, tech house, breakbeat-influenced rhythm and darker electronic sound design, OOO002 is a focused vinyl release for DJs and collectors interested in contemporary underground music with a clear connection to the classic acid and techno vocabulary.