EPSIE — Rule Of Thumb

Dutch upstart Epsie pulls a rabbit, or maybe a Roland, from the hat with Rule of Thumb, adebut EP that’s as wobbly and wide-eyed as a warehouse party at the early morninghours. It’s a small marvel of mangled synth wizardry and chopped-to-hell drum patternsthat somehow stay locked tighter than your last three-day weekend. There’s a charmingmessiness to it all.“Fedde” kicks things off with a percussive punch to the frontal lobe, big-room bravadolaced with a subtle wink. “Electric” takes a left turn down acid alley, tripping over abroken beat and landing in a puddle of molten 303 line. But nothing here feels tacked onor stitched together post-hangover; it’s all curiously cohesive, like chapters in a feverdream authored by a bedroom producer with a dusty sequencer and an interstellaragenda.Nostalgic without being derivative, danceable without chasing a trend, Rule of Thumb isfit for all forms of dancing, and the roof tops that dare to hold it.