ILARIO LIBURNI — The Force EP

Ilario Liburni – The Force EP arrives on Cardinal Records as catalogue CAR016, a 12-inch vinyl that stays firmly in the tech-house arena. The release is marked as Vinyl Only, signalling a straightforward, analog-focused offering for DJs and collectors who favour the tactile medium. Within Cardinal’s recent output, The Force EP follows the artist’s earlier CAR015 “Deep Inside EP” from 2025, continuing a thread of club-ready cuts that balance groove and tension. Liburni’s recent work on other imprints – such as the INV024 “What Is Time Travel EP” on Invade Records and the ITWS009 “The Acid Test” on Into The Wizard’s Sleeve – shows a penchant for kinetic rhythms, a trait that resurfaces here. Side A opens with “The Force”, a track that immediately stakes a claim with a driving pulse suited to the opening moments of a set. Its title suggests a magnetic pull, and the music delivers a steady, propulsive rhythm that can anchor a mix. The second cut, “Ride Me Baby”, shifts the mood slightly, offering a smoother, more rolling feel that works as a bridge between the opener’s intensity and the deeper textures on the flip side. On the B-side, “Sometimes I Feel” introduces a more introspective vibe, its title hinting at a moment of reflective groove that can serve as a cool-down or a late-night transition. The record closes with “Last Lap”, a final surge that recaptures the kinetic energy of the A-side, making it an effective closing statement for a set or a cue for a second-round peak. In the context of Liburni’s catalogue, The Force EP consolidates the artist’s ongoing exploration of tech-house’s rhythmic elasticity. Following the experimental edge of “The Acid Test” and the time-bending concepts of “What Is Time Travel”, this EP leans into pure club function while retaining the nuanced production that has become a hallmark of Liburni’s releases across labels such as Invade Records, Enough! Music and D-Floor Records. For DJs, the record offers a compact set of four tracks that can be mixed in various configurations: the opening force of “The Force” works as a set starter, “Ride Me Baby” as a mid-set lift, “Sometimes I Feel” as a mood-shifter, and “Last Lap” as a decisive climax. Collectors will appreciate the continuity with the earlier Cardinal release and the consistency of Liburni’s vinyl-only approach. The EP is pressed as a standard 12-inch vinyl, matching the format of the artist’s recent Cardinal output and reinforcing the label’s commitment to analog releases. Ilario Liburni – The Force EP, Cardinal Records, catalogue CAR016, 12-inch vinyl, four tracks. Tracklist: A1. Ilario Liburni – The Force A2. Ilario Liburni – Ride Me Baby B1. Ilario Liburni – Sometimes I Feel B2. Ilario Liburni – Last Lap