Over the past year, Culprit has quickly established itself as a thoughtful curator of modern dance music. Previous releases from the LA-based label feature floor moving tracks from MANIK and Subb-An, along with deeper, more introspective numbers from Nico Lahs and Inxec. The April 2nd release, The Lady B EP from jozif, continues to diversify their offerings while showcasing the talent of this rising star. Though most tracks feature eminently danceable disco-tinged elements, the main message of this EP is that dance music needn’t be shackled to the parties where it gets most airtime. It can have a personality, tell a story, and play equally well in your home and the club.
Opening with “Lady B’s Tea,” the EP harkens back to house music’s disco roots as a funky bass guitar moves the track forward. Unfiltered instrumentation is a theme across the entire release, with bold violins and piano chords popping up throughout. The selection follows a narrative structure, continuing with “Lady B’s Plea,” a deeper track featuring an acid bassline sitting beneath lush chords and vocal pads. “Lady B’s Lullaby” merges the cinematic elements of the first two tracks with more pop/dance sensibilities, recalling sunset at one of Culprit’s own rooftop parties at The Standard Hotel in LA. Rounding out the EP is “Serenade,” a strictly instrumental piece with some dancefloor grit.
Overall, a moving and sonically interesting release that pushes the boundaries of “dance†music by, ironically, taking it back to its roots. Preview tracks below:
The full EP is available for download here.