Sultry bliss ensues in Lady Blacktronika’s “Edge of Forever” EP as it blends the gaps between genres in an eloquent and versatile manner. Lady Blacktronika brings the funk from house, the hypnotic rhythms from techno, and the soul of disco together masterfully with her latest release on Catz N’ Dogz’ label, Step Recordings.
Her second EP to come out of Step Recordings, Catz N’ Dogz’ label focuses on the foundational pedestals of raw dance music. The label’s mantra, “It’s all about the music” is exemplified on “Edge of Forever” with its deep, groove-forward tracks and organic sound patterns.
Lady Blacktronika started as a vocal artist for house tracks in the late ’90s before producing house and techno in 2006 after being sick of “the boys not letting her play with their toys.” Fate would eventually bring OG Mike Huckaby to her Myspace in early 2007. Shortly thereafter, Huckaby would bring her to a global audience via a Detroit radio broadcast.
“A Centipede Bit My Dick” is the first, and hilariously titled, track on the EP. It’s a hypnotizing, low tempo groover that doesn’t shy away from introspection. Guttural kicks and hollow tom drums pound onward as a cascading chirp washes in and out like a wave crashing before the tide turns. There is a beautifully echoed hum in the background that melds hauntingly with the chugging percussion lines at the front. It is hard not to wonder about the quirky song title and what it might mean.
The lights turn down low in “Disco Carmen” as the sheen from the square mirrors on the disco ball dances in rotation along to the beat. The track seems as if it could just as well have come out of the ‘70s rather than this century’s third decade. Laid back vibes couple harmoniously with a funkadelic bass line as the track progresses like a whimsical magic carpet ride. Intelligent hi-hat work brings to mind the scenery of a lonely drummer putting every ounce of his soul into each pitter and patter of the cymbals. High pitched synth stabs are given the flange treatment as the echoed strokes climb the dynamic mountain and descend once again. The track then abruptly leads into the third offering and title track of the EP with an acapella reciting, “I can’t stand on the edge of forever.”
Beginning with a radiating guitar strum reminiscent of an old sitcom’s opening credits, the track almost seems as if it’s about to bust onto the scene of a Soul Train episode. This quickly transitions into a more esoteric, ambient thinker of a track that uses dissonance and that hollowed acapella to establish a deeper, darker platform. The vibe warps between soulrific instrumental funk and the robotic droning of the low end, creating a wild and unique tune. Lady Blacktronika expresses her genre blending ability efficiently and effortlessly in “Edge of Forever”.
-Jack Plumb
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