South African artist Bruce Loko makes his Freerange debut with a lusciously deep and cinematic electronic three track EP entitled The Black Pearl. The Johannesburg-based producer has previously blessed us with output on Get Physical, Atjazz and Stay True Sounds and has recently been pricking up the ears of the Keinemusik crew and DJ Koze with his unique sound design, crisp beats and genre-blurring approach to production.

On opener The Black Pearl, Bruce sets the mood with fluttering FX and flanging pads which surround the bouncing sub bass line and kick. Soon enough we’re swathed in chiming chords which build into a fizzing wall of sound, building the tension perfectly before the groove kicks back in again. This is a track whose roots lie as much in the sound of early 90’s intelligent techno of Morganistic or B12 as they do in contemporary deep house.

Sunset Over Water continues the sonic explorations with Loko delivering a majestic masterpiece where otherworldly synth parts layer up to form distinctive harmonic shapes. Shuffling white noise sequences join the kick drum to ensure this track has as much impact on the dance floor as it does on our heartstrings.

On the third track, Sacrifice we can hear a pattern emerging in Bruce’s audio palette for this EP. One where ethereal, emotional harmonies created by his deft synth programming provide the perfect counterpoint to the minimalist, snappy drum grooves. His confidence in arranging can be seen in his ability to create enough energy and interest from gently undulating passages and drawn out breakdowns, all without a white noise riser or 909 snare roll in sight!

Closing this beautiful release we have fellow Joburger Fka Mash onboard for a stunning remix of Sunset Over Water. As anyone familiar with his sound will know, this guy epitomises what we know to be the quintessential South African deep house sound. Low BPM’s, speaker-wobbling basslines, intricate atmospherics and the ability to draw strong hooks from simple, melodic phrases all come into play, the result being something so much more than the sum of it’s parts.