In a short time, Croatian label Barba has attracted several notable artists, such as DJ Stingray 313, Marco Bernardi, Gosub, Heinrich Dressel, etc. The label’s sixth release, a heavy piece of wax in a beautiful yet surreal-looking sleeve, comes from Kevin Kennedy aka FBK. A name we haven’t noticed much recently, Kennedy is a producer from Columbus, Ohio who actually debuted already in 1997 with “Knobs & Switches” on Shake’s legendary label Friction.
About 20 years later, FBK prefers smoothly rolling club tracks across three original compositions on the A-side. The title cut is fast-lane Detroit techno with a buzzing synth line, hi-hats and raindrop effects while dub-cushioned “Just To Use” advances in a more restrained mood with a vocal loop, linking it in my mind to Louis Guilliaume’s “Careless” on Ruff Draft. The EP’s outstanding composition is “You’re Going To Sleep Forever”, an oxygenous track with subtle acid effects and vocoded layers certainly keeping you awake, whatever the title suggests.
On the flip, two trusted faces from Detroit work up the title track “Screaming Her Name”: Terrence Dixon opts for meandering minimalism and Metroplex artist Plural sticks to the original with an extra layer of deep grooves.
Points: 7 of 10
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