Eddie Merced - A Brooklyn Woman [R4808n Recordings]

Following the opening statement of the Plant 42 EP, Eddie Merced continues to explore the depth and breadth of his sound via his own R4808n label. The themes of covert ops and clandestine technology hang in the air, while Merced guides his machines through a stellar trifecta of immersive club tracks loaded with charged atmospheres and subtle composition.
First up, ‘A Brooklyn Woman’ unfurls in a haze of mid-morning melancholy - a thick pad that blooms out around the steady tick of the drums. As the piece comes to life, it opens skywards with pealing string notes, aiming for unabashed beauty and capturing it in style. ‘Tomorrow’s Never Promised’ is a moodier affair, leaning in on a low frequency rhythm section masterfully crafted to hook in the dancefloor. But there’s also plenty of mellow, dubbed-out synth work and a steadily intensifying beat which propels the track forwards, reveling in snare rushes and disembodied vocal loops that nod to the peak of the night. ‘Hustlin’ is a straight-up house workout which speaks to Merced’s decades of experience in the club music game, but once again it’s the opulent elegance of the synth work which sets the track apart.
With a looming influence from the legacy of Detroit techno melding into the established production traits Merced has made his name on, this second EP strengthens the direction of R4808n overall as a must-check platform for forward-thinking house and techno with heart.