Since Al Dobson Jr released the first volume of his Rye Lane editions as RS001 back in 2014, Rhythm Section has pioneered the contemporary South London dance scene. Producers such as Henry Wu and label founder Bradley Zero keep the label’s roots firmly tied to Peckham, and even New Zealand sibling duo Chaos in the CBD have learned to call the area home, with tracks ‘Midnight in Peckham’ demonstrating that they too are deeply involved in the Zone 2 musical revolution.
So it comes as no surprise that RS’s latest instalment, RS019, arrives from another South London-based producer. Mallard’s first release, Verte, is an eclectic EP with a solid beat-driven backbone that showcases the producer’s mellow qualities whilst retaining the party edge that has been so fundamental to RS’s rise to the top.
The EP’s title track is an instant winner. Rising and falling on reverberating beats and melodies in an almost hypnotic display, this track alone proves that the producer is capable of delivering great things. Equally at home at the peak of a set as it is a ticket to laid-back listening in your own bedroom, Verte stands out as one of the tracks of 2017 so far.
We ask for more of the same from the Canavan’s collective.