Cool Free Stuff: Alex Medina-Octopus Vulgaris EP (2009 minimal house)

Unfound Sounds is a great online label that hosts the work of many upfront minimal house artists. Many months ago I did a basic showcase on the label right on this site, however over the course of 2009 they have been busy and since then have witnessed the release of dozens of freebies for DJ’s and music junkies. One of the more recent ones comes from Spanish artist Alex Medina, a nice six-track EP titled Octopus Vulgaris. 

Upon a listen, I feel as if the content of this EP gets stronger over the course of it’s six songs. The opener, “Bye Bye Mrs Plumpoff”, is the weakest of the lot. Although a standard sounding minimal-house affair, the vocals of this song for some reason don’t seem to fit with the rest of the song. However I do like the resonating keys coming from the low end of the piano towards the middle. “Su Diablo Rojo” and “Purpura Casualidad” are pretty good, and both particularly highlight Medina’s Spanish background and decisive attention to the drums; balancing both minimal kits with Latin-inspired percussion very well. In fact, the former of the two even works well in a UK Funky context!

“Where Are You Going My Baby” and “K-Small” leave the sounds of his homeland behind to focus on a no-nonsense minimal/tech house sound. Plenty of abbreviated synthesized sounds decorate the soundscape in both pieces. Groove and funk show up at both of these parties, and even though neither take center stage they politely converse with the other guests in the front hallway, helping keep the shindigs a light-hearted, fun affair.

We end with bargain rules, an innocent and non-chalant swinging affair; here he’s still utilizing his editing style with vocal snippets liberally dosed throughout, only this time with a lacsadazical delay on the percussion. I could do without the overpowering single-note saxophone stab in the bridge, but at least it helps differentiate that passage from the beginning and end. 

http://www.unfoundsoundrecords.com/unreleases