Artist: 16 Bit Lolitas
Title: Passing Lights / Chuck Nology
Label: Shinichi Recordings
By: Colin C. | 7 February 2007
Tracklist:

• A: Passing Lights
• B: Chuck Nology

16 Bit Lolitas "Passing Lights / Chuck Nology"

If you were to stop me and ask me what production outfits in the scene today whose work I feel is worthy of notoriety, 16 Bit Lolitas would be the one of the first to spring to mind. With a firm grasp on how tracks should groove, and production skills to back it up, these guys always come correct. They’ve also been able to captivate DJs left and right, to the point where it seems a DJ compilation can't come out without one of their productions, and this release is no exception.

First up is their collaboration with Jennifer Horne, who seems to be posed to become this scene's next Kirsty Hawkshaw. With a crunchy beat the track kicks off and begins winding its groove into a hypnotic, spacey whirlwind. The boys make great use of their sonic environment as the pull the groove back and make room for Jennifer's quick but captivating lyrics. There's always a mesmerizing quality to Peter and Ariaan’s work, and here it marries nicely with this haunting progressions and Jennifer's vocal. If you are a fan of tracks that build a solid continuous groove on top of a house blueprint, then this is the cut for you.

Chuck Nology comes in for the b-side, and it is a perfect one at that. With a more stripped down production than the grandiose 'Passing Lights', this one builds an earlier evening tech house groove. Glimmering hi hats laced over a solid kick and snare progression make for a clean, straightforward groove. The synth elements in this one, including the bass line, occupy the "electro" realm, tipping this one into the current trends. Thankfully the guys keep the dissonant, moody aspects to the arrangement to help complement the super clean, digital parts. I wouldn't call it my favorite 16 Bit Lolitas production, but it's definitely not a horrible track.

Overall I'd say this is a solid release for Ariaan and Peter, and only helps further my opinion of their work. And you don't have to take my word for it, as Sharam featured it on his recent Global Underground compilation.