Artist: Charris
Title: Gambas
Label: Plastica
By: Simon Jones | 10 December 2003
Tracklist:

• A: Original Mix
• B: Dub Mix

Charris "Gambas"

It's been a long time since Plastic Fantastic co-owner Enzo teamed up with Swain and Snell for the last Charris single, with 'Hypnotic' having been released in 2001 and the previous single 'The Wave' released in the year 2000. A lot has changed since then, so the immediate question that springs to mind is whether or not 'Gambas' has the tools to cut it in a scene where sounds are rapidly evolving, having long ago moved from that dark tribal sound.

Putting on the 'Original Mix', the initial drum percussion does not enthuse me positively, but the wispy vocals that rise up over the top of a twisted and dirty bassline do bring some welcome change. Sadly this is how the track remains for the rest of it's duration, with the occasional distorted male vocal rising up, and the break teasing a big synth led finale which fails to happen, which is a real shame as it would have saved this from being a dark and monotone track from the dark ages, although the 'Dub Mix' has a fun and funky edge which makes up in part for the original's shortfallngs, but otherwise this is a fairly samey samey single the likes of which Plastica were first releasing back when tribal was all the rage.

On occasion the Plastica imprint can surprise, but continuing to push this dark sound does make me wonder who still buys this stuff. Nevertheless, here's hoping the next release brings another surprise.