Soviet-born, Montenegro-based, DJ / producer Stanislav Grishchuk aka DJ 1985 is Emotional Especial’s latest signing. His debut EP for the London label features 4 live machine jams, built on 808, 909 and MPC rhythms. 

The opening track, We Trippin’, is a conscious flashback to rave, constructed around Lyn Collins’ “Think” break – complete with a snippet of James Brown’s “hype man” shout. Synths summon the smooth tech house of Omid Nourizadeh / 16B, while a TB-303 flips out, recalling Roy Of The Ravers’ emotive epics. Also acidic, but slightly slower tempo’d, Catland could be named after its curious meandering, meowing keys (Stanislav is apparently a big feline fan). The Last One judders and shudders to a busier beat and more James Brown samples, plus a pinch of Public Enemy. However, that’s countered by sheets of ceremonial sonic shimmering, similar to old Sabresonic favourites such as, say, Bandulu’s Invaders. All the cuts are caught somewhere between your party’s main and chillout rooms. 

Dolphins & Sirens apparently didn’t get the memo, so doesn’t drop a tab. With its 303 turned off, this number is instead a muted, mellow, deep house hymn to The Adriatic and the aquatic wildlife of the Balkan Peninsula, and in particular Boka Bay. In line with its title, an ambient wash of crying analogue arcs and sighing, seductive ethereal vocals introduce the track which then rides on rattling snares through trickling percussive textures and sections of rapid, rippling glissandi. The mood that of Ronald Burrell’s Aphrodisiac on Nu Groove. 

DJ 1985’s We Trippin’ can be ordered directly from Emotional Especial. While the EP was released digitally last summer, vinyl has only recently reached shops.