Nōpi - Liquid Week

An artist causing a buzz with his multi-faceted productions, Nopi debuts on Proton Music with his twin-track, "Parallel Words". Remixes come from Australian and US stars. Finding himself allied to some of the most respected modern imprints with a sought-after deep house and melodic techno sound, Nopi has carved out a sizeable reputation for himself in 12 short months after a March 2019 debut for Pipe and Pochet. Since then, music for Nie Wieder Schlafen, Kindisch and Pablo Bolivar's Seven Villas, has seen the Ukrainian hit the ground running. Following up on May 2020's remix of Erdi Irmak for Proton Music, Nopi now returns with a debut EP. The title track is an immaculately crafted affair that bristles with intricate percussive intent while a cast of elegant and emotive, melodic characters mingle and entwine in brilliant sonic patterns. The result is a swathe of filtered arpeggios, textured pads and counterpoint motifs that evolve over a 7-minute piece in magisterial fashion. "Liquid Week" continues the delicate percussive framework as fizzing hi-hats form the backdrop for hypnotic melodies to develop alongside a smooth lead sequence. Hitting its stride with the wow and flutter of tape delay at the breakdown, subtle variations add depth and texture to the track. Fresh from the launch of their Meanwhile imprint, GMJ and Matter continue to find themselves permanent fixtures in the upper echelons of the underground dance scene. Prolific and talented, the pair's solo and collaborative work has become a central component of the Proton Music catalogue with their "Superposition", "Osmosis" and "Interscope" EPs. Remixes for Andre Sobota, Rudy and Juan Deminicis' "Tao the King" in April 2019, are now complemented by a stunning interpretation of "Parallel Words". Turning Nopi's track into a pulsating progressive house gem, a driving beat and rolling percussive groove supply the framework for white-noise washes and multi-layered pads to sweep across the stereo spectrum. Making its mark in a powerful third movement, echoes from the original cascade through the mid-range to typically mesmerising effect. Founder of the highly regarded Manjumasi imprint alongside Atish, Mark Slee is a renowned name across the clubs and bars of his San Francisco home with notable appearance further afield in New York and Berlin. With more than two decades experience in the realm of electronic music, the US artist has developed a distinctive musical identity that has seen him feature on an array of high-profile imprints that include Looq Records, Cityfox and Seven Villas. Becoming a regular on Proton Music with remixes for Oliver Lieb, Navar and Rudy, Slee's "Veranda" EP in July 2020 showcased three original tracks full of ingenuity and musical craftsmanship. Returning to remix Nopi, the Mark Slee interpretation is full of the poise and grace that has become such a staple of his work. Building through chunky rhythmic groove, melodic echoes of Nopi's original emerge through a free-flowing electric organ that wends itself through the "Dry Ice Dub Mix" in melodic exploration. Extended delays ripple effortlessly while effects and sub-bass add weight. Sparkling original tracks and remixes from GMJ and Matter and Mark Slee have Nopi revelling in "Parallel Words". Directed by Jay Epoch AandR by James Warren Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Ben Mautner Text by James Warren