Tropicana Tracks EP

New Betonkust alert! Melody-focused underwater house and electro on Innershades’ Altered Circuits imprint.

ALT010 is a collection of four tracks that owes its name to Tropicana, the infamous subtropical swimming complex erected in 1988 on the outskirts of Rotterdam. Although it has long stopped serving its initial purpose, the huge, outlandish building remains an inescapable relic, reminding everyone of its faded heyday. Back then, next to welcoming thousands of families for a swim, it occasionally hosted mega raves – and thus also played a small, obscure part in the then equally burgeoning Dutch dance scene.

It’s curiosities like these that seem to inspire Betonkust: his discography could serve as an OST for such gone-by settings. On Tropicana Tracks, he deploys his vintage, lo-fi (going on mid-fi) approach, recording one-takes from his analog machines and combining DIY efficiency with a heavy focus on melodies. In particular, the record’s theme seems to have inspired the usage of the reverb, delay and release knobs as the cuts at times float like fog arising from a hot swimming pool. Aside from their wet mixdowns, the tracks showcase one of Betonkust’s biggest talents: his ability to scoop up classic patches to write captivating, unique hooks.