Charonne – Overload

Rayka Records founders Charonne have decided to launch a new label, Velvet Spirit. Fittingly, the French duo deliver the imprint's debut release, offering up a quartet of cuts that expertly explore all aspects of their trademark electro sound. The headline attraction is arguably 'Break Thru', which is presented in two different mixes: the sub-heavy, acid-fired original mix that sounds like their tribute to turn-of-the-90s bleep techno, and a more TB-303-laden 'Alien Funk' remix that makes great use of drum machine cowbells and mutilated hip-hop samples. Elsewhere, title track 'Overload' isa fiendishly heavy fusion of electro and bleep techno elements, while 'Sentimento' is a bouncy, analogue-rich excursion that's as funky as it is difficult to describe.