Scottish DJ and producer ARKLEY drops his Channel A EP on 10 February via Spirit Of Rave Records. It follows the Origins EP which was released in the summer of 2022. Channel A was produced by ARKLEY in his home studio, with mastering input from Mike Marsh (The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, The Shamen and Bizarre Inc). Channel A continues his drive to adapt 90s rave culture, giving it a modern twist. ARKLEY is to be praised for that mission alone.
‘Pray For Rave‘ throws us straight into the eye of the rave storm. The exhilaration is immediate with those throbbing synths and distorted vocals, full of funk. Pure joy expressed through music. Who doesn’t want to pray for rave? The lyrics sing of “praise” and “worship” and this is one church to be attended on a regular basis.
‘So Good’ continues on this exuberant trajectory, opening with a shimmer before heading for the stars as we throw our hands in the air. Love the spikey midsection which at first distorts the music but then follows up by doing the same to the vocals. Finally those starbursts of music, like hits of adrenalin. Fabulous.
‘Higher (World Dance Edit)‘ is euphoric dance music to bring a massive smile to your face and get your body moving. The uplifting gospel vocals and a phenomenal solo section creates an old school house rhythm track. ‘Higher (World Dance Edit)’ perfectly encapsulates the vibe of early 90s mega-raves, and if there was ever a time to lose yourself in music its right now.
‘So Good (Extended Mix)‘ adds a couple of minutes to ‘So Good’ beginning with a funky Hammond organ adding, if it was possible, to the rave beats. The sparky synths throw even more texture to the track. Surely you’re not still sitting down?
For more information on Arkley please check out his website and twitter.
