Not even in his 20s, Netherlands-based producer Singularis has created a brightly woven new album for the Cold Busted label. Like his previous Evening Hours LP, Dopamine Dream is another twelve tracker full of sly beats. This time he touches on sweetly orchestrated classic hip-hop blends alongside with harder hitting, more club-oriented cuts. Each track is delivered with a glossy, feel good shine. Highlights include “The Quiet Life” which rolls through like tumbleweeds with its western soul appeal combining epic strings, rhythmic guitar picking, pitched up vocals, and some eventual funky synth sleaze. “Amsterdamn” features a familiar vocal sample flipped in a slightly grime-infused combo of wonky bass and fidgety stabs, complete with more mellow organ pads used in the build ups. Starting with a bossa nova style intro, “Puffin’ L’s” works all those elements out into a chilled piano beat with great reverb-laden snares and hats. “Sunshinem” also has a prelude-style start, but this time turning Motown into something more sinister and chopped with - dare we say - a candy-painted kind of low-end flare. “A Few Days” is another one with some weight, sounding as if The Thing from the Addams Family scurried across some keys laying down an eerie bell melody and wailing electric synth. Cali-funk never sounded so macabre. “Flowers” is an album favorite with its braggadocio boom-bap flavor, irresistible horns, flutes, and diva vocal accents making this one a certified downtempo banger. Singularis aimed for a knock out with Dopamine Dream, his latest sure-fire slugger.
Kid Loco - “Great grooves and moods.”
Tim “Love” Lee - “I love this guy!”
DJ Moneyshot (Solid Steel Radio / NinjaTune) - “A real neck-snapping update of some dusty to digital. Bet it sounds heavy in the club. I’ll go with ‘Flowers’ as I’m more on that funk, than the crunk.”
Ohmega Watts - “All the movements, chops, and layers to the tracks add a great sound dimension for various backdrops from tranquil to exuberant.”
All Good Funk Alliance - “Feeling this.”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - “Great downbeat stuff with many good and freaky ideas.”
Irregular Disco Workers - “Style! A trip to paradise.”
Danny Massure (Spring Strut) - “Lovely!”
Stereo 77 (Research Deluxe) - “I’m a life long fan of Cold Busted! Another fantastic release. I can’t wait to add ‘Amsterdamn’ to my sets.”
Azaxx (Tru Thoughts) - “Exciting travel between old school and future beats … I like!”
DJ Pelau (Is The Spice Of Life) - “Some great grooves here … this is how ya hit the BEATS, big time! An emcee’s dream.”
Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s) - “I really love this … sweet soulful vocals and dirty beats.”
Mason Rothert (Below Zero Radio Show) - “This is a great release … another gem from Singularis. Love the funky quirkiness to it all.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “This young guy is a genius and unstoppable.”
Available now from Beatport and the Cold Busted Shop.