Lockah's Only Built 4 Neon Nites represents Donky Pitch's eighth release to date and their first so far in 2013 and it just might be their biggest yet. It's certainly the release most squarely aimed at the mainstream.
Lockah has already released material through Mad Decent sub-label Jeffrees and Mishka, and he's provided remixes for releases of both Fool's Gold and Skrillex's OWSLA.
Only Built 4 Neon Nites is a tribute late night ambling through urban illuminated skylines. It is made for listening through in sequence, representing that journey, but each track stands on its own. The EP takes in a variety of sounds but the disco-kitchen-sink approach of Rustie forms the template - elements of EDM-influenced dubstep, crunchy techno, electro and hip-hop all feature, combined with heavy 80s pop references.
Following a brief car-engine-start, 80s radio electro pop intro ...Neon Nites gets into things proper with Young Neon Countach, the name telling you all you need to know. Expect plenty of electro synths, big hip-hop drum kicks and amped up, distorted melodies. It sets the tone for the rest of the EP, with each track delivering different styles but using the same basic approach.
Guards Red Carrera (spot a theme?) starts with a Buggles-esque campy melodies that melt into liquid DnB rhythms and EDM synths. Let The Cool Air Breeze is more laid back in its entrance - the lull before the evening's climax perhaps. Big melodies backed with slower drum patterns that make way for a break constructed from a series of liquid related sample, building towards a celebratory finale.
The EP closes with Platinum Blondes, another more contemplative track. Distorted bass lines provide the bed for a soft-focus eighties melody and hip-hop samples. It feels like the EP's closing credits, cinematically culminating in another engine being fired up in the rain, before pulling off.
Only Built 4 Neon Nites is a sugar rush of an EP: instant and gratifying, and a fleetingly brief introduction to Lockah's sound.
Only Built 4 Neon Nites is out now on Donky Pitch, available to buy on Amazon.co.uk on MP3 [affiliate link].