Image by Klaus Wäldele
Peter Kremeier chose a moniker that would speak directly towards his preoccupation with the soul at the core of house music. As Losoul, his obsession with the rhythms and electricity of disco, boogie and funk have seen the German producer consistently honour these elements as essential points of departure for house. As such, his loops are synonymous with a relentless groove and soulful vibe, a brand of house which stays true to the form’s percussive roots and appears driven by its adjacent subculture of love, freedom and liberation. The early 00’s heyday for Germany’s renowned Playhouse label was mostly thanks to Kremeier’s own groundbreaking debut Belong, released at the turn of the millennium. Alarmingly ahead of its time, Kremeier found on Belong the sound that Ricardo Villalobos would later not only find, but use to define the minimal house sub-genre and himself its principal pioneer.
Through the innovation of Belong and in the years after, Losoul has maintained a cool elusiveness despite earning his reputation as one of house music’s most revered loop masters. His latest EP and debut on German label Slices Of Life is a reminder of his enduring power and essential hand in the shaping of what we call house today. Individual Sin presents two, near flawless pieces of grooving house loops filled to the brim with pulsing bass lines and propulsive percussion. Running at over ten minutes each, these are the sort of long-form house cuts that feel entirely immersive, evolving slowly across their runtime but keeping you captivated throughout.
Individual Sin is a testament to Losoul’s innate technical prowess and commitment to a sort of house purism in his style. The EP opens with the chic Ghost Talk, a track that instantly harkens back to his minimal work for Playhouse. As it rolls along, a morphing chopped vocal sample flutters over a whomping two chord bassline, lending a psychedelic aura to Losoul’s sparse and kicking beat. Idealist Jungle is at once warmer and deeply seductive than the stylish chrome of Ghost Talk, and is arguably the stronger of the two cuts. Sparkly tambourine hits and lithe maraca shakes lend earthy accents to Losoul’s boogie focussed percussion. A bassline as deep as the Mariana Trench underscores the groove, followed by ebbs of warm ambient synth washes. It’s a fuller experience than Ghost Talk, and one that keys in on Losoul’s unmatched affinity towards funk.
One of Losoul’s most compelling qualities as a producer is his understanding of space. The tonality of Belong arguably arises from this engrossment in and respect for spatial dynamics, making for music that allows room for the soul of his sounds to resonate. Though kinetic and rich, Losoul’s loops are never overly stuffed and on Individual Sin they are no different. Idealist Jungle in particular unfolds seamlessly, revealing it’s rich textures carefully and organically without ever sounding like there is no room for each element to blossom at its fullest.
Individual Sin is a welcome reminder of Losoul’s skill and significance as one of minimal house music’s early progenitors. After 25 years in the game, he is one who has perfected his style and point of view; astute and laid-back, but consistently captivating and soulfully hypnotic.
Preview Individual Sin below.
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