In this week’s installment of the ever popular Saturday Single column, I’ll be reporting on the sterling new debut release on Tiny Sticks by three part electro duo Clap Rules. You might recognize the Tiny Sticks name if you read my interview with Cage & Aviary earlier this week, as they are set to release a 12″ later this year on the label as well. But newcomers Clap Rules are in the mix this week thanks to the awesome Old Sequencer single.
Clap Rules – Old Sequencer Tiny Sticks Records iTunes/Vinyl
Clap Rules feels a lot like other material on Tiny Sticks, too (the face on the cover makes me feel right at home as well). Which is beyond stellar, seeing as some of my favorite electronic acts hail from the label (Mock & Toof especially). The titled A Side is a tight mix of disco influenced bass with a high pitched synth loop, changing ever-so-slightly throughout “Old Sequencer”. There’s live guitar to boot, making the track nearly perfect as a blend of live instrumentation and modern day house fanaticism. It’s funky, it’s groovy, it’s the future. As Juan Maclean said earlier this year: The Future Has Come. “Old Sequencer” is perfectly produced, as each looping section never gets old, and although the pace for the song never really leaves a certain BPM, the song still feels like it builds to a beautiful crescendo. The B Sides, “Never Half Step” and “Braxx” both sound amazing. Again drawing on deep house roots, the two songs make for great additions to the single. “Braxx” is probably the better of the two. The track adds some almost Simian Mobile Disco-like synth pulses to the bass line, making the track feel slightly more upbeat than “Old Sequencer”. It’s hard for me to not over-praise an album, and especially if it’s music like this. Deep house, post disco, electro fucking rock and roll (can you tell by the cursing that I’m excited?). Clap Rules is worth way more than a download, and worth way more than my amateur rambling, so I’ll stop. For a debut it’s incredible, and I can’t wait to hear more.
MP3: Clap Rules – “Old Sequencer”
Clap Rules performing “Never Half Step” live
MIND INVERSION 