Break It Down - EP

DJ Taye's debut vinyl release Break It Down was released when the Chicago footwork producer was barely old enough to legally drink in his home country, but by this time he'd already become an established producer within his local scene, having released several digital albums, EPs, and mixes. All four of this EP's tracks feature co-production by members of the collaboration-friendly Teklife crew, including fellow Chicago residents DJ Manny and DJ Earl, as well as non-local affiliates DJ Paypal and Tripletrain, and they all expertly demonstrate why the entire scene is exciting, innovative, and worth celebrating. The tempos are always high and frantic, and the samples and beats are diced intricately and carefully, never resting in the same place or looping idly. Most of the tracks feature calm yet longing soul and R&B samples, with some of the tracks feeling laid-back even as they're being chopped within an inch of their life. Best of all is the fact that "XTCC" contains the "there's a void where there should be ecstasy" vocal sample as infamously used by Hyper On Experience on their 1993 rave mega-classic "Lords of the Null Lines," whose off-the-wall intensity and bizarre, humorous samples are a natural precedent to the footwork sound. A remarkable EP and one of the scene's best 2015 releases.