IBIZA, 17 Jun
Nicolas Masseyeff, Parallelle 'Surrender' on Crosstown Rebels
Nicolas Masseyeff & Parallelle return to Crosstown Rebels for the first time in 11 months with 'Surrender', a two-part exploration of hypnotic and percussive-rich sound that lands on 10 May. This is a return to the label that hosted their 'Renegade' EP on 9 June 2023, and the intervening year has only sharpened the intent of both parties: the label's run of releases in 2024 has been strong, and this one continues it.
'Surrender' is not a track that shouts. It is a study in texture and rhythm, a percussion-forward journey that gives harmony and groove equal ground. The surfaces are busy but not cluttered; there is plenty of light in the upper frequencies, but the whole thing sits at a moderate, confident level, never forcing itself on the listener. It is the kind of record that works as well in the headphones as it does in the mix, and one that rewards attention to detail. Axel Boman provides a remix that takes the source material into his own distinctive space.
The label said
Crosstown Rebels, Bandcamp about text · sourceParallelle & Nicolas Masseyeff return to Crosstown Rebels to deliver the excellent ‘Surrender’, backed by a remix from Axel Boman. Returning to the iconic imprint following the trio’s stand-out ‘Renegade’ EP in 2023, the new collaborative release, set for release on 10th May 2024, welcomes two hypnotic cuts alongside a slick rework from the Studio Barnhus co-founder.
Three talents with a long-standing and innate musical connection stretching back years, Dutch brother duo Parallelle and French DJ/producer Nicolas Masseyef have been connecting and collaborating to shape a series of lauded projects released via renowned imprints such as DGTL, Systematic, and Masseyef’s own Diversions Music. Reuniting for a second outing on Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown
Rebels imprint, following the success of their 2023 debut with the heavily championed ‘Renegade’, the trio return in style with two fresh, original productions backed by an ever-stylish remix from Studio Barnhus co-founder Axel Boman, who returns to deliver his second remix on the label following his debut remixing Dinky in 2016.
The EP’s title track ‘Surrender’ is a rumbling and impactful percussive journey through the darker territories of the night, with skittering synths and echoed vocal interjections adding glimpses of brightness to the otherwise murky sound. Meanwhile, ‘She Says’ keeps the playful vocal elements front and centre, introducing warping melodies and dub-tinged textures. Providing his flip on the latter, Boman’s take on ‘She Says’ is classy and engaging from the off, stripping the track back to expose a raw yet polished interpretation while drawing on hazy pads, eerie tones and sweeping atmospherics for a wonky and trippy excursion.