If “Sempre a Correr” was the warm-up, then “Homo Hustle” is the final sprint to cross the finish line in style. “Homo Hustle” lands on Discos Extendes to confirm what we all already knew: the future of Portuguese dance music passes through Phoebe, aka Bruno Gonçalves. If his central role as founder of collectives such as “mina” and “Troublemaker Records” were not enough, or his role as programmer in festivals such as “Rama em Flor” or “Ano Zero”, or even as a central figure of the essential non-club “Planeta Manas”... or even as an agent at his own “Myth Agency”! Bruno Gonçalves still manages to find time to dj and produce! And he doesn't do it carelessly. Homo Hustle is a tight and muscular record that reveals his attention to the state of the art of dance music, without ever forgetting the original legacy of house. These were the tracks that he has shown us somewhere in 2021 and that we were so willing to release! A straightforward dance record made to shake your booty. A record that fits Extended Records like a glove!
In “Sempre a Correr” it was the “unstoppable urgency” that distinguishes Phoebe that was spoken about. A very raw, almost naked record, anchored in the 4/4 rhythm and the strength of the kick. Almost a year later, arrives “Homo Hustle”; a direct, muscular album, also aimed at the dance floor, but here with another type of nuances, more musical, which reveals the maturation of Phoebe as a producer. “Afternoon Blaze” is still a transitional track. Anchored in 4/4 with an offbeat bass, reminiscent of some songs by Detroit techno legend Robert Hood, develops into a crescendo where multiple rhythmic patterns and stabs are added to the track over 5 minutes until finally everything explodes! “Go” abandons 4/4, moving towards an aesthetic closer to electro but with great emphasis on claps instead of the traditional snare drums, and with a strong insistence on the repetition and manipulation of the vocal “Give You More” in what seems to be a promise of total delivery on the dancefloor. Side B opens with the hedonism of “Estou Perdido” tied to a drum break and with a somewhat nostalgic and highly emotional soundscape. Without ever abandoning a somewhat dirty and saturated aesthetic, the succession of ravy stabs and a long and continuous horn, here applied as a pad that adds tension to the environment, transport us directly to the middle of the rave and to this profusion of sweaty half-naked bodies who, induced by various consumptions, on any dark, dirty and damp dancefloor, are just looking for pleasure and a moment of collective catharsis. The climax of the album finally comes with “My Friends” which, as the name suggests, is a hymn to the friendship celebrated in the club. Broken beat, with a “in your face” sampled break, the track is guided by a vocal of which at the start immediately asks us: “Have you ever met those type of people that don’t quite get it?”. We have. But we do understand! Epic and celebratory, “My Friends” uses elements that are already common in Phoebe's production: a staby and distorted bass, repeated and manipulated voice samples, wide variations in rhythmic patterns, outlining a strong musical identity. A sure-fire recipe that promises to hit with a bang on any dance floor. The record ends with a remix by Jensen Interceptor (with whom Bruno has a special bond as they had worked together during his time at Outer Agency), who takes “Afternoon Blaze” and transforms it into a bassy madness, full of percussion and distorted 808s to finish the album in a smash! “Homo Hustle” by Phoebe, a record, and certainly a career, to be taken into account.
credits
released March 1, 2024
all tracks by written and produced by Bruno Gonçalves, except B3 - Afternoon Blaze (Jensen Interceptor Remix), written and produced by Jensen Interceptor.
Mastered by Carlos Nasciemnto at Qualia Audio Lad
Design by Conhecido João
The frenetic fourth installment of the infamous Secret Rave series features contributions by Voytek, Kreggo + Textasy, Local Group and more. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 13, 2018
