Bart Van Wissen "Crazy Local EP"

It´s taken a few years to break from the pack, but Dutch native Bart Van Wissen has firmly established himself as a progressive force to be reckoned with. Early on his sound took a line alongside the deep, housey undertones of Mic Burns and Joshua Collins, and with his recent ´In Da House EP´ evolved into a delightful, almost disco alternative, with an electro edge. Bart´s latest effort, the ´Crazy Local EP´ picks right up where the ´House´ left off.

´Halfway Home´ is tech right out of the gate. Combining a steppy beat pattern with a variety of eclectic elements, the opening brings in a dash of flavor, tastefully funky yet subdued. A layered bass line drives the tune, while a series of bleeps, arps and chords flutter through the upper echelons of the soundscape. You won´t find any peak time melodies here, and the track doesn´t end far from where it started. But what´s been served up is an appropriately executed mid-set filler, a track that compliments the vibe without going overboard.

Up next is ´Crazy Local´, divided between the original and a negligible edit by Ricky Ryan. The ´Original Mix´ kicks off a bit more ambitious than ´Halfway Home´. Immediately from the get-go, a melody swings into play, dancing right over the top of modulated harmonics and classic Bart Van Wissen drum work. The electro-fused bass riff changes up multiple times throughout the song, making way for an intriguing key change and ridding the need of an obligatory breakdown. It eventually returns back to the main drive, a delight to the ears. Perhaps not Bart´s best work, but amply equipped to raise attention when dropped on the floor.

Rounding out the release is Ricky Ryan´s arguably unnecessary ´RR Edit´. Many elements retain the same shape and form, aside from a slight reworking of the drums and accentuation of the claps. The primary difference omits the mid-song key change venture, instead focusing on carrying the start and finish throughout the entire track. It offers a slightly varied alternative for the DJ´s presence, but the inclusion serves as more filler than a vital addition to what´s already a solid release.

And that´s really what this is. Bart´s not blowing speakers out with this release, but he´s producing solid, quality material that´s quite deserving of being snapped up by progressive DJs with an ear for taste and looking to diversify their sets. In concentrated listening sessions it requires a couple runs to fully appreciate the work, but the ´Crazy Local EP´ will undoubtedly go over well on dancefloors.