Artist: Spooky
Title: No Return
Label: Spooky
By: Devon Shaw | 28 September 2006
Tracklist:

• A: Spooky Main Club Mix
• B: Josh Wink Acid Vocal Intepretation

Spooky "No Return"

Fresh off 2005's remix of Depeche Mode's 'Precious' is the ever-talented outfit Spooky. With 'No Return', the duo of Charlie May and Duncan Forbes offer up the first taste from their upcoming album, 'Open'. Given May's frequent past work with Sasha on such works as 'Involver', 'Airdrawndagger' and 'Xpander', it's no shock that 'No Return' carries all the inherent spacey qualities that identify with those albums. What's also no shock is how well-executed this release is, on both sides. Again tapping the talents of vocalist Julie Daske (who appeared on 2002's 'Belong') and enlisting the aid of acid house veteran Josh Wink, Spooky makes a grab for a place in record bags everywhere and comes up with a firm hold.

The 'Main Club Mix' kicks off in true 'Involver' fashion, employing bottom-heavy modulated rolling bass, crisp claps, abstract effects and a trademark cloud cover of whirling, filtered atmospherics. Julie's vocals find their way into the track at just the right time, when May and Forbes expertly strip away just enough elements to clear room for her voice. She carries through the mid-song breakdown, following a high-end build back into the main beat. Panned effects sweep back and forth through the track, carrying it through a gradual spiraling down to the finish. Masterfully done, with the lone exception of drowning out Julie's vocals a bit too much.

Josh Wink's reinterpretation succeeds in surprisingly fine form, precisely by not sounding like everything else Josh Wink has ever done. Something is immediately amiss in the beginning drum work - it's percussive and floaty, with a slice of 303 neatly layered on top. What emerges from the build is deep house more than anything. A tastefully introduced bass line drives the heart of the track, and Julie's vocals are brought to the forefront to provide a spellbinding combination. Dashes of effects and synths provide a softened edge, and the ultimate result from the capping climax is arguably the realization that this is some of Wink's best work in years.

While the work of May and Forbes is rarely to be doubted, each release brings it's challenges to the proving ground and the seasoned duo have set themselves up perfectly for the release of their future full length album. 'No Return' will whet the appetites of DJs and enthusiasts alike, and stands to be regarded as a quality release even in the years to come. What Spooky lacks in their frequency of output is more than made up for by the quality. Nicely done.