The Magnificent Kaleidoscopa EP

Leiden based duo Formel aka Tom Noah and Bas Van Der Laken debut on Piston with the superb The Magnificent Kaleidoscopa EP. The guys had met in strange circumstances, they were fighting over a bottle of Vodka backstage at a gig and from that they formed Formel. Since then they have forged a strong partnership and blended their respective styles, Bas having the more progressive sound and Tom having a more tech house style. They debuted in 2013 on Bla Bla Records and have played at top gigs and events across Europe. Well worth keeping an eye on this formidable pair.

We kick off this superb EP with the title track, The Magnificent Kaleidoscopa. The intro eases in with some cool percussions that have a hint of tribalism attached. A perfectly balanced thumping kick soon takes over with a super sweet pad and sultry vocal sitting in the background. The bassline is a wonderfully rich, full sound that warms the track beautifully as smooth synths add a colourful texture. A very smooth and upbeat slice that will be a feature in many sets for sure.

Popayan intros with a subtle percussion with distant melodic phrases fading in from the back. A strong punchy kick gets the track really moving with the help of crispy sharp hats and some brilliant FX. The bassline takes the sound that little bit further with its deep resonating pulses. Very smooth and groovy offering with beautifully layered sounds, top notch.

Prince Rupert sets off with a cool punchy kick as the percussions begin to form up to bring a steady, flowing rhythm. Lush chords bring a wonderful deep house groove to the sound which are filled with melodic flavours. The bassline brings a tough edge to the track which contrasts perfectly with much more upbeat main sound. The break reveals smooth pads that ebb and flow beautifully leading to some cool synth work before getting right back into the main groove for the duration, classy stuff that is not to be missed.