Collaborations are so seldom a cut-and-dry release for either party involved, particularly when the personalities are as big as the concept itself, and thus, we should all feel lucky to come across a record like Head Fake Vs Dub Fu Masters this year. Sure, hybridity has been the primary topic of discussion in critics’ circles as of recent, but to take something pure and give it a uniquely modern spin is something we haven’t collectively seen from some of the bigger names in electronica this summer; that’s where these two come in. I already had a good feel for Head Fake last year, but in this performance with Dub Fu Masters, he brings in a new dynamic of collaborative experimentation that I could quickly get addicted to.
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First off, if you think these two acts are going to be gunning for each other from the start in this EP, you’re in for quite a surprise as “One Step” kicks into gear. Truthfully, I couldn’t find a single instance within this tracklist where either creative entity is fighting for the spotlight; they’re connective and well-balanced for sharing a studio space. If there’s something to be learned from the chemistry they share in this capacity, it’s finding the right collaborative partner is so much more than looking at the dollars and cents frequently discussed within the context of hip-hop, rock, and other subgenres of pop to the right of electronica.
The beats in “Overjoyed” and “Trump Funk” wholly define the mood of the music where words would have only scratched the surface, and when it comes to the two sentiments in the crosshairs of this material, it’s hard coming up with something that hasn’t already been said at some point or another. That’s part of the reason why the groove is such an integral part of the storytelling in Head Fake Vs Dub Fu Masters; it’s filling in the poetic gaps in an instinctual, humanizing manner that isn’t possible with the use of a singer alone, and this is what makes this EP such a compelling listen around every corner. There’s nothing standard or average about this effort – it’s original, and arguably as original as it gets for the contemporary electronic music scene.
Synthetic grooves take on an especially industrial yet heartfelt emotionality in this supreme club piece from Dub Fu Masters and Head Fake, but even if you’re not the biggest audiophile or dancefloor dependent, this is still a record I think you should try out before the season is over. The summery vibe of the rhythm is skewed by gothic energy in the melodies of “One Step” and “Overjoyed” that is bound to leave you with some curiosity about who these artists are and what they could potentially produce if given the right kind of platform from which to broadcast their conceptualism. That’s truly the epitome of what a good collaborative project is supposed to do at the end of the day, and in this department, Head Fake Vs Dub Fu Masters sets a very high standard.
Chadwick Easton