Neal Burroughs - Dead Soul (2020)

Lisbon's Paraíso captures our imagination again by taking us on a stroll through deviant rave traditions filtered through the lens of Porto born-and-raised Neal Burroughs, an alternative pseudonym for one of the city's (and planet's) most charismatic and rule-breaking producers. His identity is kept a semi-secret - those in the know will recognise his mystery-drenched, cinematic productions.

In tape and digital formats, 'Dead Soul' is a collection of left-field dance compositions that delve into a diverse yet intimate palette of interpretations - from immersive emotional cuts that ring like instant classics such as the title track and 'Priceless Bones', both guided by eerie pads and mysterious chord progressions, to tougher cuts like 'Desire' or propulsive sci-fi rollers such as 'Can't' and 'Silver Palace', where vocal cut-ups, digital choruses and sonically sculpted synths create moments of perfect lost-in-the-moment club euphoria.

Things get wonky and verging on the good kind of disorienting on 'Undress' and 'Order', reminding us that experimentation is at the core of the most compelling electronic music. Label founder @shcuro closes this mystical, almost cerimonial line-up of tracks with a fast techno edit of 'Order', shifting gears into a relentless, energetic realm that leaves us ready for expansion - mental and physical.

All proceeds from this EP will go to SOS Racismo, an anti-racist organisation that provides legal advice, education, career guidance, economic empowerment and community support for POC.