Tarik Alj - Frosted Tea EP

A. March (Original Mix) 5:28 min | 133BPM

B. Funeste (Extended Version) 5: 48 min | 125BPM

C. Ketouak (Extended Version) 6:02 min | 125BPM

D. Neige (Extended Version) 5:48 min | 128BPM

Written and Produced by Tarik Alj.
Mastered by Adam Dempsey @ Dex Audio.
Published by Copyright Control.

Release Date - July 5th 2004

i-DJ MAGAZINE AUGUST 2004: Infamous Light are one of a new breed of labels that are cropping up, and will continue to crop in the coming months and years ahead, as the music industry goes through an inevitable change to Digital only distribution. Based solely in the virtual world, ILR's releases can only be purchased as MP3 downloads. The way ahead. Tarik Alj, a newcomer to the production world takes the helm of the second release from ILR, and shows superb promise with this EP. Mixing deep and experimental elements to forge a superb EP of funky and innovative Tech House. More please. Rating 3.5 stars - Piliavin & Zimbardo, August 2004 Issue.

365 MAG: Infamous Light Recordings founded by PJ, a young man with a vision, only releases via the world wide web. The releases will be treated like ordinary twelve inches in a promotional way but will not be pressed on vinyl. The releases can be bought at various web shops. I personally like this open minded idea very much and think it's a very good thing to explore new paths using today's modern technology. About the release, Tarik produces very cool and deep tracks. For me as a DJ it's a bit to soft and experimental, this doesn't mean it's not good, it is absolutely quality. I'm sure that my good friend LeRon is going to love this. Especially to listen to at home or in a bar. It's very filmic and yet open. I wouldn't be surprised if Tarik is going towards Jazz in the future. I'm glad Tarik Alj sets the standard for new artists for on-line music.

BEATFACTOR: Infamous Light Recordings is a new digital record label releasing techno/house music. The first release from PJ received support from the likes of Cass, James Zabiela, and Tyler Stadius. The second release is from newcomer Tarik Alj from Canada, this is his debut release titled the "Frosted Tea EP". The first track "March" starts of with a minimal groove before a break is introduced with cut-up micro vocal samples, the track then continues with moody emotive background pads that would fit perfectly in a warm-up dj set. "Funeste" is up next, this track has an enormous bass hook that will devastate the most powerful of sound systems. "Funeste" has also been reportedly offered placement in an upcoming UK compilation cd. "Ketouk" has another storming bassline and some spooky synth riffs. The final track "Neige" has a much darker quirky feel to it, and is filled with some twisted acid sounds. This is a great release for Infamous Light. Tarik's productions are minimal in style, but all are done in a very intelligent way that should appeal to many djs.

PROGRESSIVE SOUNDS: Following the release from label boss PJ, Infamous Light Recordings picks up a newcomer from Canada named Tarik Alj. Tarik began exploring music at an early age, and was fascinated with deep and experimental sounds, riding along with a funky groove. His DJ sets and productions are a mixture of these sounds, and on his debut release the ´Frosted Tea EP´, he lays down some incredible elements within tech house. ´March´ starts off the EP. Techy drums start in while a low bassline moves slowly up and down. Tiny beeps fall into the percussion and a cut up crazed vocal snip works in dropping everything down into a break beat middle. Small sounds filter through the background and a smooth lightly arpeggiated synth rolls on up and out of the break. The synth has a dreamy sound to it and mixes perfectly with the bassline and percussion that builds back into the house beat. ´Funeste´ is a futuristic tune with bouncy drums and an experimental vibe. The percussion is filled with layers of clicks and pops, high hats and cute tones. The bassline starts moving and building into a solid groove. Tiny beeps accompany short stops and quick breaks while sparkly synths work their way in. Nice pad sounds take off from there, moving the song till the end. The hypnotic groove of ´Ketouak´ is up next. Starting with a backing break beat and working into a harder kick and house beat, the song builds along a solid bassline. Watery beeps come in and are swooped up with a smooth swaying synth. A nice groove starts in and gallops through short breaks and changes. ´Neige´ closes the EP down. Tight drum programming and a housey bassline shine, while the songs moves through breaks and quality production. A quirky sound plays with the percussion while the bassline moves up and down once again. The ´Frosted Tea EP´ is a nice tech house mix of sounds from Tarik Alj. Infamous Light Recordings second offering provides enough funk and experimental sounds to keep those ears glued. Jairus Miller ´Feng Shui´ is the next release for Infamous Light, and should go down a storm.

RESIDENT ADVISOR: Canadian producer Tarik Alj’s ‘Frosted Tea’ EP is the second release to come from new Australian tech-house label Infamous Light Recordings, which promises to deliver all of its upcoming releases online digitally. A newcomer to the DJ and production world, Alj’s debut EP release represents a four track snapshot of his minimal yet streamlined explorations into deep tech-house. Opening track ‘March’ slowly enters on lush bass pads, a taut tech-house kickdrum and clicking snares locking in around a background of ambient chords and cut up fragments of human voice, before suddenly fading away in a wash of bleeps. ‘Funeste’ injects some interesting almost tribal-house influenced percussive sounds over a distant buzzing synth bassline that almost calls to mind a far more blurred-out subliminal version of one of Basement Jaxx’s hooligan anthems, before ‘Ketouak’ kicks in with a tight punchy kickdrum and machine-like bleeps and whirs, some minimal synth chords moving around in the background offsetting the crisp foreground beats nicely and adding a somewhat hypnotic quality overall. Finally, ‘Neige’ closes this EP with an interesting almost breakstep shuffle to its crisp tech-house rhythms, swooshing sounds flying through a dense mesh of mechanical snares and what almost sounds like a chamber being loaded. The ‘Frosted Tea’ EP offers a nice introduction to Tarik Alj’s minimal tech-house productions, and from the evidence contained within it’s obvious that this emerging Canadian producer has struck a nice balance between lush yet minimal chord textures and more hard tech-house rhythms, lending a nice filmic quality to many of these tracks. My only criticism would be perhaps that on a couple of these tracks (‘Funeste’ and ‘Neige’) the extended beatless breakdowns in the middle bottom things out a bit too much and halt the rhythm mid-sentence. Apart from these minor points though, this is a well-produced and intriguing debut EP that is sure to appeal to fans of minimal tech-house in the vein of Luomo and Force Tracks.

TECHHOUSE LIST:...another cracking ep of low-slung deep tech-house. i think what i like most about these four tracks, having listened to them half-a-dozen times during the last week, is their pared-down simplicity; admittedly the sound palette is fairly small but then absolutely nothing goes to waste or is used indulgently. the rolling basslines are particularly superb (check the groove created on "funeste"), the drums sprightly and the 'hats snappy. more tools than anything else, these will surely work as well alongside minimal gear as they will with more traditional (and punchier) warm-up club stuff) - Ciaran Walsh, THL (UK).

TECHHOUSE LIST: Now I'm one that prefers not to play on CD decks. I'm one of those that would be labelled as a vinyl puritan I suppose. For me personally, the tactile nature of turntables is part of the experience. So, Infamous Light Recordings, paving the way for a new method of label management (digital labels) comes along for the second time in a row and absolutely forces me to dust off the CD deck and get it back into the setup. This is one of those releases that has so much to it that any leaving it behind simply out of preferene for vinyl would be a real shame. With all 4 tracks on the EP being well above the horizon, the highlight for me is the lead off track "March". Coming in strong and hard with a good bass kick and minimal clutter it's very DJ friendly without being too simplistic. Razor sharp kicks and mid work give the track a good swing and set the stage for the saturnine bassline. With an ever so minimal vocal, the track touches on giving a very slight quirk angle while keeping the focus on staying straight foward. Perfect as a set opener, or late night groove for a chilled out room full of enthusiasts - it's bound to raise a few brows. - Ryan G, THL / NYCE Records (Canada).