[Further Records] (buy cassette)

Releasing a debut album on a TDK cassette only format limited to just 100 copies seems like a peculiar career move for an ascending electronic artist. And for someone like Lerosa, collaborating with Further for the release is even more puzzling. Since 2005, Lerosa aka Leopoldo Rosa has established himself with a string of critical 12″s that could be declared loosely as house, but have incorporated stylistic markers that span from acid and techno to jazz and electro. Stamped with a quirky identity, Rosa’s productions may nominally fit the deep house billing their often filed under but there’s much more hinting at expression. On the other hand, the newly formed Further label has established itself with digital-only releases that are aimed at progressive house and the trance end of techno audiences. In other words, adding Lerosa to the roster stands out like a sore thumb. But according to Rosa, the release and format was a deliberate move by the label owner to allow for more freedom to the artist, less financial risk by label while still producing a tangible object, which Dual Nature accomplishes.

The album opens with “Rusticales” as effervescent synth washes echo their mellifluous tones over loping sub bass and delicate percussion, Rosa announces his new found liberty blithely. Next up we get the first taste of an interlude, in the form of a roughly minute-long cavernous electro piece titled “Spectra.” The theme is continued with “Sponge” as he invokes Detroit minimal electro for an excursion with rolling bass, dark synth stabs and dub effects. Rosa touches on electro elements more fully on “Traffic,” but the dry 808 programming and analog bass line come off as rote maneuvers; whereas “Dixon Jar” treads similar ground but veers off with a moody organ melody befitting his house productions. Rosa’s only real straightforward house entry here is “5 Petals,” its 4/4 rhythm benefiting from fluttering synth melodies and a clipped bass line that unfortunately ends abruptly. The other interlude is “Abscend,” its slow, strutting beat, hi-hats and finger snaps fitting brilliantly into a jazz-soaked keyboard line. The first side ends with “Drama” an appropriately titled track that merges synth sweeps, echoing voices and deep bass swells with further electro drums that mesh well but never overtake the midnight atmosphere.

The second side begins in similar sonic space as the title track and features a spare break beat, but is overshadowed by lustrous synth pads, a tremolo bass line and digital effects that support its melodic gesticulations, wavering between both warm and melancholic. Elsewhere, Rosa tries to balance out ambient textures with techno intensity on “Illness 2” and “Common Thief” with mixed results. When he takes on more purist electronic ambience as with “Paved,” Rosa succeeds by focusing on melodic structuring. Dual Nature ends on “Ohne Pt. 2” as he merges techno vamps with a series of analog sounds awash in delay and reverb, giving the impression of a banging techno cut ready to be unleashed. Instead he brings the kick in on the offbeats and with a trailing clipped bass creates a stuttered feel to the rhythm that on paper should fit the techno/dubstep hybrid mold but never does. Dual Nature stands out not only by its format but also for the music. Its limited release has freed Rosa to explore his influences more fully which we should be grateful to have the opportunity to hear since these sounds may not have ever seen the light of day. For that reason alone cassette releases have the chance to bring music to market in a physical form, even if it’s a small, niche one.