suzi analogue x queens d. light – “multiplyyy”
devastatingly tough and deliciously relentless. this kicks hard yet simultaneously bounces along with a freshly feminine, bass-booming groove that screams dance and shift and move and shit.
the beats are restless and onwards-ever-tumbling across the one, the two, the three, the four, with the returning, vibrating buzz-like speed-repeat-kick on every other four adding yet more insistence to an already highly impatient drive. the surrounding up-down bassline and lean key shifts, the layered over electro-whip-crack, and machinery boot-up whoosh add delightful texture and deft switches to keep it tantalising, energising and mobilising throughout its super-taut four and a half minute span – you barely notice it fly by because this is indeed fine fine production work from suzi analogue.
vocally queen’s d. light feels more playful and enticing than all-out rough and tumble. her lyrics pop and shimmer and shake, floating with such unfettered and effervescent panache over the top of these aggressive beats without ever feeling subsumed nor overwhelmed, and the combination of the two is truly supreme. the delivery feels expertly effortless, cleverly jumps tone, and is perfectly on point, and analogue’s smart vocal edits only serve to accentuate this pristine precision and poise, while helping it battle back and connect into the more industrial and pulverising instrumentation.
jtvizion’s video delivers similarly sharp-edged, shudder-some edits courtesy of jesse torres and natalia arias. it assertively sets out its stall from the outset courtesy of the divine maya angelou quote “i love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels … life’s a bitch … you’ve got to go out and kick ass”, and remains indefatigable and indomitable to the end. it’s utterly joyful and inclusive, colourful and mischievous, east-west connecting and collective supporting, and revels in the sheer thumptastic nature of the track itself. most of all, it’s fun, febrile, fast, feisty and fine.
i’m going to have to listen back across some of suzi analogue’s previous pugnacious productions and queen’s d. light’s lyrical levitation to better acquaint myself with them as i’m sure it’ll be a richly rewarding exercise. until then, i can’t see myself taking the thoroughly addictive “multiplyyy” off loop for quite some time. and neither should you.
