Within the big bunch of electronic releases in the field of the world wide spreading new beat maker scene, “A Contemporary Witness” by J. Baracuz could be one of the highlights this year. Baracuz is, which sets him apart from many of his peers, able to combine his sound design skills on controller and mpc with delicate arrangements and a good sense for song structures.

The opening track of the EP, “The Overture”, juggles with string and piano samples while it is underlined by percussive and driving beats. The tune is as much “on point” as the impulsive second track “One Way Ticket”. Regardless of the moderate tempo, the song is straight forward, includes vocal shreds and synth sounds und even manages to switch over to a Sci Fi Dub part in the middle. Next up, “Jazzy Conqueror”, clocking in at 6 minutes, is the longest piece on the EP. In this track, J. Baracuz proves one more time his talent for structure and arrangement. It is primarily based on organic samples, while being equipped with some glitches here and there. The last song, “Everyone’s the Same” concludes the EP in an enjoyable way with its expressive Soul Folk Electronica vibe.

After a creative break Baracuz has spent with studying, travelling and digging for records, “A Contemporary Witness” is a big step forward for him. The whole EP impresses with detailed and meticulous production, while it still seems to be done with the greatest of ease. Being the 5th EP on Equinox.Digital, the sublabel of the Berlin based Electronica label Equinox Records, it successfully follows the previously released works by Deckard, David Vangel and 2econd Class Citizen.

About J. Baracuz

J. Baracuz is an electronic music producer/beatmaker from Berlin. His debut album “Lasergun Romances”, released in late 2006, has already given proof of his talents and his sense for complex sample-based compositions somewhere between instrumental hip-hop and electronica.

“Lasergun Romances” also was the reason Equinox Records got in touch with him and licensed a couple of his tracks to be released on the “One Year & A Day” series alongside artists such as Free The Robots, Deckard or Emynd.

J. Baracuz’ music can be described best as a progressive, interesting blend of shredded obscure samples, heavy mpc-soaked drums and modern synthetic sounds refined with some glitches here and there. The sampling approach behind all of his tracks is based on the idea of giving rise to not just beats but entire songs out of a “pile of broken dreams”.

After a creative break he spent with studying, travelling and digging for records, J. Baracuz has found his way home in 2011 and will release his new EP “A Contemporary Witness” on Equinox.

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