Ping! As soon as the email landed with the new Reptile Dysfunction attached, my ears were ringing in anticipation. Trooko is a new name to me, maybe he shouldn’t be? He’s an LA-based artist picked up by RD label partner Switch who’s recently been collaborating with him instantly finding success with production credits including Coldcut, MIA, Beyoncé, and Major Lazer. Not a bad CV, then.
The ‘True Work EP’ has more juice than a Californian orange: the title track is full of sun-kissed filtered house grooves with forlorn vocals that are perfect poolside or on any discerning club dance floor. On the flip is ‘True to Myself’ keeps the club vibes going but it’s Doorly’s workout that stands out for me and has the man from Delmonte saying ‘YES’!. Doorly drops a proper wonky Von Stroke-esque bassline vibes with a straight-ahead groove, clever cut-ups, fills and a wicked if a little mental breakdown late on in the track. A superb house slither of the highest degree that’ll be cutting up floors for a while.
As one would say in LA: simply awesome man.
Words by Joel Summerling.