Listen to the release here: https://open.spotify.com/album/2oObxhExTtFiJSxo5Zn1xx
The journey through “The Dark Side” commences with “Bad at Love Since Forever,” a track that immediately paints a sonic picture both haunting and beautiful. You’ve got these warped bass sounds weaving with these airy, almost see-through synth tones, and the way the melody layers up makes you feel this push and pull between being open and being strong – like love that’s just out of reach. While it leans more into straight-up electronic music than some of the early trip-hop pioneers, it’s got that same knack for building an atmosphere that really pulls you in and makes you feel something.
Next up is “Outlaws Division,” and this one kicks things into a higher gear with a beat that just drives. The overdone drum sounds and these sharp, edgy synth lines create this feeling of breaking free, of being a bit of a rebel. It’s got this raw energy and a groove that just won’t quit. While it’s more forceful than a lot of classic trip-hop, it’s got that same ability to just grab you and put you in a specific sonic space.
Then we arrive at “Reckless Flower,” which takes a more thoughtful and tuneful path. It mixes these almost old-school romantic feelings with these twisted, kind of supernatural sounds, and the result is this dreamy, almost unreal vibe. The way the soft, pretty tunes play against these unexpected, glitchy noises reminds you of how trip-hop often put together these contrasting sounds to create something new and emotionally rich.
Finally, the EP closes with “Branded Your Brain.” This one’s got these deep, smoky bass sounds and textures that make you think of a dark movie scene. The way the sounds are put together has this clever twist that makes you wonder what’s real. The way Luca Draccar builds this darker sound with these underlying emotions definitely calls to mind some of the key elements of trip-hop – that blend of heavier beats with a sense of mood and depth. You can hear that same kind of cinematic feel and that attention to creating a specific vibe.
Luca Draccar, based in Berlin but with that Italian creative fire, is making some seriously interesting waves in the techno and electronic music world. He’s like a sound mixer, taking shiny techno and blending it with these darker, more unusual rhythms to make music that’s both catchy and new. He goes beyond what you usually expect from electronic music, putting together these strong beats, synths that kind of stutter and break, and melodies that actually have feeling. With a background in design and starting out DJing in Milan’s underground scene, he’s grown into an artist with a clear vision. “The Dark Side,” which he sees as his most detailed and important work, really shows this. It’s all about being honest and digging into your feelings, and you can hear that in how he balances these raw emotions with really sharp production. This EP really shows why he’s becoming a voice to pay attention to in modern electronic music.
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | BEATPORT | APPLE MUSIC | BANDCAMP |
