Relentless raver and emerging artist from the Rinse France roster of captivating talent, RONI launched her imprint Nehza Records with a five-track EP titled 'Slowing' by Bordeaux-based member of the Super Daronne collective, Neida. Marking the debut release on the label, Neida is the first producer to bring RONI's fantasy-led vision to life.
'Slowing' is a cross-pollination of breaks, acid, jungle and bass which nods to the sound of the underground UK rave scene circa 1990. An era that RONI closely aligns with in terms of sound, art and the sense of liberation synonymous with 90s club culture, Neida nails this aesthetic throughout the EP. A drummer and son of a musical instrument builder, Neida's rich history in music production shines bright from the first beat of the release.
'Bull' sets a powerful tone as the opening track, packed with punchy drums layered below an orchestral-like vocal before 'DSO' burbles through with squelchy synthwork over a 4/4 beat - a clear hint of that UK rave sound simmering under
the surface. Garnering his appreciation for reggae and Rasta dialect, Neida's rework of a vocal derived from reggae artist Don Carlos is masterfully blended into this 6-minute churner.
Over on the B-side, 'Guess Who' burns slowly with downtempo breaks and mesmerising chords; you can almost smell an imaginary forest as the track unravels, creating an image of tripping in nature - likely brought on by Alice Gavin's [Alice Gavin Services], the designer, author and creative director responsible for the mushroom-themed artwork on the sleeve of the EP. 'WHT' rumbles through with a mellow introduction before going full-whack into barreling drums and clap-heavy percussion, illustrating Neida's ability to dip into experimental textures that nod to complex rhythm patterns rather than club-cut melodies.
'For All The Time Sake' closes the EP with an acid bassline and bright, crisp percussion ending the EP on a significantly vibrant note to mark the first stepping stone of RONI's record label.
'Slowing' is a spiralling myriad of bright atmospheres and escapism, likely to be one of many sonic trademarks on Nehza Records.