This is the debut album from pioneering Tech Funk producer Sam Evans AKA Vandal, a man who has established himself as a musical force over the past decade with his searing electro breaks releases, roof raising DJ sets and punk rock attitude to the music and scene. ‘Tonight we Riot’ has been ten years in the making and draws on material and experiences that have made Evans one of the most highly respected DJ/Producers in his field. From humble beginnings he has developed a following for his Vandal project that borders on the fanatical, his music has been widely used for adverts, TV syncs and computer games, he has had regular support from Radio 1 (achieving a ‘hottest record in the World’ from Zane Lowe for ‘Mad as Hell’) and has travelled the globe, taking up residencies in Berlin and regular spots at Fabric, London. The album is built around 14 tracks and includes classic cuts from the past alongside brand new material, each giving an insight into the intense and evolving sound of Vandal. From the opening bars of ‘Lose It’ it’s clear that this is going to be a full blooded affair, brimming with energy and seismic attitude, previous hits such as ‘Idiots’ , ‘Obey’ and ‘Mad as Hell’ still sound as fresh and rousing as the day they were released and are augmented with some superb new recordings. ‘Life’ featuring vocalist Malcolm Carson comes on like a twisted modern update on Soft Cell, ‘What Cha Got’ is an electro fuelled, dark roller coaster of a track whilst ‘Rave Safe’ and ‘The Wolf’ journey into the realms of rolling techno. Vandal’s ‘Tonight we RiotÕ perfectly captures the sound and feel of the emerging Tech Funk genre, championed by the like of Meat Katie & Elite Force. It is a wonderful fusion of electro, techno, house and breaks, melded into a uniquely intense soundscape that has real depth and serious attitude. Evans’ debut album may have been a decade in the making but it has certainly been worth the wait, this is a superb inaugural long player from an artist who is definitely going to be around for a long time to come….
FEEDBACK
Armin Van Buuren NICE!
Dave Seaman ‘Lose it’ is solid, ‘Smell the glove’ is Nuts
Freqnasty Kool Vibes!!
Bloody Beetroots 4/5
Judge Jules 5/5
Donald Glaude ‘They’er Here & What cha got’ are brilliant!!
CTZL Z ‘Best Breakbeat i have heard in a while’ 5/5
Marco Bailey 4/5
Far Too Loud ‘An album full of thumping goodness’ 5/5
Circuit Freq ‘Im Digging this’ 5/5
Presslaboys Solid!!!
Elite Force ‘Happy Days’ 4/5
Switchbox ‘What a phat package’ 4/5
Nick Thayer ‘Vandal is at the forefront’ 5/5
Lee Coombs ‘Sounds phat’ 5/5
Bryan Cox ‘The Wolf is dope!” 5/5
Peo De Pitte ‘What a corker of an album’ 5/5
Ways & Means ‘Absolutely excellent’ 5/5
Matteo Murphy ‘A great Album’ 5/
