Rampage Southside Boogie EP

Ghetto Division records keeps 'em coming with the third solo EP from none other than the unfailingly astounding Eddie Regalado; or how he is best known, the prolific and notorious Rampage. Hot on the heels of Windy City Nights EP on T&A and the free Conflake Y Platano EP - both collaborations with The Chicago Deadbeats' Nader - the Southside Boogie EP is full of house and disco-house monsters. Southside Boogie is fourth release on the newest imprint to showcase the future sound of Chicago house, Ghetto Division Records. Each track is a creative combination of the classic elements of disco, house and the filter disco/nu-disco/disco-house style. The EP opens with "High Ride" a solid disco-house number that eases you into Rampage's lifelong love affair with disco. "Midnight Groove" picks it up, gives off a bit of an upbeat, housier feel, with a healthy dose of filters. "What's That Groove" is nothing but high-energy, complete with clipped vocals and piano stabs. The final original track is also the deepest: the smooth, 80's-inspired "Knights Over Chicago." The remixes featured on Southside Boogie are from none other than French wunderkind The Phantom's Revenge, who transformed High Ride into a chopped up party-rouser as only he could. Fellow native Southsider Vince Melo might've made a name for himself as a DJ in the 90's Chicago scene and might also count his contemporaries among Chicago house legends Lego and CZR. But Vince surely shows off some sharp production chops in giving Midnight Groove an innovative syncopated shuffle, while toning down What's That Groove enough to accommodate a bit-crushed piano and a call to "Go way back, back into time." Though you won't need time travel to appreciate the fresh take Rampage serves up on an ageless sound, you'd be well-advised to keep your ears ready for a little bit of the future. The future sound of Chicago, that is; deftly delivered by Rampage and Ghetto Division Records.