Strategy: Clocky Man / Snowdrift Dub
ZamZam

The fact that Paul Dickow's latest Strategy two-tracker appears on ZamZam automatically clarifies that the single's musical focus will be dub rather than house, techno, or whatever other style the Portland-based producer might currently be exploring. The analog hardware dub of the A-side's “Clocky Man” breezily struts into view and settles into position, readying itself for a bass-grooving stream of jangly percussion accents, synth squelch, and echo effects—four minutes of blissed-out dub skank with a soothing edge. A smattering of disco sneaks into the flip's “Snowdrift Dub” in the form of a bouncy dancefloor groove, but Dickow ensures that the material doesn't drift too far from its dub roots by including rollicking keyboard stabs, a nimble bass pulse, and, most of all, echo-drenched melodica phrases. Get it while you can ‘cause ZamZam has issued the release in a non-digital run of 500 seven-inch vinyl copies.

December 2013