- Steven Van Hulle is a fixture in Amsterdam's colorful house scene, and he's got the pedigree to match. He's stacked up quite a catalogue with hometown institutions Rush Hour and Dekmantel, and worked with local producers Young Marco, San Proper and Tom Trago. Dekmantel originally issued "Pregnant" in 2012, and now it's been re-pressed due to popular demand, with new material on the flip.
"Pregnant" is built around a break from the 1982 boogie cut "You Can't Run From My Love," by New York soul singer Stephanie Mills. It takes its sweet time to unfold, swelling over the course of 12 easy-going minutes without ever boiling over. That unhurried pacing is the mark of a seasoned DJ, someone who understands how far you can stretch a simple loop and still keep the crowd's attention. Very little happens, which is fine; the track's raw, crooked drum groove is enough to carry it home.
"Star Butchers" is the quirkier of the two. Shabby and upbeat, it has a freewheeling vibe like something on Future Times. The track's overblown electric bass and squashed kick drum seem to crowd each other out of the lower register, though it feels endearing rather than amateurish. The Darling edit improves on "Star Butchers," introducing iridescent synths and twinkling keys that are so cheery they're almost cartoonish. Expect both versions to crop up in plenty of daytime festival sets this summer.
TracklistA1 Pregnant
B1 Star Butchers
B2 Star Butchers (Darling Edit)