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Live Review: DJ Plead merges Middle Eastern rhythm with footwork on 'Liquify'

2 February 2019 | 2:19 pm | Max Lewis

A blend of traditional Middle Eastern rhythms with modern house, DJ Plead's 'Liquify' is an intoxicating listen, and perfect sample of his upcoming EP.

DJ PLEAD is set to grace MP3s and Vinyl alike with his second EP Pleats Plead dropping via Nervous Horizon. To celebrate he's shared a little taste in the form of 'Liquefy', a hypnotic merging of traditional Middle Eastern rhythm with the frantic pulse of footwork.

A veteran of Australia's electronic scene, DJ PLEAD (aka Jarred Beeler) is also one half of drum-and-bass duo Poison, and one third of the experimental electronic trio BV. His work as DJ Plead is easily his most fascinating; drawing from his heritage. Blending his Middle Eastern heritage with his expertise in electronica, he evokes the shared rhythmic experience inherent in Lebanese wedding dances and American dance genres like drum-and-bass and footwork to create a sound that is absolutely transfixing.

'Liquify' sees DJ Plead setting a foundation of pounding traditional loops, before slowly layering additional elements in a fascinating way. The traditional loops become warped as he underlines the mix with synthetic bass and drum-machine snare, while flowery fills from manipulated samples thicken the high end. It's utterly magical the way DJ Plead weaves elements in and out so effortlessly while maintaining the track's rhythmic core that keeps everything in motion. It really brings to light how every culture has music that is designed to move you - and here DJ Plead brings together two different flavours into one perfect, sweat-inducing cocktail.

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Expanding on the blended seeds sown in his 2018 debut, DJ Plead has truly outdone himself on 'Liquify'. With exceptional command of its elements and impressive finesse, he's blended so many sounds into something utterly captivating and unique.

Be sure to catch his sophomore EP Pleats Plead on the 1st of March when it drops in digital and vinyl via Nervous Horizon.

Photo by CASSIUS SELECT

WORDS BY MAX LEWIS

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