[Sect Records]

A few weeks ago an inconspicuous package appeared on my desk at work with a return address from über-retailers Juno and “Sect” emblazoned below my name. I shook out a plain white CD sleeve containing a disc marked “Sect 1″ and nothing else. Usually whoever sent the promo is overeager to wax poetic about its contents; not this time. Curious, I popped it into my computer and iTunes told me it contained three tracks by The Yale Cellos from their album, Villa-Lobos. When I pressed play I was stunned to find I wasn’t hearing a cheeky string tribute to the man, but three of the most compelling house tracks I’ve heard in some time. Something was certainly afoot, and I pressed my contact at Juno for more information. Three weeks later I’m still in the dark and marveling at the mystery disc’s music.

One of the most striking things about “Sect 1″ is that it sounds as if it were performed and mixed live. Elements appear and disappear suddenly and occasionally forcefully, sounding as if manually closed off by a quickly flung knob. But their performer never impedes upon the fastidiously crafted tracks which often twist in several directions at once as a result of contrasting internal syncopations. But these are natural, human shaped rhythms; the tunes pack a straightforward punch, are immediately accessible and prone to lodging themselves in listeners’ brains for days. (streams after the jump, play them LOUD)

The disc starts with a swift and slightly Latin-flavored track whose rippling toms, soft-footed kick, swaying chime pattern and chipper (and indecipherable) female vocals pump feverishly from the first few beats, requiring listeners to get acquainted quickly or be run over. It grows denser, picks up flaring hi-hats, a second synth gilding the chimes’ outlines and majestic pads looming large over the thrusting tune without sounding the least bit overcrowded. There’s a brief breather at about five and a half minutes, scaling back to just synths and chimes, but its many elements are hard to restrain, flitting in and out of the mix before the dam breaks and everything pumps to a fading close. To call the tune exhilarating would be understating how powerfully intoxicating its many layers and frantic pace can be.

Not to be outdone, the second track rearranges jacking house structures to fit its unique needs and while retaining a slimmer profile. It begins with a man rattling off a list of commands — “work, dream, play, do, love, try, be, create, live, bang, jack, jack” — as a synthesizer pulses between a small handful of pitches and a shuffling drum loop clatters around a solid kick drum. While this second track is considerably more linear in nature, small details like ethereal synth burbles trickling below and heavily accented claps on four and then one of the next bar give this seemingly naked tune a detailed, human lining.

“Sect 1″ concludes with the shortest and slowest track (still near 129 bpm, for reference), but its arrangements are as instantly danceable as those which came before it. Its main synth riff makes up for its standard tone with wild progressions coursing in intricate and colorful directions to the beat of a snare. Ascending swells and vivacious little leads pull the listener through the fray, where they encounter a strident call to take it “higher!” and, eventually, remarkable kick drum triplets — truly the icing on a decadently topped platter.

After reading Little White Earbuds for a while I imagine most of you know I’m a sucker for an entertaining back story; but with Sect and his/her/their debut, “Sect 1,” I’m glad to let the music be all the narrative I need. The disc’s three songs could have been made any time over the last 15 years, with any assortment of basic equipment and by any number of people and the result would be the same — some of the best dance music I’ve heard to date. I don’t know when we’ll be fortunate enough to hear more from Sect or if it will see a wider release, but for all those passionate about house and techno I sincerely hope there’s more to be had and soon. Mystery producer revealed here. (post by Steve Mizek)