NA - 8/10

The cover of NA’s second solo EP ‘Cellar’ depicts an underground, hexagonal-shaped tunnel, full of debris and cast in amber tones. There’s no light at the end; you’re stuck here for the forseeable future, listening to the staunch instrumentals that he’s imagined for this very setting.

The EP kicks off with ‘Cellar Theme’, a monumental grime instrumental that wields the same kind of sheet-metal catharsis beloved of the UK’s Bloom. It’s a guaranteed banger and leads straight into another certified hit, ‘Brass Claim’, which splices the triumphant Detroit electro/techno style of DJ Nasty with the bumpin’ forward motion of Jersey club. It’s a fucking riot and you’ll be hearing it a lot once DJs get to grips with it.

Thankfully, NA follows that up by giving us something new to grapple with: the bassline of ‘Menace’ licks at the underside of nimble junglist percussion and crystalline keys, while ‘Definite Sentence’ is a dark and rowdy club cut full of stuttering kicks and turbo bass. ‘NA In A Mood’ closes the EP, a mournful track that’ll leave listeners wondering whether they’ll ever see daylight again.

To listen to this audio clip, view the full mobile website.