arctween: ping-pong lp
Francisco Espregueira
Immersion ahead. Porto-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Arctween presents Ping Pong LP, his anticipated debut album via Madluv Records, a leftfield beats mixed with contemporary soul and jazz spin off from Jorge Caiado’s label Carpet & Snares. Over ten tracks, the producer expands on his vast musical world to create a beautiful record that is divided in two sides that are connected and add even more interest to one another. The first one is majestic and feels like a cloud covering a mountain peak, slowly and graciously. Flipping it, we encounter a really polished and unique take on urban influences, nodding to garage, breaks or dub, before the last track escapes into a dream and takes you with it.
Arctween, real name Tito Romão, is also part of the Gaztween duo together with Miguel Tenreiro (a.k.a Gazpa) that released the surprising I at the end of 2021. Coming off of over a year with a synth jam residency on the Mr. Bean’s bar in Porto, and as recurrent member of the super talented band that performs every weekend, the level on this work and the vision contained in it is not surprising for the ones who witnessed Tito’s talent. Ping Pong LP seamlessly blends a myriad of influences, displaying an interplay of drifting strings, nu-wave synths, and rhythmic grooves. Talented collaborators from the Porto scene pitch in - such as Mimi and Nimbou on vocals & Manu Idhra on percussion - and the album shifts from delicate and introspective to energetic and danceable - as per usual in his discography, containing sublime instrumentation. Available on vinyl, Ping Pong LP goes to the ‘specials’ crate.