Spencer Brown makes his Factory 93 Records debut with the imprint’s latest three-tracker EP, the meticulously crafted I Was Too Young for 90s Raves.
The big bang era of electronic music, like most forerunners of the modern-day dancefloor, can only be experienced through secondhand accounts from those who were fortunate enough to have paved the way for the current occupants of the underground. Spencer Brown’s age may have been an impediment at the time, but the 26-year-old producer now stands behind a sophisticated sound articulated with wisdom far beyond his years. He’s established himself as a true connoisseur of progressive-laden house and techno, and his Factory 93 label debut carries the weight of a seasoned veteran with decades of history attached to his name. His EP, ‘I Was Too Young for 90s Raves,‘ harkens back to the glory days of a previous generation of dance music while showcasing Brown’s incredible range in the modern era.
Because I like to play very diverse sets with all sorts of styles tied together by my signature flow, I presented these three tracks to Factory 93 when they reached out for music, expecting them to accept one or two. I feel honored that they accepted all three, where ‘Thanks, Guy’ is deeper progressive, ‘ID v14’ is a techno hammer, and ‘I Was Too Young For 90s Raves’ is a higher energy progressive track hinting at 90s trance. The three tracks together round out an EP that I will be playing out for many years to come. – Spencer Brown
“Thanks, Guy,” the album’s lead single, is a journey through transcendental grooves, guided by lofty melodic progressions that wander around sublime sax riffs. It was given a slight head start on the line, debuting one week ahead of its two companions as a standalone release. The nearly seven-minute collaboration follows a powerful driving rhythm adorned with whipping synth stabs and brain-tickling melodic ricochets. It’s a top-of-the-line dancefloor weapon.
I’m happy the track is finally coming out. I love it, especially for the melody reminiscent of those 2010 Cirez D vibes. – Raito
Finally, on the title track, Brown floats through waves of wide-eyed euphoria to bring the EP to a close in classic proggy fashion. He draws inspiration from progressive music legends Sasha & Digweed, using their seminal ‘Northern Exposure‘ album as a touchstone for his own unique approach to the genre. The closing track has an old-school gleam to it as it glides through buoyant basslines, gleaming sequences, bit-crushed textures, uplifting padlines, and a heavy dose of nostalgia that does the genre justice.
The biggest inspiration for my own music is always looking into the past, rather than recreating what’s popping right now. This track was inspired by feelings I got from 90s progressive music but with my own spin. I could only imagine what being at the raves of the time felt like… – Spencer Brown
Because time travel is still a fantasy for ravers born around the turn of the millennium, hurling yourself onto historic dancefloors during the dawn of progressive remains a fantasy. Spencer Brown’s ability to repurpose those influences on his ‘I Was Too Young for 90s Raves’ EP is certainly a close second.
Spencer Brown’s ‘I Was Too Young for 90s Raves’ EP is out now on Factory 93. You can stream and download it here.
