Producer and The Osee’s drummer Dan Rincon’s debut major release, Spotlight City, is a focused, minimalistic, and ethereal project that demonstrates his potential and instills high hopes for future endeavors. The album opens with “Cessna,” a 4-minute synth-filled mindbender that flows seamlessly between the listener’s ears as Rincon delicately plucks notes over a metallic synth loop. This track serves as an excellent opener for the album, setting the tone for the playful nature that characterizes the rest of the project.
The album as a whole exudes a childlike quality, in the best possible sense. This playful innocence is visually encapsulated by the cover art, which features a pixelated photo of a dog in an open field, suggesting that Rincon approached this project with a sense of fun and experimentation. Tracks like “Motor Rhythm,” “Wooden,” and “In 5 (Meditate on that!!)” showcase playful synth loops where each note bounces up and down with little build-up. This lack of build-up is intentional and effective; these tracks don’t need elaborate progressions to convey their whimsical essence.
However, the album is not without its moments of complexity. “Separation Soiree” employs similar playful synth loops but builds into something darker and more ominous while maintaining the minimalist aesthetic Rincon seems to favor. This track exemplifies his ability to create depth and tension within a seemingly simple framework, highlighting his comfort and skill within the realm of minimalism.
Rincon’s minimalist approach allows the music to speak for itself without unnecessary embellishments. This is particularly evident in tracks like “Factory Tour,” where a jazz-influenced array of synths creates a soundscape that is experimental yet still retains simplicity, a testament to Rincon’s deft touch.
The one track with vocals, “Introduction to the Club,” marks a significant departure from the softness that pervades the rest of the project. Here, Rincon’s few words, processed through a vocoder, are set against a thumping industrial beat that would be right at home in a dark European club. This harshness provides a stark contrast to the rest of the album, revealing another facet of Rincon’s musical range.
“Metropolitan Doctor” is another track that diverges from the album’s general tone. It is chaotic yet organized, built on a foundation of a hi-hat and arpeggiated synths that call to mind the repetitiveness and drive of early Daft Punk. While this track and others like it might be somewhat inaccessible to some listeners, they showcase Rincon’s ability to navigate different styles and moods effectively.
Overall, Spotlight City is at its best when Rincon embraces simplicity. His experimentation is most successful when it is grounded in simplicity, allowing the purity of his musical ideas to shine through. This debut project not only highlights Rincon’s current capabilities but also hints at a promising future in music production, where his playful, minimalist approach can continue to evolve and captivate.
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