Strung Out / Last Call

Urbantorque’s latest signing Scope is Belfast based DJ-turned-producer Ric McClelland. Whist working his way up the ladder from promoting his own nights to playing his home country’s top clubs, Ric’s picked-up a lot through spinning alongside the likes of Tiefschwarz, Rob Mello, Jazzanova, D'Julz, Ame, Jimpster, Ben Watt and even Gilles Peterson which he’s now utilising as he turns his hand to production. Ric values versatility and his sound as Scope seeks to bridge the gaps between Soulful House, Deep House and Tech House, emphasising musicality but, like any good DJ, keeping a watchful eye on the dancefloor. In this his debut cut, Ric nails his colours to the mast delivering two tracks that are kind to the ears and demanding of the feet.

‘Strung Out’ is a potent thriller of a tune. Its infectious swaying groove entices while the hypnotic build-up of urgent strings compels the listener to pay attention. Just as it all begins to get too much, in comes a playfully melodramatic minute-and-a-half long breakdown packed full of suspense. This is a track crafted to provoke dancers into frenzy, and, believe us, it really does!

Second track ‘Last Call’ is deep, lush, melodic house with more than a cheeky nod at last year’s ‘Blood’ by Francois DuBois. In fact, Ric, a big fan of the mysterious Frenchman for whom he’s remixed ‘I Try’, makes no bones about the inspiration he took from the track. It’s all original stuff though, and is infused with Ric’s own take on deep house. Emotive pads and swirling synths collude to create a rich aural experience. ‘Last Call’ is mellifluous electronic music that hasn’t forgotten the soul.

As Scope, Ric McClelland wears his heart on his sleeve; he wants to make the type of music he sees captivating clubbers every weekend. “As a creative outlet, music production compliments what I'm doing week-in and week-out in the clubs. For me, it's about the essentials: making quality sounds for the head and the feet!" With ‘Strung Out’ and ‘Last Call’ Ric’s captured these essentials with a marked panache. Let’s hope it’s just the beginning of his creative articulations.