Single Review: Coming Out On The Other Side

Based in Dunedin, Venezuelan producer and sound engineer Luis Rodriguez has been amongst the Aotearoa music scene since 2018, and he doesn’t appear to have lost steam along the way. His latest offering is entitled Coming Out On The Other Side, a new venture in which he places more focus on instrumental, electronic music and less on the structures of conventional songwriting.

The piece begins with a retro-sounding, light ripple of synth notes, propped by a pulsing, brisk-paced bass drum beat. It doesn’t take long before the tune starts serving up a main course of uplifting melodies, and enticing yet humble fills that moves the listener into grooving on the spot. There’s an irresistible energy to this piece, and a nostalgic air to the aural style.

At various stages, a huge amount of samples and effects are allowed time at the forefront, like singers in a theatre performance, each sharing space on stage and bringing different dynamics to the show.

There are piano keys that resemble those from the classic Children by Robert Miles, then there’s shimmering synths that bear semblances of producers like Rui da Silva, plus some shuffling distortions largely in the style of current-day electronic producers. Oh, and who doesn’t love a good hint of cowbell to accentuate the rhythms’ off-beats!

With a track title of Coming Out On The Other Side, one immediately knows this one is inspired by the effects and impact of the worldwide pandemic. And in light of the easing of Covid restrictions, one could hardly be blamed for considering this a celebration; an ode to commemorate the present day’s ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, as many have called it.

Fans of electronica of the 90’s and early 2000’s will want to give this track full attention as this is a big hat-tip to the genre of the yester-decade. Having said that, one doesn’t necessarily need to be a rave-fanatic to appreciate this piece. Sonically, this is the work of someone who isn’t afraid to experiment with samples to create different atmospheres, and simply knows what sounds fun, pleasant, and gets people moving.

It’s equal parts a mind-bending trip, an ambient chillout tune, and a party-worthy dance track – What’s not to love!