(That Label / Just Music)

A1: Clone (5.55)
AA1: Diamond (4.48)
AA2: Clone (Doppelganger remix) (5.42)

Electro / breaks crossover duo /Product.01’s (aka Italian / English producer Adamo and Austrian / Australian vocalist Rochelle Vincente) debut 12” release ‘The Zero-One EP’ which included their remake of Blondie’s ‘Heart Of Glass’ received massive support from the likes of Tiga and Erol Alkan, their growing reputation being bolstered by remixes for Free.land, Si Begg and Chicks On Speed. This follow-up 12” release, ‘The Cloned EP’ arrives less than a year after ‘The Zero-One EP’ and gathers together three new original tracks from /Product.01 that surely won’t disappoint electro-breaks heads who enjoyed the duo’s debut offering.

On the A-side of this 12”, ‘Clone’ opens with icy bleeping synths that swiftly lock down into a tight electro groove, with crisp breakbeats and a buzzing bassline providing a propulsive bed for Vincente’s slightly goth-tinged vocal (in the style of early-period Kosheen), which provides an edged critique on the subject of dilution of individuality. In many ways, it resembles the more stripped-down moments Hybrid explored on their recent ‘Morning Sci-Fi’ album, crossed with a Kosheen / Amiel-style vocal hook that’s sure to appeal to fans of electro-infused vocal breaks.

On the flip, ‘Diamond’ drops the tempo slightly and tosses in some ominous buzzing synths around a tight tech-breaks groove and flanging bassline, while Vincente’s darkly ethereal vocal flits through – in many ways this track gets into some of the deeper, darker romantic textures compared to the A-side. Finally, the Doppelganger remix of ‘Clone’ strips out pretty much all of the original vocal and lays down a tight 4/4 tech-house beat that slowly builds up the robotic synth bass and Euro-tinged electro synths over its full duration—resulting in a intriguing hybrid between streamlined tech-house and electroclash stylings that carries just the right amount of drama (and even a touch of 303 acid squelch).

Another excellent 12” release from /Product.01 that shows them honing their potent blend of electro-infused vocal breaks further – fans of vocal breaks will love the two tracks featuring Vincente included here, while the less vocal-inclined should head for the slammin’ Doppelganger mix. Recommended.

Check out http://www.product01.co.uk and http://www.just-music.com