Album Review: Ribongia - MΔΔT

MΔΔT is the debut long-player of Sydney-based mischief maker Antonio Rosselli Del Turco and, as we've come to expect from the handful of short appearances he's made to date, it's an exotic work that's overflowing with ideas.

Revelling in tropical vibes, Del Turco's resourceful knack for pairing up disparate elements is in full force here as wonky-house delay and sliding keys collide with warping tribal chants and rainforest effects. The vocal contributions are a mixed bag. There's a semi-successful shot at some classy elegance on Floating On Sorrow, but Footsie's hustling grime-like rap on We Run Tings fits the rhythm like a glove, even if his lyrics are somewhat pedestrian. But for all his wayward tendencies, Del Turco plays it best when he keeps it simple, as he does with the uncluttered groove of Sonder - a rock solid, basement-club groover. It would be a joy to see how some of the wonkier cuts work on an open-minded dancefloor, as this album confirms Ribongia as a proper 21st century dancefloor maverick.