After only appearing on the label for a remix of an early Vicknoise track, Sistema (aka Manel Ruiz Lens) emerges for his first proper release for Factor City. The four tracks contained within hew closely to the label’s trance-italo-house aesthetic. While none of the offerings here tend to knock you down, there is a level of quality present that’s very comforting for fans interested to see new face’s on the label. “Costa Azul” works moody synth pads against one another, crafting an extremely melodic and low-key rejoined to its ebullient partner on the A-side, “Magenta.” On the flip, “Blanco” turns to electro for its main inspiration, featuring a dizzying array of melodic patterns—the aural equivalent of a strobe light going on for much of its length, while the EP closer, “Black Session ‘94” revels in sonar pings and empty spaces.

Factor City / FC 011
[Todd Burns]