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You're being mean to yourself if you don't listen to "Don't Be So Mean." Maybe that's what the title means - don't be so mean as to refuse yourself this music. Abe Duque's brooding house is hook-heavy and semi-cyborg-psychedelic. Creeping in with atmosphere that's wide open in a cloud of black - room to move but enveloped - "Don't Be So Mean" kicks off with a persistent but not speed-aggro thump that makes the head-grooving spine of this dark, skeletal music. There are bits of flesh on this skeleton, music sounds, sometimes buzzy, sometimes synthy, always spacey, made for mood, darting electronic will-o-the-wisps that surge around the beat. House in the middle, space music all around, sometimes like somebody gave shadow ambient a beat, always engaging. Instant claws are sunk in. There is a slight progressive element here, but it's not a waiting game to catch the vibe. "Don't Be So Mean" kicks in and keeps kicking. -- review by Kristofer Upjohn
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