Bossoe – Freedom In Thought EP

Each month we shine the spotlight on one SoundGym member by reviewing one of their tracks for our Music Spot feature. This month we focus on the 'Freedom In Thought EP' from Dutch producer @Mathijs Baas, aka Bossoe.

Baas is based in the northern Dutch city of Groningen and describes himself as a 'bedroom producer' – but this EP is more polished that you might expect from someone using that label.

The EP opens with the moody 'Freedom In Thought'; an insistent downtempo track. The tightly controlled bass ratchets up the tension, while layers of electronics and percussion float and skitter across the speakers. Next up is 'Visions', and the mood gets lighter; some classic trance sounds enter the mix, and the synth pads and melodies become more uplifting. The EP is rounded off with 'Thinking Slowly' and we are hit with a straight four-to-the-floor beat for the first time. The tempo picks up as Baas leads us to the dancefloor with this slow-burn tech-trance stormer.

The EP is deeply atmospheric throughout, and Baas creates wonderful sense of contained energy; an explosion waiting to happen. The production is slick and interesting; the producer is clearly aware of the history of his genre, and is happy to reference it, and yet there is an individuality at work here that stops this from ever becoming a pastiche.