Paying attention to growing labels is imperative in getting a handle on what's next in dance music, because independent imprints often dig deeper than those that serve the mainstream do, and because they truly have nothing to lose. The latest from Chicago curators Them Flavors is an EP between Machine Girl, who we were hipped to through several compilations on Italdred, and a producer we were unfamiliar with before this release from Omaha, Nebraska named Darren Keen. The latter is making insane footwork with eerie melodies, dark vibes, and ridiculous variation between records, and we have the final piece in hand from their split EP, which has been uncovered one tune at a time between THUMP, XLR8R, and the label itself. We have the final piece to the puzzle in hand, a solo contribution from Keen called "Booty N Ca$h" that meshes fierce low end, crisp drums, vocal chops, and tropical vibes in one delectable package. Machine Girl and Darren Keen's split EP also features remixes from Nightwave and Teklife's DJ Earl as well, and is a really remarkable release. You can stream "Booty N Ca$h" below, or click the purchase link to hear the rest of the set:
