Reviewed: STARCRXSSED ‘Compersion’ EP explores identity through club music
- 49 minutes ago
- 2 min read
STARCRXSSED arrive with their debut EP ‘Compersion’, a five-track project that places narrative and identity at the centre of its sound. Built over three years, the record doesn’t just move through genres, it moves through moments, using club music as a framework to tell a continuous story.
‘Undercover’ opens the EP with intent. The groove is immediate, built around an upbeat, dancefloor-ready rhythm that leans into Afro-Latin influence while keeping a clean electronic structure. There’s a sense of tension running through it, not in the arrangement but in the tone. The vocal and melodic phrasing carry that feeling, creating a push and pull between restraint and release that sets up the wider themes of the project.
That thread continues into ‘Home’. Here, the energy shifts slightly, with drum and bass elements driving the track forward. The tempo lifts, but the focus remains on feeling rather than impact. The production stays controlled, letting the vocal sit clearly while the instrumental builds around it. It’s a track that feels more expansive, opening up the emotional scope of the EP without breaking its cohesion.
‘PDL’ takes a different approach. Slower, more deliberate, it leans into groove and space. Afro-Latin rhythms sit closer to the surface, with percussion and subtle melodic details doing most of the work. The arrangement feels more intimate, giving the track a different kind of weight. It’s less about movement and more about presence, which adds contrast at the right point in the record.
‘Wannabe DJ’ shifts things again. The energy comes back into focus, with a more direct club structure and a stronger emphasis on rhythm. It feels sharper, more pointed, but still tied into the same sonic world. The transitions between tracks never feel forced. Each one expands the palette without losing the core identity.
Closing track ‘Sirens’ brings everything together. Melodic and emotionally driven, it leans into future bass territory while keeping the production tight and considered. The arrangement builds with purpose, using space and layering to create a sense of resolution without overreaching. It feels like a natural end point, not just musically but thematically.
The strength of ‘Compersion’ sits in how it handles range. It moves between house, drum and bass, Brazilian funk and future bass, but never feels scattered. The Afro-Latin influence acts as a through-line, giving the project a consistent foundation while allowing each track to explore its own space.
That balance defines the EP. It doesn’t rely on big moments or obvious hooks. Instead, it builds through progression, detail and intent. For a debut, it shows a clear understanding of both sound and structure, offering a project that works as a listening experience just as much as it does in a club context.
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