Viva Italia

In the Venn diagram of modern electro, fidget, and hip-house, Milan-based DJ duo Crookers resides in the overlap. The pairing of producers Phra and Bot, Crookers is often mentioned alongside the Bloody Beetroots, a similarly beat-saturated set of Italian DJs that rose to prominence through blogs. But Crookers differentiates its...

By Tony Ware

July 30, 2009

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In the Venn diagram of modern electro, fidget, and hip-house, Milan-based DJ duo Crookers resides in the overlap. The pairing of producers Phra and Bot, Crookers is often mentioned alongside the Bloody Beetroots, a similarly beat-saturated set of Italian DJs that rose to prominence through blogs. But Crookers differentiates its sound by not concentrating solely on red-lining synth bass, so much as on adding more bounce to the ounce.

In the past three years, Crookers has appeared on multiple labels, each indicating something different about the crew's predilections. Releases for Man Recordings and Diplo's Mad Decent were rude bass, drawing on B-more and baile funk's raw edits. Work for Southern Fried and Ministry of Sound fine-tuned the low range of the duo's sound, dropping some demented Jheri curl funk and French-touched disco sheen on top.

From the stomping subs to the quivering rafters, Crookers kick like a mule across all frequencies, and will have hands and asses clapping along with Ross One and Pauly Crush at LIV.
Wed., Aug. 5, 10 p.m., 2009

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