Footwork is poised to be the next big sub-genre in American music. Although that previous statement was slathered with douchebaggery, the jittery, hip-hop infused electronic form has been bubbling in places like Chicago for years. The late great DJ Rashad and his Tek Life crew are the pioneers of the sound stateside.
Fast, grimy, and infectious, footwork is exciting. YouTube some young Chicago dancers and see the way their bodies and feet move to the music, mimicking the panicking snares and creating impromptu moments of magic.
L.A. by way of VA's Cakedog has been studying the structure for a while now. A previous project, WERKS, showcased a slightly skewed, more experimental, and freer take on the footwork genre. Now, Cakedog is back with a deeper study on Menace In The Phantom.
Sometimes (actually all the time), other people say things better than I can. Bandcamp user freija described Menace In The Phantom in comparison to Cakedog's previous project, WERKS:
"...in reference to WERKS, you can see that this release shows a deeper grasp of the form and feeling of footwork. WERKS felt like a fascination and interpretation from afar while [Menace In The Phantom] is more participatory - still maintaining the rhythmic/harmonic variety characteristic of Cakedog."
