A Guy Called Gerald Turns in Exclusive EP for Moozikeh Analog Room

Great things come to those who wait. Like Britain’s Dirty Little Secret – the first EP from A Guy Called Gerald in five years. The four-track vinyl-only EP will soon drop on Moozikeh Analog Room, underscoring the bond between Dubai’s famous underground club and the pioneering UK artist.

For a number of years now, A Guy Called Gerald has largely made music only for himself. But this special EP is borne from Gerald’s unique and long-lasting friendship with Analog Room founders Mehdi Ansari, Siamak Amidi and Salar Ansari. They first met in 2013 when Siamak booked Gerald to play at Analog Room. The club’s strict music-first, no-nonsense policy appealed to Gerald. He’s played at Analog Room many times since.

“This release is based on a real friendship,” Gerald explains. “I feel part of the Analog Room family. Back in the early days, that’s how it was. These days, it’s like, ‘Oh, you’re famous, let’s do something.’ I’m not interested in that. I’m not interested in being a celebrity or living that life. I’m the same as I was 30 years ago, all I care about is the music.”

Gerald speaks fondly of Dubai’s Analog Room crew. “With Mehdi, we have spent hours jamming in private in Dubai, we have partied together. We’ve vibed together for so long and he’s shown me new parts of the world I should be making and playing music in, away from the trendy scenes in other places. So this is an exclusive just for him. I’m not looking at doing anything else with anyone. And the music is just about celebrating individuality rather than trying to fit in anywhere.”

Pedigree

A Guy Called Gerald’s musical pedigree is without question. The Manchester icon created 1988 club classic Voodoo Ray – the touchstone of his hometown’s dawning acid house scene. An early member of 808 State, Gerald later embraced breakbeat and jungle. He ran his own Juice Box Records label and has worked with Columbia, Perlon, K7! and many other vital labels. His skills on everything from synths to keys and samplers to drum machines stand him apart.

Worth the Wait

When Iranian-born Mehdi launched the Moozikeh Analog Room label, he asked Gerald to release on the imprint. Britain’s Dirty Little Secret has taken time to materialize – it’s released on Thursday 22 November – but it’s been worth the wait.

The EP opens with the devastating Old Skool – a writhing, physical track with naughty bass. The drums hark back to Gerald’s early days of making jungle but reimagined through a modern perspective. Synths spray about the mix, the percussion bounces atop jostling drums and muttered vocals draw you in deeper. Check it out below. An experimental track, Sugoi fuses ambient synth design with the spacious and eerie atmospheres of jungle. Thrillingly original and replete with nimble drums, its spangled synths twist and turn in all directions.

Sitting where house, techno and jungle intersect, Flash Fight boasts a captivating rhythm. Warm and cavernous, physical yet elegant, it bounces on rubbery kicks as lithe synths roam in and out of earshot. Deep-rooted house track False Religion, with its elastic drums, haunting, wispy pads, subtle acid bassline and Gerald’s mystic whispers, rounds out the EP.

Keeping It Real

Analog Room co-founder Mehdi says Gerald was “a perfect fit” from the first gig in Dubai. “Our friendship grew from there,” says Mehdi. “Gerald is definitely one of the most influential people in the Analog Room family. As an artist and a pioneer, he is among the most advanced. As a person, he is one of the most humble. ‘Keeping it real’ is the slogan of many in the industry these days, but Gerald Simpson is a role model, supporting growing cultures. We have this common language of music without any bulls**t, and that is where this EP comes from.”

Britain’s Dirty Little Secret EP is a timely reminder of why A Guy Called Gerald is one of the world’s most enduring electronic artists. Pre-order this slice of black gold now.

Also read: Tributes Pour in for 808 State Acid House Pioneer Andy Barker