Out now: Verraco – Basic Maneuvers EP

Verraco – aka JP López – releases his new EP, Basic Maneuvers, his debut on XL’s iconic house bag series, out now. Arriving one year on from his critically acclaimed breakthrough EP Breathe…Godspeed, Basic Maneuvers signals the next step in Verraco’s cross-cultural sonic evolution; a sound where South American dembow rhythms collide with the maximalist basslines of UK soundsystem culture, meticulous IDM sound design, and the intensity and precision of techno.

Basic Maneuvers began in Verraco’s hometown of Medellín with the project’s title track and grew over several months as the TraTraTrax co-founder relocated to Bogotá, where he now lives and runs his sell-out club series Escándaloo. That shift — from the more introspective beauty of Medellín to the vibrant energy of Colombia’s capital — became the emotional and creative fuel that finished the EP. The result is a reflection on movement; between scenes, sounds, and cities.

Across the EP, Verraco captivates with a powerful 4×4 beat on the title track and first single – ‘Basic Maneuvers’ – while flexing his deep production capabilities with dubbed-out stepper ‘Total’ and ‘sobe sobe’, a grime-infused collaboration with legendary Kenyan-Ugandan rapper affiliated to Nyege Nyege, MC Yallah, that celebrates the deep-rooted connection between the underground dancefloors of Africa and Colombia. It’s a bold statement of intent from one of electronic music’s most vital and forward-thinking producers.

Stream / download Basic Maneuvers here.