Description
A1. Session Victim With Viken Arman – Too Soft To Be Loud (Ian Pooley Remix)
A2. Session Victim With Viken Arman – Know Less
B1. Session Victim With Viken Arman – Broken Coast
B2. Session Victim With Eo – Rain Or Shine
Berlin-Hamburg duo Session Victim bring their celebrated Sidequests trilogy to a close with Chapter Three on Delusions Of Grandeur, wrapping up the series in signature style—full of warmth, groove and left-of-center touches that remind us why their music has remained so enduring over nearly two decades. Once again blurring the lines between live instrumentation, crate-digging textures and deep house aesthetics, the record feels like both a culmination and a new beginning.
Opening the A-side, Too Soft To Be Loud (Ian Pooley Remix) finds German house pioneer Ian Pooley reworking the original into a sleek, floor-focused roller. Shuffling drums, glowing synth pads, and that distinctive Pooley touch elevate the track into prime late-night territory, striking a balance between hypnotic subtlety and groove-driven energy.
Following on A2, Know Less with Viken Arman showcases the magic of Session Victim’s continued collaboration with the French producer. A heady, slow-burning cut that layers dreamy strings, glitchy keys, and a syncopated bassline, the track unfolds patiently, rewarding deep listeners with moments of spacious beauty and understated intensity.
Flipping over, B1 – Broken Coast with Viken Arman heads into cinematic territory, combining driving drums, delicate Rhodes fragments, and immersive atmospherics. There’s a mysterious, almost soundtrack-like quality here—capturing the ominous mood of an after dark stroll around NYC’s Central Park in the 70’s, while maintaining the unmistakable swing of Session Victim’s grooves.
Closing out the trilogy in style – Rain Or Shine introduces a new collaboration with San Francisco beatsmith Eo (Moniker/ Circus Company), weaving together intricate downtempo rhythms and jazzy vocal chops. Balancing lightness and depth, the track grooves along effortlessly giving off a sun-soaked energy—an uplifting finale to the Sidequests journey.
With Chapter Three, Session Victim deliver yet another set of genre-defying pieces that honour their deep musical roots while pointing toward fresh possibilities. Their chemistry with long-time collaborators, coupled with the ever-trusted Delusions Of Grandeur platform, ensures the Sidequests trilogy will stand as a modern classic in their discography.
