Frank Beckers & Sandrino Tittel, Frankey & Sandrino, from Essen and Berlin respectively, with more than a decade together as a duo in booth and studio… one of the most important names in the German (and international) scene of the last decade.

Frank was born in Germany, Sandrino in Romania, both currently based in Germany as mentioned above. Frank with a classically trained musical background, later started his steps into electronica with Export Audio and then with his partnership with Christian Wedekind aka D-Nox in the duo D-Nox & Beckers. Sandrino did the same in the combo House Lemon Popsicles.

 

Until they joined forces in the early years of the last decade, and since then they have done nothing but DJ and produce relentlessly until they became who they are today. Their name is synonymous with quality in any festival or club line-up, and their work in the studio is respected and appreciated, being released on prestigious labels such as Kompakt, Mule, Moodmusic, Innervisions or Watergate Records.

As if all this were not enough, in 2016 they launched Sum Over Histories, their own label.

And now we move forward to the year 2022, because it will be January 14th when the pair will inaugurate their year in terms of releases, this time on Crosstown Rebels, Damian Lazarus’ British label. The two-track EP is titled Optical, and no one better than its authors to talk about it:

“Optical is an expression of our darker sides and the desire to deepen people’s consciousness. Without the kick you are left with an abstract and shifting soundscape. A feeling of melancholy and unease, but also of hope. It’s those emotions, the darkness and the light, that we always try to find in our music”.

 

The title track is presented as a hypnotic dance track full of atmospheric pads and haunting vocal tones. Smooth percussion combines with buzzing synth lines, while a subtle bassline glides alongside. Gridd takes on a softer tone, rounding out its beginning in a haze of melodic warmth. Ambient notes sail alongside the instrumental sounds throughout, as we enter an ethereal, dreamlike world, which in the second half of the track turns into a playful, shifting melody that gives it a deep personality.

There is no doubt that the year is off to a stellar start for Frankey & Sandrino with this release.

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