VA - Freeride Millenium presents Queer Base, Vol. 2 (2024)

The second edition of this vital series features world-renowned talents such as Benjamin Fröhlich, Venice Arms aka Curses, Massimiliano Pagliara, Zombies in Miami, label founder Jorkes, and many more. Queer Base is a charity in Vienna that offers social and legal counselling to LGBTQI+ refugees who arrive in Austria, including providing help with court cases, finding housing, community events, organising German lessons, HIV/STI testing, and more. Further details can be found at https://queerbase.at/. This selection traverses the electronic spectrum in style. Polygonia opens with supple and trippy minimal on 'Cheeky Seduction' and things build through dubby, stripped-back analogue grooves from HCL, typically bright, jacked-up, and synth-heavy sounds from Massimiliano Pagliara on 'Distant Memory' and retro-future disco-house from Benjamin Fröhlich. CYRK's 'Fade 2 Gay' is a slow-motion and moody dark disco chugger before Gunce Aci picks it up with some skyward arps and slap-funk drums on 'Whatever It Takes.' Elsewhere Zombie Affair, aka Zombies in Miami & Mystery Affair, offer the body-popping electro-disco of 'Girl, You Got Me', Panooc's 'Pellucid' is a throwback and sensual vocal house cut and Lydia Eisenblätter brings all out piano house joy to 'What Is Love' before the closer from Mala Ika is another celebratory cut full of hands in the air synths and joyous drums. This compilation is not only an essential listen but also an essential project that highlights and supports the vital work undertaken by Queer Base. The artwork was created by label creative powerhouse Daniel Rajcsanyi, and the LP was mastered by Blackheadstudios.