The Variable Self remix of ‘Alien Squat’ is the sharpest thing on Adriano Rossi’s Aliens And Cowboys, and it sets the tone for an EP that thrives on crooked details. Where the original lurches with a playful electro swagger, this version strips it to a tight, percussive framework that feels built for heads-down moments. It’s the kind of track that rewards a confident mix, shifting energy without a big drop.
Across the four tracks, Rossi taps into a loose, late-90s Ninja Tune energy—the kind of record that makes you tap your foot without quite knowing why. The whole thing feels like a secret weapon for selectors who favour texture over obvious hooks. ‘Alien Squat’ in its original form pairs a squelching synth line with a rhythm that constantly threatens to trip over itself, while ‘Cowboys Are Consistent’ rides a breakbeat that nudges the groove sideways with a quiet confidence. Slow Assembly’s remix of the latter pushes into more abstract, dubbed-out territory, but it’s the originals that hold the most character. There’s a crooked warmth to the production, a sense that every sound has been placed to pull the listener slightly off-balance. Rossi keeps the energy off-centre without ever losing the dancefloor thread, and that balance is what makes the EP stick. It’s a record that rewards attention, not passive listening.