Just a few months after the release of her transcendent split EP with Chicago rave queen Eris Drew,
Octo Octa appeared on Ninja Tune's Technicolour imprint with the equally brilliant
For Lovers EP. The focal point of the EP is the jaw-dropping "I Need You," a nearly ten-minute epic blending the type of lush, dreamy synths she's been known for with rough, forceful breakbeats, as well as her first vocal performance since her transition. After softly cooing "I need you" for the first half, she dedicates the track to her friends, lovers, family, and everyone who supports her during the track's breakdown, repeating "You mean so much to me." Super honest and affecting, it's just an incredibly powerful moment, and it's hard not to be moved by it. The EP's other two songs aren't quite as emotional, but they're still highly enjoyable house tracks. The looped, echoed vocal fragments of "Bodies Meld Together" and "Loops for Healing" provide some easygoing rave nostalgia, and the smooth, floating grooves are deeply soothing. The release serves as a prime example of why Maya Bouldry-Morrison has been one of the most notable underground house producers of the 2010s. ~ Paul Simpson