Less has always been more for prolific Chicago DJ/producer Robert Armani (real name: Robert Woods).
From rocking the decks as a teenage DJ to forging dance floor classics in the ‘90s such as “Ambulance” and “Circus Bells” for Dance Mania, his musical approach — a high-octane concoction of pounding overload of house, acid and techno — has never pulled any punches.
Eschewing lengthy intros, buildups and breakdowns in his productions and DJ sets, the God of blazing 303s, 808s and 909s has more often than not leveraged the power of a knockout combination as opposed to lengthy sparring.
Armani’s latest effort, “Full Effect” — which features three top interpretations by Van Recordings label boss Van Czar — is stylistically smoother than the seminal cuts he’s earned his rep for. “Full Effect” is a spirited — albeit brief — 2:17 groove-laden romp fueled by fast-paced keyboard hooks, deep bass and clacking drums.
While this outing is a departure from the more visceral Jackfests he’s known for, Robert Armani is still plenty rough around the edges.