Rob & Si
Moneyshot EP

Originally released in 2004, Moneyshot EP marked the debut of Drugsex Recordings — a short-lived but cult New York-based vinyl label born out of the creative partnership between UK producers Rob Pearson and Simon Copleston. Having already worked together on several projects, the duo had begun carving out a distinctive sound that bridged classic tech house grit with a sleazy, after-hours sensibility. Moneyshot EP would be the first full expression of that vision — a raw, late-night three-tracker oozing groove and attitude.

On the A-side, the title track ‘Money Shot’ wastes no time setting the tone. Built around Pearson and Copleston’s signature percussive swing, it’s driven by an infectious rolling bassline and punctuated with muted horn stabs and tight, clipped rhythms — perfect for peak-time dance floors with just a touch of filthiness.

Flip it over, and ‘Surface Static (Fuzz Mix)’ dives deeper into the haze. A chugging, low-slung groover with a hypnotic pull, this one’s aimed squarely at the heads — late-night dancers who like their tech house laced with texture, grit, and a little mind-bending edge.

Rounding off the EP is a remix under Simon’s Iteration X alias: a dubbed-out, sax-infused reimagining of ‘Surface Static’ that leans into the deeper end of the spectrum while keeping the groove tight. Soulful, spacious, and subtly psychedelic, it completes a package that’s as varied as it is cohesive.

A rare find on the second-hand market, Moneyshot EP has become a prized artifact among collectors of early 2000s tech house — a slice of underground history finally getting the wider recognition it deserves and continuing to share the musical legacy that our much loved friend and collaborator Simon left behind.

Vinyl Mastering by Marco Pellegrino at Analog Cut (Berlin).