For its fourth installment in the vinyl-only series VRV, Vivus Records invites Otaku Records founders Mario Meneghini and Domenico Savio, aka Laboratory OTK.

Having both grown up on the dancefloors of underground clubs in Milan, they decided to fund Otaku Records to share their vision of music with the world. It would make sense, then, to also create music together and When Life Kicks In is a fascinating journey into their creative world.

The adventure starts with a Large Hadron Collider, a track full of lively grooves and some frisky bass lines that blend in perfectly. This one is clearly for the dancefloor, with its hi-hats and joyful percussions making you want to get your feet moving.

SIT's lovely warm-up set for Ricardo Villalobos at Sunwaves caught life the instant they started playing When Life Kicks In, the second track on this EP. It starts a little slow, but when that mesmerizing bass gets going, you get a beaming energy boost immediately.

A more haunting atmosphere is present in Laser Engraver, with some idiosyncratic background noises and a powerful bass line making this one a more contemplative affair.

The curtain falls with Some How It Worked and it certainly did. The piano chords are just splendid and an alluring sense of calmness encapsulates this track. It is a perfect closing statement.