f you’ve ever hoofed a football into a neighbour’s greenhouse while off your tits on pre-match pints, then Energy (Beckham & Littler Mix) by Marcoussimo might just be your new national anthem. It’s a sweaty memory of Manchester Saturdays — sticky pint glasses, last-minute goals, and bouncing around in a pair of scuffed-up Reeboks like you’re God’s gift to the Hacienda dancefloor. It’s nostalgia on MDMA, and it fizzes from start to finish.
Right out the gate, Energy drops you into a swirl of old-school house grooves that wouldn’t be out of place in a backroom at Sankeys circa ’96. There’s a relentless pulse — not aggressive, but persistent, like a mate who really wants you to come to the afters. Synth stabs roll in with that warm retro sheen, like someone rubbed down a Roland Juno with a Stone Island windbreaker. It’s lovingly rough around the edges, which adds to the charm. The whole thing hums with that Manchester swagger, the kind that says, “I know I’m mint — now dance, you bastard.”
The Beckham & Littler Mix in particular leans hard into the pub-to-club transition vibe. It’s the soundtrack to the 10pm Uber ride where you’re four lagers deep and arguing about whether United’s midfield needs rebuilding. You can feel the producers having a laugh with it, especially with the cheeky nods to football culture. It’s self-aware without being smug, and that’s no easy feat.
The momentum dips ever so slightly, and for a song called Energy, it risks coasting. A little build or a sharper drop would kick it up a level. Also, while the old school heads will be loving the retro sheen, newer listeners might crave a more modern polish — not a complete overhaul, just a little spit and shine on the high end to keep it club-ready on today’s systems. Some parts of the mix feel like they were mastered through a pair of battered car speakers, which could be an aesthetic choice, but still worth a look.
But let’s not get too precious. Marcoussimo knows exactly what he’s doing here — this isn’t chin-stroking Berlin techno, this is for the lads and lasses who treat every Saturday like a religious rite. The vinyl-only Wonderwall bootleg lurking on the full EP is a stroke of marketing genius too. It’s got collector catnip written all over it. You want it, you better be quick, because once those 40 copies are gone, that’s it. No Spotify crumbs for you.
All in, Energy (Beckham & Littler Mix) is a love letter to Manchester’s musical soul and pub culture chaos. It’s bold, brash, and proudly wears its heritage on its sleeve. If this is the tone Marcoussimo’s setting for the rest of the EP, we’re in for a proper knees-up. Football, friendship, four-to-the-floor bangers — what more do you want? Maybe just one fewer broken window, yeah?
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