“Toppin’ Up” from London producers Cloaka and Boxwork opens with a dark and industrial vibe, but just before the one-minute mark, a playful voice instructs, “Somebody in the house say ‘hell yeah’!” It’s at this point that an elaborate rhythm drives the tune forward, moving ever closer into happy-rave territory by way of a full percussive spectrum—including all manners of drums, snaps, claps, and shakers. The bright MC returns every now and then, at times reminding us to “check this out,” seemingly pointing to the complexity and diversity of the drumwork. To be sure, the broken beats and mechanically groaning synths seem to prevail, making “Toppin’ Up” a nice fit for MadTech’s ongoing series of free singles.

Toppin’ Up