The aquatic feel of his Take It As It Comes EP sounds like a nocturnal journey to the briny depths to preach the word to all manner of sea floor dwellers. Spread over four tracks, Zap washes layers of dreamy pads and chords over waves of rolling bass and textured rhythms. It's an approach he uses for every track here, which may lead to some seeing the EP as samey and uninteresting, but I feel that what Zap is aiming for here is creating moods and vibes with these tracks, which he does and does incredibly well.
“I Get Deep Beat” makes use of this formula with subtle keys accenting the ebb and flow of the groove, while broken, dirt-worn percussion clatters around behind the scenes. “I'm Fine” is the weakest link on the EP, though still carves out a solid vibe with its blunted wood blocks and marimbas forging their way through the murky blur of foggy pads and grubby bass.
“BYE” charts a similar course as the other tracks, keeping the chords reverberating around a small echo chamber, adding barely perceptible details to spike the track with added feeling and warmth, while “Every Day Could Be Like DIZ” adheres to the most straight up house principles of them all with its Juno-like bass, skippy hats and flourishes of staccato snares.
The Take It As It Comes EP may not be particularly ground breaking but then I hardly think that's the point; Zap has crafted four tracks of sublime deepness here that will hit the heart of any discerning dance floor.
Trus'me's Prime Numbers label may only have notched a handful of releases in 2009 but counting Linkwood's “Systems” and Trus'me's own “In The Red” albums among them, it was a successful year for the Mancunian independent. Barely into the new year and Prime Numbers 11 hits us with three further reasons to count the imprint as one of the most exciting purveyors of house music around right now.
Mr Scruff's usual wobbly, tongue-in-cheek, jazz house gets serious for a minute with a delectable slide through an organic, flute-led bowl of “Fresh Noodles”. The Rhodesy keys tickle in all the right places, feeding off the wide, rubbery bass and live-sounding percussion.
Motor City Drum Ensemble continues his faultless run with “Got It”, a much speedier house cut than the slow, grinding fare he usual serves. The slamming, energetic cut is filled with the deep wall to wall chords that have epitomized MCDE tracks and the tough, booming bottom end and kick help to further the vibe of classic early nineties US house.
Hardly a familiar name (though with a little digging it appears he's the true veteran here) Andres rounds out the release with a big nod to the old school with his “Planet Rock” sampling “Jack City”. It's a hazy summertime, rollerskating jam with a low slung bass line that will get you all nostalgic for space invaders and watching b-boys and girls popping and locking in the park.
Prime Numbers and Underground Quality are just two of the incredible house labels hitting everything out of the park at the moment. For further deepness make sure you check the Quintessentials label, Omar-S's FXHE, Smallville and Workshop.
Anton Zap – Take It As It Comes EP
****
The Russian house maestro goes mining for gold in the deep blue and brings back a top catch.
Various – Prime Numbers 11
****
Three further cuts of unwashed dope from the geezers bringing you plenty of Northern soul on this must-have label.
Silverbeat's Top 5
Pawel – Pawel LP
Kuedo – Starfox EP
Four Tet – There Is Love In You LP
Anton Zap – You Are Not Alone EP
Martyn – Seventy Four (Redshape remix)
Classic Listening
Billy Paul – When Love Is New
No comments:
Post a Comment