Review: TwelveBitMusic - First Flight EP (Colour and Pitch)

I have to be honest – I first listened to this EP from Finest Wear and James Hockley’s new project  on a dodgy PC system, with nowhere near enough sleep after playing a loud and banging 6 ½ hour set. To my surprise it sounded bloody fantastic – and it sounds even better today.

The whole EP is effectively a master class in production, mixing and mastering. It’s obvious that these are tunes that have been written and produced with a lot of care, and I dare say, love, and the mixes are perfectly structured for DJ play. Production throughout is as crystal clear as a mountain lake (and at least twice as deep) and every element is expertly placed and has plenty of room to breathe  which makes for a very refreshing and enjoyable listening experience.  Add the fact that all three cuts are as danceable as hell and there’s no question that this is a very special release.

My favourites of the three tunes are the wonderful “Don’t Use Me” – once the main riff kicks in (after an extremely DJ friendly intro) it really doesn’t let you go – and “Steady Rising” which has an edgier lead synth that, to me, gives it a little more urgency. Having said that, the warm and lovely “Lifted High” is in no way a filler, and I’ll definitely be playing all three of them – I think you should be too.

TwelveBitMusic‘s First Flight EP is the pure, melodic deep house that lots of producers currently claim they’re making – but unfortunately they’re mostly wrong. Not much else out there at the moment comes close to this. Essential.

Preview: Santiago Lopez - Red Sunset (Apollo)

Apollo is one of those labels which sticks to its aesthetic and artistic guns. While other imprints are frantically trying to switch their sound in a futile attempt to reflect whatever the cool kids are salivating over this week, Apollo is still floating serenely around in space without a care in the World...

In my book, this consistency of sound and vision, coupled with a seemingly constant supply of supremely talented artists who hardly anyone has heard of (yet), makes them one of the most important electronic labels around right now.

Their new release by San Francisco's Santiago Lopez is typically spacey, cinematic and evocative.

If you like moody music which gives you room to imagine and think- grab a hold of this one.

As the press release puts it: "Apollo is pleased to announce Santiago Lopez's three-track "Red Sunset" EP. Contemplative in nature, the triptych of tracks comprising "Red Sunset" are deep house gems that sparkle in their glowing surroundings."

The EP is out on December 12th exclusively on Beatport.