DJ Life – Bring the Beat Back (XK037)

When DJ Life gives you lemons, press ‘em on vinyl. 4 zesty tech house nuggets bringing the swing and vitality in a big way.

Keeping it widescreen throughout and the percussion pulls focus. At times slick and sultry, at others more ominous and ill-tempered, we’re dishing out high-velocity dynamics across four distinct trax. Constantly nudging towards the peak-time, but with plenty of breathy sensuality and dappled melody as he flexes a detailed, sound-sensitive approach.

Drums, drums and more drums. You know the deal by now: direct torque in full effect as we traverse the rugged, funked-out and percussive. Plenty of trippy flourish for good measure too, from humid fusions of rainforest FX and hallucinatory detail to light trail synths punching through inky abyss.

It all recalls Terry Francis’ and his Housey Doingz project at the peak of their powers. Big stabs, big forward momentum. Think the golden era of their Wiggle parties circa 1999.