Artist: Kellerkind
Album: Basement Story
Label: Sirion
Release Date: 30/04/2012
In there's one fact to be gleaned by familiarising yourself with the oeuvre of Kellerkind it's that the arrangements therein are focused on the dancefloor and the dancefloor alone. Thankfully, for boredom's sake, the same can't be said for this, the first LP from said Swiss maestro.
Arriving on Sirion, a label based in the same country, it's proof that all must be well beat-wise in the land of watches and fine chocolates. After all, it wasn't too long ago we were recommending Hive Audio's recent compilation, which came out of Zurich, and this is another case of very well executed house music that's no less deserving of investigation.
That said we do kick off with the aptly titled Jazz Café, which is nothing if not a swing-infused, ivory, cymbal and brass fuelled groover, and only really references house music in the way Moodymann does at his loosest moments. In reality though it's cuts like Play It Loud that prove to be the most memorable here. Concluding a run of ever more driving numbers, stripping things to rolling hi-hats, bouncing sub, and an addictive kick and snare combination is usually a good thing, and in this instance the ingredients come together perfectly.
Classic tech styles no less, it's a direction followed through with the mysterious sounding Bollwork, all whispered stabs, sheet-like cymbals and a strange, subdued melody. Elsewhere more heads up tones can be found too, such as Triple Distilled, which steps out with a basic organ hook along with pots and pans percussion, and throws in dub and Balearic instrumentation to create something like the start of summer.
Three remixes are also included in the package. Channel X's rehash of Disco On The Dancefloor will do well with fans of modern electro-house, though may be a little too big for some, whereas Jon Donson's retake of Triple Distilled is all subtleties and solid beats, a la Craig Richards or Terry Francis in full on deep mode. The latter tune also gets a reworking from Animal Trainer, of Little Helpers fame, who delivers a standout number of menacing analogue chords and string refrains before throwing a trumpet in for good measure. It sounds strange but trust us; it's a very good piece of music, much like the rest of this LP.
