Delano Smith At Juno Download

Review: Detroit veteran Delano Smith doesn't release all that much music, but when he does, it's invariably worth buying. This two-tracker on his own Mixmode imprint is his first release for a while and, true to form, it's a bit of a belter. "Direct Drive" is typical of his old-fashioned tech-house style; 'beatdown' style deep house chords and melodies with the hissing hi-hats, snappy snares and relentless shuffle of Motor City techno. For second cut "My Life" he shuffles the pack impressively, offering swinging house beats, alien bass wobbles, clipped funk guitars, deep chords and subtle electric piano touches. Like "Direct Drive", it's sublime - yearning, emotion-rich house music for the heads.

Review: Detroit's Delano Smith rarely gets it wrong. While not as celebrated as many of his Motor City peers, his fusions of deep house atmopsherics and hypnotic techno rhythms are rarely less than inspired. This three-tracker for Mixmode, first released on wax late last year, includes three more fine examples of his art. Opener "Mariana's Song", all relentless futurist rhythms, long chords and darting bass, offers a blueprint for proper deep house/techno fusion. "Celebration", on the other hand, treads a purist deep house path, lacing curious spoken word vocals over a sumptuous groove and ocean-deep chords. The jazzier "Dream Come True", meanwhile, boasts a lightness of touch and percussive bounce that's utterly infectious.