Some classic low-slung disco from the Bear Funk label, from the studio of their UK born but Japanese-living Max Essa. Essa doesn’t do things in a hurry, but keeps the funk pretty much throughout, while up top there are spacey synth lines, whooshy textures and some easy moving midrange. It’s not background music, either – at least not in the sense that your attention is diverted – as the melodies are easy to latch on to, the harmonic movements subtle but affecting. Some tracks, like ‘Pagoda’, are exceptionally chilled out, but the overriding style here is of a slightly slower but ever so stylish disco. A finely crafted toe tapping debut.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
