Sidestepping Defected’s already fairly diverse selection of releases is this brand new addition to the labels extended family. And have to say I doubt there could be a better opener from Guti whose stunning title track, ‘Hope’ displays all the hallmarks of a summer gem combining deeply atmospheric sounds alongside gospel infused, spine-tingling vocals that simply hit the mark. Then joining with Fosky for the tougher instrumental, ‘La Casa’ which sees hypnotic jazzy piano combine with thumping beats and bass, all also sounding inescapably hot. The self-descriptive, ‘Funkapella’ follows with more in the way of jazzy flavoured, scat vocals this time riding high over shuffling funk and infectious Rhodes chords.
4 out of 5
Reviewed by Greg Fenton
