Cottam Locked In The Groove

Following Cottam’s critically acclaimed ‘I Can’t Carry On’ EP, which marked the inaugural release on FatCat records’ new electronic sub label FCR, the highly-rated DJ/producer’s new 12” drops on March …, also via FCR.
‘Locked in The Groove’ is a groovy, boogie chugger, which powerfully ebbs and flows over nearly 11 captivating minutes, and ‘Sample Heavy Dub’ is all dark ‘n’ heady eastern atmospherics, whilst ‘Dreaming Of Another Place’ is a fathoms deep, epic journey into mystical and majestic dub-house.
An avid participant in Preston's early rave scene, Paul Cottam inevitably pursued DJing, progressing to warm up slots for his techno heroes Surgeon and Regis. Tentative steps into production using Ableton were met with such encouragement that Cottam’s debut releases began to appear.
A set of four untitled, un-marketed and un-promoted vinyl self-releases created a huge organic stir with record collectors, attentive journalists and DJs including Moodyman, Gerd Janson and Soul Clap.
This buzz was helped in part by speculation on his identity, but was primarily due to his simple yet effective, flavour-filled and groovesome tracks that blurred the boundaries between re-edits, reworks and originals, moving between slow-mo chug and more straight-up house, whilst encompassing elements of disco, hip hop, nu soul and afrobeat.
Since then Cottam’s reputation has steadily grown, with vinyl releases for Story, Wolf, Aus, Use Of Weapons, Sound Of Speed, Ruff Draft and Versatile, plus remixes for Pattern Select on Delusions of Grandeur and Last Waltz on Endless Flight. Paul has also played DJ sets for Fabric, Resident Advisor, Renate, Arma 17, Melting Pot and Sub Club, plus a residency at Bohemian Grove.
Inverted Audio recently summarized Cottam’s form, stating “an unsung herald of a certain underground house quality, he traverses his epoch with equanimity and dedication, rich of a back catalogue that could easily put to shame some of the hottest yet ephemeral sensations of the moment.”