Fantastic Man Dream Machine (Utopia Dub)

Melbournian producer Mic Newman’s Fantastic Man alias has been steadily building over the past few years. Having established himself through a handful of features on labels such as Wolf Music, Kolour LTD and Let’s Play House between 2010 and 2013. The past year however, has been a more focused affair with releases only coming via his imprint Fine Choice Records. And this phase of consolidation has to be seen as a key turning point for the quality of his productions. Last year’s ‘Animal Language’ EP turned out as a bushwhacking odyssey through the outback of a land called Amorhythmia. It was sold out instantly and has been periodically repressed after its release in May 2014. Earlier this year, the follow-up EP ‘El Tropo’ finally proved that his butterfly transition has been a more permanent steer for his musical direction. Love On the Rocks too has been steadily building over the past year, with a string of sold out records, which perfectly compliment one another; as the title track ‘Dream Machine’ ties in perfectly to Khidja’s preceding New-Age objet d’art. Like an early-bird’s waking chirps in-between fields dazed with morning dew and slight winds howling from above, the track slides into it’s Proto-house inspired beats with a taste of some early nineties Progressive pads. A piano unravels when it’s just about time to unzip the tent door and make a move for the meadows. ‘Fountain Gate’ merges the NYC Garage House feel of Sha-Lor’s ‘I’m In Love’ with Jungle inspired snare fills and a timeless Acid line, a festival spacer to all expressive dancers in the hey. ‘St Elmo’s Theme’ closes the circle for his recent Afro-oriented releases with saturated kicks guided by hypnotic drum patterns and some Xylophonic sparkle