Francois Le Roy & Nanni Crossing Roads EP

If Chicago and Detroit are the cities in which House and Techno were born and raised, it was in Italy circa 1990 that this delirious party music experienced a piano-driven coming of age. So far, so spangled. But while that may be the official story, there are other Italian narratives too. Take Francois Le Roy and Nanni for instance – two DJs and producers from southern Italy for whom, in the early nineties, the likes of Aphex Twin, Autechre and Air Liquide were important, alongside the machine funk of Detroit and the immersive soundtracks of the ambient generation. Both artists are steeped in underground club music, and their new release on Shabby Doll Records is a fine example of tough, tech-edged house. The ”Crossing Roads” EP features four tracks that showcase their melodic yet relentless groove; they may be based in Milan, but on this record, the influence of Detroit, Chicago and New York runs deep. Going Back To Detroit A masterclass in dancefloor-driven techy house music, this is a punchy, powerful homage to the world's greatest music city. Going Back To Detroit (OMG Mix) Le Roy and Nanni give their own track a new sheen and a slightly harder percussive edge. Getting Closer Another dancefloor steamer with crisp drums and a clipped vocal adding a little extra warmth. Walking In Harlem The iconic US references just keep on coming as this track picks up the tempo and concludes the set in real style. It's no surprise that these two producers have delivered such a compelling package when you consider their recent output: Francois Le Roy's “Taj Mahal” was a big noise on Germany's Orbiter Music, while Nanni has been perfecting his deep tech sound since 2009, working with the likes of Label Code, Mile End, Lapsus Music and Sun Generation. And now, with this new release on Shabby Doll, Francois Le Roy and Nanni are definitely going places, paying their sonic respects to the music they love. It's a hell of an adventure – so just keep looking and listening while you cross.