Gaetano Battista Music For The Soul #1

After one of the coldest winters on record in the UK, boe provides a welcome respite from haunting memories of the past freezing months with a slice of warmth, soul and deepness from the label’s first Italian signing, Gaetano Battista. With a slew of releases under other aliases, the first vinyl record for Gaetano under his birth name comprises of 3 tracks of measured, mature and emotional house music that defies any debut presumptions. Hogging the A side is the playful and aptronymically named “Deep Innit”, which rolls along its seven and a half minute journey through episodes of shimmering starlight keys, fizzing hi hats and a bumping and persistent four to the floor kick and bassline. The solid loop-based groove is offset by the natural touches delivered by Gaetano’s key work and makes for a cut that can drive through the dance floor as well as proffer ethereal moments for those in tune with the harmonious intricacies. On the flip “Loose Piano”, like “Deep Innit” lives well up to its name, delivering some bright keys and chords bouncing along to a driving bottom end as searing pads swoop in an out of the stereo field. Tales of Brian Harden’s past spring to mind; slightly distorted pumping kick drums, throaty bass, snapping claps and scorching hats providing a sound base for twinkling touches on the old ivories. Rounding off the EP with a vinyl only exclusive track is “Work Up”, which should delight fans of DiY records with a fuzzy and warm UK house sound. Its fat side chained bass pumps to crisp and crunchy percussion on the tops and some frequency bubbling chords cutting through the mix round off an EP engineered with the head and feet in mind.