Jose Manuel EP

Above Machine continue to build a heavenly selection of Summer cuts, bringing aboard - for their eighth outing - the excellent Jose Manuel. This acclaimed Italian producer has landed himself at the forefront of a new wave of Cosmic and Balearic producers with releases on ISIT Balearic, Kinfolk & Joe's Bakery. For his AM debut, the trademark motifs are all present and correct, pulsing electronic workouts underpinned with organic instrumentation, achieving (on 'Cendre') undeniable trance states with North African melodies and hypnotic chants. 'Summer Wind' follows a similar path with a distinctive mantra riding the mesmeric percussive groove and intertwining melodies. On remix duties, Frenchman Closed Paradise (fresh from that stunning 12 on Fools & Fables) transforms 'Summer Wind' into an altogether more laid-bare and unrelenting dancefloor frug. Meanwhile Ess O Ess (AKA Jamie Blanco & Chris Stoker) give 'Summer Wind' the Bad Passion treatment, upping the ante with some good old fashioned tension, and a splash of Disco-Rock, building the elements to a subtly evolving crescendo that's dancefloor pay-dirt.