Julian Perez The Corridor EP

Julian Perez is a producer who's led a charmed time of it lately, with his many well-heeled productions turning up on seminal imprints of our day such as Leftroom, VIVa, and of course, Fathers & Sons. His latest outing sees him reprise his role at London's Act Natural Records, where he pipes up with four sumptuous dancefloor-flavoured gems. First up is the title-track, ''The Corridor'', an eschewed number that maintains a relatively innocuous and puzzling stance until the swelling synths add a satisfying touch of dismay and wonderment to the equation. The flickering keys then give us a further insight into Perez's musical mind, before the vaguely minimal ethos is jettisoned altogether in favour of an unfurling, intricate bassline. Quality stuff. Further complimenting the original's charms is ''Can Topper''. Much like it's bigger brother, it opts for fairly stringent methods, with every facet of what's included here considerate of more mindful and subtle tropes. The bongo percussion and the gliding keys are among its most noteworthy characteristics, making ''Can Topper'' the perfect weapon with which to ease in the floor. ''Finding Life'' is a more colourful proposition, just as its melancholic title would seem to suggests. Forward-facing and forthcoming, it cannily loops with a chord-helped, positive stance that couldn't help but raise a smile. Ominous but emotive, thrilling yet light hearted, this is everything that refined, textured house music should be. The final offering of this watertight pack arrives thanks to ''Parada Maya'', Perez's hook up with the vocalist, Octavio Camino. He uses the latter's charms with some assurance too, as he splices them up for ultimate effect and layers them out alongside a series of rotund kicks and claps. This one is definitely one crafted with 'peak-time' in mind, with its obtuse, swirling, wonky synths only adding to the madness. An EP that's packed full of personality and different moods alike - and a more-than-worthy addition to the Act Natural camp.