Leon Vynehall

Rare Forever Black Vinyl Edition

Ever since his 2016 mini-album-length EP Rojus (Designed To Dance), Leon Vynehall has been a house producer in flux, an artist interested in pushing four-on-the-floor revelry off the beaten track, his debut LP Nothing Is Still further throttled expectations with string and horn-laden mood pieces, the kick-hi hat-snare melee another emotive musical choice among many. Rare, Forever picks up where Vynehall left off in 2018, and signals his return to the club — on his own terms.

The spirit of euphoric deferral runs deep throughout the LP, as rhythms start and stop — or transform into different shapes entirely — to keep would-be ravers on their toes. To that end, ‘Mothra’ is the album in microcosm; the perfect bait and switch. Bubbly synth arpeggios slowly take shape around a low-key deep house beat until synthesised ambient swells cut through the mix. A surprise sample appearance cuts the tension like a starting pistol, which sends the beat running again. Elsewhere, Vynehall discards convention entirely, crafting sensual grooves from washes of dreamy sax licks.

With Rare, Forever, Vynehall further demonstrates the flexibility of club music, and shows that he can rearrange it any way he likes — dance-designed or otherwise.