Detroit Swindle - The Wrap Around

Carlos Hawthorn, - on 25/5/12

Review

Detroit Swindle
The Wrap Around EP
SAINTS & SONNETS

Following on from the unanimous success of debut EP 3 Feet High, London based label Saints & Sonnets return to the foray amidst an air of high expectation. Stepping up to the plate are Detroit Swindle, a production duo hailing not, as one would presume, from the Motor City, but instead from Amsterdam, some six thousand miles away. Whether these potential fraudsters could cut it at the mixing desk remained therefore, very much in the balance.

Title track The Wrap Around is nothing more than a potent, current slice of deep house. Part dance-floor pleaser, part ethereal roller, it glistens with versatility, as likely to be found in Switch's box as in Scuba's. Intense, rising synths run effortlessly alongside one of the catchiest, most penetrating bass-lines you'll hear this year, punctuated regularly by excerpts from Marvin Gaye's dulcet repertoire (Stubborn Kind of Fellow). Fusion being house music's 'dish of the day', this is a winning recipe, an example of crisp, intelligent production values triumphing above all else.

B-side Pain Tomorrow conveys a similarly confident stylistic approach. Again, deep, undulating synths frame the track, this time providing the support for a much weightier, more chugging b-line. The introduction of another Gaye sample (What's Going On) and a subtle, lead synth-line give the record a funky edge, cementing it as The Wrap Around's less intrusive, but similarly trendy, little brother. The Pattern Select remix unfortunately pales in comparison, bringing very little of any exciting worth to the table.

Whatever their heritage, this deceptive duo clearly harbour a profound understanding of, and passion for, Detroit house. With EPs on Dirt Crew and murmur forthcoming, their stock is likely to rise considerably within underground electronic circles. As for Saints & Sonnets: two releases down and still very much going strong. Keep one eye open around these guys, they're up to something.

Purchase Detroit Swindle - The Wrap Around on WhatPeoplePlay.