Manchester based Resonance Records have been dropping some very impressive releases lately. So is Back to Africa by DJ W!LD. Summery disco groove, three originals, two remixes. Loving the end guitar on Back to Africa, the vocal loops on Air Tight and the “Salif Keita” groove before the bass on News Z. Thanks for the promo guys!
The prolific DJ W!LD has earned a vast legion of fans over the years thanks to his straight-up, inimitable and always heady take on house music. Having already cropped up on seminal labels such as Cocoon, DJ Sneak Recordings and his own W imprint, he marks his return to the fledgling Resonance camp here, in a move that’s indicative of his many talents and his penchant for eclectic hues.
First up on the ”Back to Africa” EP is ”News Z”, a disco-tinged, groove-heavy track that again showcases W!LD’s clever understanding of samples. Rugged but playful and forceful but understated, it boasts multiple twists and turns – all of which are sure to keep the listener guessing throughout. Northern prodigy wAFF then does his burgeoning reputation no harm with a tech-fuelled remix that brings a nice layer of percussion and a sporadic, spoken vocal to the table. A unique take on the original, it rises subtly against a backdrop of manic, unfurling synths; an approach that’s sure to make it work the floor with distinction.
”Air Tight” is the second of the two originals. The canny chimes and bottleneck percussion draws the listener in immediately, with its sun-kissed charms soon matched by a vintage, Chicago-esque coating. A bulbous bassline eventually takes centre-stage, by which point the track rides the edgy grooves until the very end. Lower-East duo Cozzy D & Lee Brinx deliver an unexpected remix, as they practically rip-up ”Air Tight” by turning it on its head and transforming it into a tougher monster made for discerning floors.
