As we move towards the end of the decade, we also move further away from minimal techno's dominance of the electronic music scene. That's not to say that minimal is dead; it retains a strong following with labels like Minus putting out releases that still sound fresh. That said minimal has had it's time and done its job, washing away the voracious materialism of the 90's and wiping the slate clean, allowing new sounds to emerge. Tech house is rapidly growing in popularity and tribal rhythms and african influences are very prominent in contemporary 4/4 music but it is deep house that is proving to be of great interest to many audiophiles and DJ's alike.
Boys Noize Alex Ridha recently suggested in an interview that deep house has replaced minimal as the new craze in electronic music and said that there will always be people eager to "jump on the train". That said, where there are bandwagon jumpers, there are also people producing quality music: At the forefront of the deep house exploration we've got labels like Wolf + Lamb and Cecile pioneering the sound. It's safe to say that Paris based label 'Circus Company' certainly fall into the latter category. Soon to enter their 11th year of existence they present their own "highly personal vision" of the underground with new release 'Snuggle & Slap'.Featuring the likes of Ryan Crosson and Guillaume & the Coutu Dumont, this 22 track compilation attempts to advance the concept that underpins the deep house genre, pitching new ideas and straying confidently off the beaten path. Exemplar 4/4 tracks are set next to smooth instrumentals that do away with kick drums entirely. The whole album is laced with sometimes sinister, often jazz influenced melody and intensified with deep-rooted grooves.
Now although there are many exceptional tracks on here it is perhaps their collective value that makes this compilation standout. Personal highlights include Oleg Poliakov's 'Keep blooming' and Ryan Crosson's 'Slow Down' but what I love most is the consistent quality of tracks throughout the album and the way it moves from slower shuffling rhythms to slightly busier 4/4 without sounding disjointed. For me it's a combination of careful track selection and programming that achieve this unique take on the genre of the moment and make this release an appropriate way to celebrate 10 years of experimental sounds from Circus Company.
Sources:
Boyz Noize Interview with Bodytonic
Circus Company Article by Resident Advisor
Article & interview with Nicolas Jaar
Snuggle & Slap Release Notes
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