DAN PIU レコード& CD

Review: It's ten up for the Terrestrial Funk label and they mark the occasion with one of their best offerings yet: this Astral Flight EP from Dan Pau brings dreamy cosmic ambience to stripped-back analogue house beats. The opener 'Martian Tools' sounds like Omar S after one too many doobies, and 'Astral Flight 606' then layers up more wispy celestial pads and glistening synths over chattery beats. On the B-side, 'Cosmic Bells' rides nice deep kicks and has lithe, firefly-like synth details that are wispy and delicate darting about up top. 'Asterion' closes out this most hypnotic and beautiful of EPs with subtle acid hints.

Review: Age of Rage aka the studio powerhouse pairing that is Dubbyman and Dan Piu is back on Sole Aspect with a third outing. The title of this one, Credo, is from the Latin word for a "firm set of beliefs and principles." It finds the duo serving up deeply soulful spirits and romantic atmospheres with dusty house beats as the vehicle. 'Open to Close' is balmy and gentle, with the dub even more warm for you to sink into. 'Fake Action' brings shuffling grooves and lush cosmic designs and 'Lover' is a smoochy closer that echoes Sade. Lovely stuff as always from this accomplished partnership.

Review: Aaron Andrew's Chubby label doesn't rush things. Since launching in 2018 and now only just hitting its sixth release though the music sure is worth the wait and is proof that quality will always win over quantity. Leonid's twin brother, Al Smith opens up with the cuddly and cosmic depths of 'Drama Room' before getting more dark and unsettling with his twisted synth modulations on 'Full Of Music', which then becomes a gorgeous downtempo cut with star-gazing pads and splashy hits within the Specter remix. Dan Piu picks up the pace for some delightfully warm deep house dynamics on 'Days Gone' and 'Snows Of Solaris'. Last of all is the more scuffed up, heads down deep house murk of Rai Scott's remix of Dan's intro tune, 'Day's Gone'.