NATHAN MELJA レコード& CD

Review: With releases on Mister Saturday Night, Technicolour, Black Opal and Dream Real to his name, Nathan Melja could hardly be considered a fresh-faced newcomer. Even so, "Karibuni Music" - his first EP for Antinote - still feels like the start of a new chapter in his career. He's rarely made anything quite so striking as opener "Deadrums", a fiendishly bass-heavy chunk of tribal deep house rich in rumbling sub-bass, starry chords, snappy machine drums and layer upon layer of African style hand percussion. Happily, the standard remains similarly high elsewhere across the EP; there's the heavy dub bass, skittish post-electro drums and rush-inducing synthesizer melodies of weighty workout "Angels", and not to mention the punchy, stab-happy heaviness of exotic closing cut "Candy".

Review: The last few years have seen Nathan Melja really hit his stride, landing on such esteemed labels as Mister Saturday Night, Black Opal and Technicolour with an addictively weird update of the classic boxjam format. Now he steps up to inaugurate Dream Real with three slices of upfront deviant business for all the sleazy dancers out there. There's no arguing with the rubbery bass tones and perfectly processed vocals on the original mix of "Jerky Teardrop", but there's also the more wave-minded delights of the "Blue Mix" version of the track to suit more reflective situations. By way of contrast, "Places We Belong To" smooths out the mood on the B-side with a low riding slice of boogie that sports just a whiff of indie thrown in for good measure.

Review: And so, Brooklyn's Mister Saturday Night signs a new house slinger from France, and it's someone we know quite well, in fact. Nathan Melja has already appeared on a few release for the gorgeous Opal Tapes imprint, but this time he's in vinyl mode and it's a pleasure to hear his singular strain of house grit on wax. "Leo Draws" is a warm, luscious house tune surrounded by mystical swarms of warm bass and detached vocals, and it reminds us of Kyle Hall's early output. Over on the flip, "If You Can Dance Then Rave On It" is broodier and more evil, with subtle licks of pseudo acid emanating from its depths, and "Expe12" delivers the soulfulness, the charisma, and the true house vibes; vibes charged by shuffling drums and beautiful bass bumps.