Soba Dance vinyl

Given that their friendship began when both were up-and-coming DJs making their way on the Bristol scene, this first collaborative 12" from Shanti Celeste and Hodge has been a long time coming. It's a reflection of how far they've come that the EP is undoubtedly one of the most talked-about of 2019 so far. Opener "Alula" is particularly potent, with weighty tropical drums and sparse, humid melodies rising above soundsystem-bordering sub-bass. Elsewhere, there's an endearingly dreamy, loved-up and saucer-eyed feel to the dream house/broken techno fusion of "Pips" (listen out for some of Shanti's trademark vocalizations) while "Soba" is a little more hectic, off-kilter and percussive whilst still retaining the same sense of tropical heat that permeates the entire EP.