Having kicked off last year courtesy of the exceptional ‘Highpath Prologue VA’, the London-based Highpath imprint has been touted as one to watch in influential circles. Helmed by two Frenchman, Stephane Ghenacia and Thomas Roland, the label’s first release featured a host of astutely chosen talents, including Dan Ghenacia, Chris Carrier, Alex Arnout, Taymor Zadeh, Jedsa Soundorom and the aforementioned Mr. Roland & Mr Ghenacia. For the label’s latest, HH001, the lads deliver with aplomb once more, this time with another cleverly chosen cast delivering the sounds.
Up first is Bassam, who impresses courtesy of the exceptional sounds of ‘Lee Mouzi’. A tidy, well-crafted cut full of twinkling melodies and zippy acid lines, it goes off on tangents aplenty and keeps the listener guessing at every turn. A real rollercoaster of a track that comprises various sounds and moods, in many ways it’s indicative of the release as a whole.
French producer JL (aka Jules Lemesie) is up next soon after courtesy of ‘Get It’. A track that goes deep in search of kicks, the action is consistently interspersed with a muffled vocal that injects it with that extra bite. A canny tool with which to move the night along with, its percussion-heavy flavours prove a nice foil to matters elsewhere.
Two other Frenchman kick off the B side, with live act Oden & Fatzo getting things underway thanks to the sumptuous sounds of the baseline-heavy anthem that is ‘Midnight Bedtime’. A rollocking track that’s notable for its groovy aesthetic and firm dedication to the ‘floor, this is peak time music that’s best handled with care. Sure to get punters dancing and smiling in their droves, it’s also further indication of the label’s determination to trump upon emerging artists — and be greatly rewarded for doing so.
Seeing us out the gate is the sounds of Tom Akman’s ‘Misunderstood’. A Detroit-inspired battleweapon that’s high on intoxicating vibes from the get-go, it too follows an unfamiliar path, with its deep yet banging vibes and many madcap vocals ensuring it stands out from the crowd. A thoroughly intriguing and engaging EP, discerning DJs are sure to be reaching for this one long after the summer has come to a head. Majestic stuff throughout — and proof indeed that Highpath’s opening salvo was no flash in the pan.
You can listen to the full premiere of ‘Misunderstood’ exclusively on When We Dip. Enjoy !
Release date : October 26th, 2018.
Follow: Tom Akman // High Path Records