CONTOURS Vinyl & CDs

Review: Sample-based, hip-hop influenced house label Ele returns with a second missive. This time round, there's a trio of artists at the controls, namely Manchester man Contours, GAMM and Local Talk regular Sameed, and the previously unheard Replete. The latter's "Legislate", a loose, languid, jazz-flecked chunk of sunshine deep house warmth featuring the suave vocals of Bini, is arguably the EP's standout moment - though it is pushed all the way by the crunchy drums, meandering electric piano solos and head-in-the-clouds dustiness of Sameed's "Someone Like U". The breezy, synth-heavy Balearic house breeziness of Contours' "Night Shift" and the drowsy, cut-up house thrust of "Rush", created by a producer who wishes to remain nameless, complete a fine package.

Review: XOA continues to lay out a formidable interpretation of African-infused dance music for the modern age, following on from lauded appearances on Shake, One House and Soundway. Alongside Contours, he comes to Banana Hill with some next level transcendental head-quaking business that reaches from the roots of Afrobeat right through to contemporary FX dubbing business. "Too Much Talking" is a proper eyes-closed roller for the hazy moment in the dance, and "Express" ramps things up to a strident tempo layered with a barrage of congas and djembes. The hectic pace is offset by swooning melodies, all wistful synth splashes and plucky guitar chops, stirring the soul as much as the feet.