Review: DJ T. – Try To Understand

Artist: DJ T.
Title: Try To Understand
Label: Get Physical/ Kindisch
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: 12″
Buy From: Juno Records

Appropriately, Kindisch means ‘Childish’ in German. The producers on this imprint have always been encouraged to play around the borders of modern house, to maintain the sense of fun that got us excited about house music in the first place; before ‘chin-stroking’ and ‘trainspotting’ and ‘white-labels’ were in your vocabulary. It’s music for the club, not your bookshelf. David Keno’s recent Feast EP on Kindisch is a good example, fusing jacking bass with dainty minimal percussion.

The latest single from Kindisch comes from the big man himself, DJ T., proving once again that 20 years in the biz and an unrelenting touring schedule hasn’t blunted his studio touch. As a DJ, producer, AnR man and label owner, T’s had his finger on the pulse since before you knew where to look for it. It’s been a bumper year for T, having already released his sonically retrospective album The Inner Jukebox early this year, amid unending tours. T’s new single “Try To Understand” is set to be one of Kindisch’s last releases for ’09.

Past informs the present here. A classic vocal house runs over typically rigid and sparse rhythm patterns. As Europe heads indoors for the winter, T delivers the soundtrack with soulful, tightly-looped vocals dancing over sucking basslines. Sure to shake the frost off the windows.

Stepping up on remix duty is celebrity ghost-producer &Me, who unexpectedly delivered a huge house bomb this year with “F.I.R” (that tune seriously drops). He takes a swing at the vocals with seriously edgy filters, guiding us through a cheeky two-tiered drop that’s sure to make some dints in the floor. Straight up techno.

Angsty tech-house duo Pierce and Jerl maintain the filter-house vibe but slide in some to-the-point 4/4 drum patterns for instant impact .

Review: Duncan Byrne