Ike – Lost 4 Tracks EP review

Artist: Ike
Title: Lost 4 Tracks EP
Label: Philpot Germany
Genre: Deep House
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download

Already with so much talent on its roster, like DJ Koze, Reggie Dokes, and Basic Soul Unit, Philpot releases Ike’s second EP, Lost 4 Tracks. A year later after the tech house-y smashing debut EP, Pressin On, he returns this time with more of a straight up deep house vibe, with its feet still rooted in Detroit. Apparently all tracks on this EP are lost and found tracks from Ike’s 4-track reels. For me, the first two tracks were the stand out ones. A friend told me he preferred the last track. You decide.

“Diskadenz” starts off like you’re making your way through an alley towards some secret party, and you finally get in. Then you plunge ahead through into the insane madness that is the dance floor. Unlike most tracks where individual parts are cued in one at a time, Ike wastes no time. The beginning is distant, off kilter and after the first few bars most of the track fades in all at once. The stabbing repetition of piano keys is intense, yet Ike works it out by sprinkling hi-hats and vocal snippets throughout perfectly. Already charted by Nacho Lovers and Layo & Bushwacka, it’s a definite monster of a track to crank up a crowd. The bumpy “Docs Edit” turns onto Moodymann Avenue, with its landscape of rolling bass lines, catchy vocals, dialogue and sax samples. Ike takes charge making it very much his own. He switches to cruise control, with a laid back deep vibe, reminding me of Chez Damier on “Free to Fly”. – Shingo Shimizu