Chamboche – Closer review

Since launching in early 2009, Birmingham’s Under The Shade has steadily built a reputation as a label with its finger firmly on the disco/house pulse. Thanks to a simple formula – pairing high quality original cuts from up-and-coming producers with interesting remixes from better-known talent – the JiscoMusic offshoot has rapidly become a ‘must check’ imprint. Whether releasing sparkly nu-disco or smoky deep house, Under The Shade rarely fails to impress.

For their latest offering, Under The Shade have turned to Nottingham’s Chamboche – the nearest thing the imprint has to a ‘label stalwart’ (it was he who provided the label’s first ever release). Lead cut “Closer” is an interesting concoction; a bongo-laden deep house/nu-disco fusion that quickly builds into a spiraling dancefloor headtrip. If Mark E made appregiated electronic disco, it would sound something like this. Flipside “The Show Must Go On” inhabits a similar headspace. Building the action around a chunky house groove, it utilizes some distinctly old skool Detroit synth sounds alongside the sort of touchy-feely pads that are guaranteed to give you goosebumps. It’s quietly uplifting – a bit like watching a distant sunrise from the comfort of a cozy seafront hotel.

As usual, there are a couple of remixes to tickle the tastebuds. While Moscow’s piano heavy nu-disco take on “The Show Must Go On” excites, it’s the Runaway Remix of “Closer” that really impresses. Continuing their recent forays into bumpin’ deep house territory, the New York duo offer up a bassy, retro-futurist rework that should cause serious damage on purist house dancefloors.

Matt Anniss