Owen Jay/Melchior Sultana – Memories Of You review

Having done his bit to foster cordial relations between the US and Russia by releasing excellent EPs from Anton Zap and Nina Kraviz, Underground Quality chief Jus-Ed turns his wordly gaze in the direction of the small, unassuming island(s) of Malta. The producers who have earned the affection of Ed is production duo Owen Jay and Melchior Sultana, who lay down four slices of sumptuous deepness in the vein of Fred P. Owen is regarded as one of Malta’s deep house pioneers, with 15 years experience in the disc spinning game that has taken him to some of Europe’s most revered venues (Tresor, Plastic People), while fellow Malteser Melchior (we sincerely hope that is his real name) has a musical background that touches on hip-hop, downtempo, house and techno.

One thing Jus-Ed is known to do before welcoming another member of the UQ family is make a concerted effort to get to know the producers as people, to “suss them out”. “There’s nothing they have to do except for be themselves,” he explains, adding that “if I collect enough positive energy from them, if I feel comfortable with them, I’ll release their record”. It’s a simple and effective policy that has reaped rewards so far.

The Memories Of You EP very much adheres to the Underground Quality audio aesthetic, with everything you hear produced on vintage analogue gear and pressed up onto purple marble vinyl. The A Side is split between the title track and “Days Gone By”, both of which drip with the emotive warmth that anything carrying the UQ stamp demands. The crisp kick augmented by floating synth flourishes on “Memories of You” in particular resonates long after the first listen. Flip over for the eerie melodic shuffle of “Forever”, while the jazzy organ swirls on “Peach” round off a dope 12”.

Aaron Coultate