Smiles Defy Gravity EP vinyl

Moda Di boss and Freerotation resident Tom Ellis joins the growing roster of established artists releasing atmospheric club tracks on Berlin's Dokutoku Records. The Wales-based producer is in fine form throughout. He begins with the bluesy shuffle of "I Should Care", where sampled jazz piano and vocal snippets weave in and out of a minimalist techno groove, before channelling his inner Ricardo Villalobos on the wonky and creepy "El Humo". "Number X" is a more traditional techno workout rich in distorted drums, spaced-out vocal snippets and bubbly Motor City stabs, while closing cut "Still Only One" is a pleasingly bleep-heavy fusion of electro attitude, ambient vibes and stripped-back techno hypnotism.