Search results: enrico mantini

Review: Here's something rather special from Parisian imprint Steppin' Motion: an EP of previously unheard tracks produced by Italian scene stalwart Enrico Mantini during the early stages of lengthy career. They don't say which is which, but we know that some of the cuts were recorded in 1993, while the others were laid to tape in 1995. Mantini first offers up "Prejection", an undeniably bass-heavy affair that peppers a Bleep-influenced, sub-heavy groove with echoing, New Jersey style organ stabs, before exploring a funkier vibe on the similarly low-slung and swinging "Isolation". Over on side B, "Living Without You" boasts chiming lead lines and a more lolloping, acid-flecked groove, while closing cut "Be One" is a lusciously warming, sax-laden shuffle through hybrid tech-house/deep house pastures. It's a fittingly fine finale.

Review: Before there was the Analogue Cops or John Swing there was Enrico Mantini - an Italian house producer which in 10-plus years of releasing music, sounds as contemporary now as he did in '92. The Rough Times EP brings four of his earlier productions forward a decade, starting with "Just A Dream" originally released in '93. Drawn pads slide in and out of busy drum machine arrangements, while moist vocal shouts add some sexy swing. "Flow With Me" - also released in '93 - is a simple drum track of a basic kick drum and bass combo, with sketchy snares and the odd crash cymbal thrown in. "Man In The World" from '92 sees more traditional 909 sequences swing to Yankee stadium Rhodes and cut vocals, while the previously unreleased "Get Infatuation" is cruise piece machine funk with a 10 year analogue hum you can almost taste.

Review: Nomadic London events crew Half Baked settled nicely into life as a record label last year, issuing 12"s from Birdsmakingmachine and Mike Shannon after launching with a split release featuring Le Loup , Yakine and Seuil. There's a sense of expectation surrounding the label then, and it's nice to see standards maintained on their first release of 2014, with Italian DJ and producer Enrico Mantini behind the buttons. There's a sense of pedigree that comes with Mantini, who has been producing since the early '90s and his class shines through on the three productions on Overflowing, with "Low End Walker" a considered highlight.

Review: Much to the surprise of many younger audiences on here, Italy's Enrico Mantini is to Italy what the likes of Pepe Bradock and DJ Gregory are to French house music. Legends. Since the early 90s, Mantini's tunes for imprints like the legendary UMM proved fundamental to the development of the scene, and to the birth of what we now refer to as 'deep' or 'tech' house. Since the end of the noughties, Mantini has gotten back to the studio and, in the process, released some pretty banging dance trax to teach the youngsters a thing or two about 'swing'. Out through the fledgling Detroit Side, from Ireland, "Socials Distraction" is a fuming house joint with a masterfully constructed percussion that puts the 'm' in 'minimal'. On the flipside, "807" is a bumpy house trax laid bare and full of jacking funk direct from the source, while the title tune "Luv N Hate" gets deeper than deep thanks to a dreamy palette of washed-up melodies and mild-mannered beats. Gorgeous.

Review: Italian producer Enrico Mantini has been his thing for longer than most, with releases reaching back to the early 90s when deep house was first surging in popularity in Italy. This new label Purism opens up with Mantini showing off his years of experience via some warm, undulating tracks that should sit comfortably with any lover of true deep house. "Inner Heights" is as laid back as they come, harmonious and buttery synths oozing over gentle machine beats. "4 Strings Love" is a peppier affair with a bumping rhythm and dubby melodic touches, and then "Unparalleled Consistency" strips everything back to a minimal core, showcasing the range within Mantini's learned palette.