Description
A powerful release from the highly anticipated jazzy house label Soul Quest!
Italian producer Niccolò Terranova's new project, Flying Moth, presents the vibrant four-track EP "Tides" on Soul Quest.
He has previously explored dance music centered on a jazz sensibility under aliases such as Justnique, but this Flying Moth project focuses on a more personal, emotionally rich sound. It smoothly traverses multiple musical contexts, including jazz, soul, house, and boogie, exploring the resonance between melody and groove.
The opening track, “Take You Higher” (co-produced with Renato Patriarca), is an impressive house tune featuring a melody intertwining with soft chords and a memorable flute solo in the middle. The following “Bobby’s Here” blends floating synths and arpeggios, gradually building a sense of euphoria.
“Please, Keep Drinking With Me” pairs a bouncing rhythm with breathy vocals, inviting a pleasant sense of intoxication. The keyboard solo toward the end leaves an emotional afterglow.
The collaboration with Gondii, “Always Groove In You,” is a stripped-back groove woven from a deep, immersive bassline and light keyboard work. A subtle sense of rhythm shines through its restrained progression.
The EP concludes with a remix of “Please, Keep Drinking With Me” by Toronto Hustle & Sean Roman. Sparkling electric piano, a powerful bassline, and dramatic breaks breathe new energy into the original.
Despite being only his second release, Flying Moth’s music already displays a distinct individuality. “Tides,” which infuses the warmth of jazz and soul into modern dance grooves, is a record that naturally moves both the listener’s heart and body. Whether in a club or a living room, it offers the joy of being enveloped in sound.
A1. Take You Higher (with Renato)
A2. Bobby's Here
A3. Please, Keep Drinking With Me
B1. Please, Keep Drinking With Me (Toronto Hustle X Sean Roman THSR dub)
B2. Always Groove In You (with Gondii)
On the latest Soul Quest adventure, the imprint places the journey in the hands of Italian producer Flying Moth, who serves up an enriching palette of groove-laden cuts that are sure to chime along to bright days and sun-kissed evenings.
Flying Moth is the latest alias from producer Niccolò Terranova, who has already demonstrated his jazz-laden dance music chops through the Justnique project and others. Flying Moth is presented as the artist’s most personal project to date, with the ‘Oh Oh’ EP out on Apparel Music highlighting his ability to deliver highly danceable and beautifully presented soulful dance music that lives and breathes heartfelt moments and emotions.
Channelling a myriad of genres and eras, Flying Moth’s music is about catering to new kinds of experiences through displays of enriching musicality and deeply profound compositions. ‘Tides’ is the next step in Flying Moth’s journey, and it feels right at home amongst the sunny vistas and dancefloors of Soul Quest. The EPs opener, ‘Take you higher’, which was made alongside Renato Patriarca is a groover of the highest order. Allowing plenty of time to embed listeners deep within the mix, the first breakdown emerges with a delightful lead melodic line that embraces the chords. The further this track unravels, the more magic is presented—the flute solo is a notable example of this. ‘Bobby’s here’ shares connotations similar to the previous number, albeit with some subtle differences. The chords swirl and dance, with arpeggios adding cascades of melody alongside the hypnotic rhythm section. The track is one of diving deep through the layers in order to deliver a joyous forward momentum - one which feels like it will never cease.
‘Please, keep drinking with me’ begins with a typically upbeat feel. A semi-skippy drumming pattern provides the basis for an overflow of melodic brilliance to come forth, with the track retaining a powerful forward momentum through the mid-range. Inspired, breathy vocals and a one-of-a-kind key solo at the track’s halfway mark add personality and variance. ‘Always Groove in you’, a joint affair alongside Gondii, and this number wastes no time in getting going. A stripped-back yet varied groove weaves around a deep-set bass sequence, but the show that happens up top is a sight to behold - a continual shift between inspired key work and vocal snippets mean that the track never stands still, only evolves and grows. Wrapping things up is Toronto Hustle and Sean Roman providing their twist on ‘Please, keep drinking with me’, and as a remix, it adds an enormity of flavours in the form of sparkling keys, powerful bass notes, and infectious breakdowns.
‘Tides’ might only be Flying Moth’s second EP, but it is a sign of an exciting discography to come. For now, this EP contains all the ingredients to get dancefloors and living rooms moving. Filled to the brim with creativity, thought, and delicateness, ‘Tides’ has an infectious musicality to it - and, perhaps most importantly, a big heart. Time to revel in its emotive brilliance …
