説明
Crosstown Rebels等の名門レーベルで頭角を現しハウス界のトップへと登り詰めたMaceo Plexが、自身のルーツである90年代ウェアハウスの精神を投影して設立したレーベルの第1弾となる、ダークで官能的なニュー・ウェイヴ・ハウス。
Crosstown RebelsやVisionquest、Hot Creationsといった名門レーベルからのヒット作や著名アーティストのリミックスで急速に支持を拡大したMaceo PlexことEric Estornel。彼が90年代初頭にテクノやハウスのレジェンドたちから多大な影響を受け、自身のキャリアの原点となったダラスのアンダーグラウンドな芸術地区にちなんで設立したレーベルELLUM AUDIOの記念すべき第1弾が、この『High & Sexy EP』だ。
同郷のDanny Dazeが「ニュー・ウェイヴ・ハウス」と評した本作は、ムーディーなソウルと不穏なファンクが溶け合う官能的なハウス・ミュージックを2トラック収録。A面の「Stay High Baby」は、生々しいエモーションとファンキーなギターリフ、そして何層にも重なるヴォーカルが織りなす、彼のキャリアの中でも特に妖艶なディープ・ハウスに仕上がっている。対するB面の「Ain’t That Love」は、よりパンチの効いたドラムを軸に、トレードマークである温かくダークなベースラインを展開。ドラマチックなヴォーカルとシネマティックなシンセサイザーが、愛や喪失といった感情を呼び起こしながら、フロアを催眠的なグルーヴで包み込む。レーベルの確固たる方向性を示した、フロア仕様の強力な1枚だ。
A. Stay High Baby
B. Aint That Love
The unstoppable force that is MACEO PLEX launches new label ELLUM AUDIO with the flawless ‘High & Sexy EP’, two cuts of criminally seductive house music, immersed in moody soul, brooding funk and made to be together.
It seems 2011 isn't showing any signs of winding down for artist of the moment Maceo Plex. With an acclaimed album to start off the year and a string of hit releases behind him, Maceo has risen exponentially in a relatively short space of time. Many would be satisfied with releasing on such acclaimed labels as Crosstown Rebels, Visionquest, Hot Creations, and remixing artists ranging from Azari & III to DJ T but Maceo is going one step further with an exciting new project that will surely cement his place within the new elite of house artists.
Maceo has decided it’s time to follow in the steps of his Crosstown Rebels comrades and launch an imprint to further represent his signature sexy dark house sound. By calling the label ELLUM, Maceo is paying a fitting tribute to Deep Ellum, the name of an underground arts district in Dallas that greatly influenced Maceo's early career. Deep Ellum was a cultural zone that had some amazing clubs and warehouse venues that housed parties in the early 90s, bringing techno and house legends to Maceo's virtual doorstep and launching the career of a young Eric Estornel aka Maceo Plex.
The ‘High & Sexy EP’, Maceo's first output on the label, is every bit as sexy and groovy as his other musical works and has been eloquently described by long time friend and fellow Miami expat, Danny Daze, as being "New Wave House". Brandishing deep and dark alluring soul, A-side ‘Stay High Baby’ is undoubtedly one of Maceo’s sexiest tunes yet. With trademark raw emotion, funk guitar licks and penetrating layers of vox in full affect, ‘Stay High Baby’ is an ode to frisky liaisons on the dancefloor.
On the flip ‘Ain’t That Love’ packs a bit more punch in the drums but still exhibits Maceo’s signature warm, dark bass and sexy groove. Again Maceo’s unique composition awakens raw energy and drama through the distinctive vocals and cinematic synths without forsaking the groove. Haunting and beautiful with notes of sadness, love and loss, ‘Ain’t That Love’ will hypnotise Maceo lovers worldwide. With a first release of this calibre and style, Ellum Audio is already shaping up as a home for future classics of the ‘new wave’.
