Parisian outfit Steppin’ Motion Records has always looked to do things a little differently and always for the right reasons. From the parties that they put on at the likes of Noveau Casino and fabric to the way in which they run their label.
To celebrate their third birthday this direction has led the crew to create the digital arm of the label arm. In line with their third birthday creator Swoop has collected together an impressive selection of artists whom he believes represent today’s and tomorrow’s scene in all its varied shades and sub shades. Another major point on this release is the mastering has been dealt with by Enrico Mantini’s DDA and has been given the rubber-stamped guarantee of approval.
It was hard to pick a single track from the digital-only compilation as the music was so on point but just pipping it was Azaad’s ‘Gotta Have U’. The old-school house vibes are infectious from the outset and will hook onto you from the very first beat. Riddims and expertly executed grooves come thick and fast on ‘Gotta Have U’ and the cut and chopped vocals that punctuate the track throughout hark back to a point in time where peak time house and garage meet and the results are one of the more peak time moments on the compilation.
Elsewhere on SMRD001 and the quality of the music is impeccable. Label homeboy Julenn levels up yet again and opens the compilation with the thudding deepness of ‘Lush’. AREON offers a more minimal approach the lush ‘Agatha 909’. The bassline-heavy yet highly intricate vibes here act as a perfect segue to the more upfront ‘Guilty Pleasures’ found on Oward’s forlornly bit crushed banger.
Edging into the latter part of the compilation and the intensity is instilled into the VA even further with the arrival of ILLI’s mysteriously popping ‘Rythm Hazar Tribe’. David Gtronic keeps this theme running on Yugen and further added to by family member Julien Sandre with his deep houser ‘Aurora’. Closing out hopefully the frist of many digital releases from Stepping Motion Records is the peak time house joint ‘Cloudy’ from Matt Wills.
It would have been fantastic to see these tracks being released on wax but with this project it is more about the way the release is packaged together and how Steppin’ Motion wishes to present the spectrum of music that they have. If you haven’t realised by now this is their MO with every release a truly unique piece of timeless music is likely to be imparted.
The EP is now available to buy via Bandcamp, Beatport, and Spotify.
For more info on Steppin’ Motion Records
Facebook | Resident Advisor | Soundcloud | Bandcamp | Discogs
