★★★★
Young German-Romanian producer Borrowed Identity serves up some achingly deep house on the inaugural Mistress Recordings release – the sublabel of DVS1′s HUSH, renowned home to purist techno. Mistress aims to widen HUSH’s horizons, straddling both introverted techno and house – and sure enough the EP’s textures are firm and brittle enough for you to reach out and touch.
Title track ‘Leave Your Life’ starts with the gentle bristling of clipped hi-hats and steel-tipped percussion before a drubbing bassline enters. A yearning soul snippet douses the thing in an urgent sort of heartache.
The second A-side is similarly restrained, sporting a bubbly techno bassline and dub synth stabs that adorn an otherwise minimalist, bobbing rhythm. If the first two are airy and Detroit indebted, ‘Step Out’ is anchored by what feels like weightier elements thanks to the industrial ‘clang’ of the percussion against the stomping bass pads.
An intriguing and mature release from a producer of just 22 years of age. Striking in its simplicity, the EP is endowed with a remarkable depth and richness.
Mistress Recorings | October | Released: digital, vinyl
