Rich Wakley - Bumpin EP (Suara)

Producer, label manager and purveyor of deep and techno-fied rhythms for over 15 years; Rich Wakley (also known as one half of Techno duo Spektre) has once again produced a tasty sounding EP. Releasing on the likes of OFF Recordings, Roush and Resonance Records, this time the ever so animalistic label Suara has pocketed his three originals and added remixes from Superlover and Wade; ramping things up that extra notch adding two very different directions to the EP.

By no means a new face on the house and techno scene – Wakley infuses signature big house vocals with melodic bass lines, a refreshing release for his Suara debut, keeping it stylistically true to his groove filled productions. Bumpin and Off the Chain’s choppy Chicago-style rhythm adds a jackin’ house twang to the EP, comprising layers of old school vocal samples and choppy synth sequences, emotive build ups and good old breakdowns; backed up with that much loved classic hi-hat groove.

At 123 bpm That’s the Joint shows his idea of deep, rolling tech house – heavy drums and a chunky bass line accompanied with progressive chords and peak time vocals. Rounding off the three tracks is Berlin based producer Superlover, giving an emotive spin on the original That’s the Joint – a resonating remix teamed with that notable Rob Base & DJ EZ rip.

Powerful deep house producer Wade puts a moody and obscure stamp on the EP with his remix of Off the Chain – dark and digitalised with eerie rattles and an echoed vocal, it sits rather opposite to Superlover’s simplified yet groove filled addition.

Having recently played shows at 93 Feet East and Sisyphos in Berlin, you can catch Rich Wakley at upcoming gigs in Manchester, Ibiza as well a Criminal Hype showcase at the end of August.