NEVER ENOUGH

CEILING

MAGIC MAN

SOLE

SLOWDIVE

LIGHT DESIGN

SUNSHOWER

> @christophesalin
> @salinrecords

For the imprint’s second release of the year, label head Christophe Salin delivers a trio of exquisite, glistening house tracks that, as always, traverse a wide range of emotive feelings and distinctive, joyful atmospheres…

Salin’s sound is one rooted in discovery, curiosity, and auditory narratives, with an eye always set on how his music can evolve from release to release. Looking back over his discography, there is always a story woven between the notes and beats, either taken from inspiring journeys or experiences, or simply through letting the music itself unravel a tome from deep within. His tunes always find space to grow and express themselves, leaping from the speakers with meaning and purpose. The house genre remains the closest to his heart, and through Salin’s abilities to convey complexity and nuance, he has always found new ways to surprise and entice within his ever-expanding sound.

Following up from the ‘Melodies and Harmonies’ EP from earlier this year, ‘Raw Stuff’ contains all of the motifs celebrated within Salin’s sound. This is perhaps Salin at his most introspective, as he looks deep within his sound, producing a heartfelt and emotional representation of his take on House music. ‘Let’s go deep’ opens up the EP with a rhythmically rich undercurrent. Melodic stabs, sharp vocal snippets and in-between keys flickers help to create a hypnotically subtle arrangement that blends power with emotion in the most harmonious of ways. ‘Keep It Up’ then comes into view, with the drums once again setting the scene. A soft, undulating key sequence then wraps itself around the percussion, representing a gentle whisper as the swirling feel is allowed plenty of time to ensnare the senses. Vocal samples add flavour up top, as the keys swell and shift with boundless energy - the breakdowns in particular allow for the soaking up and release of energy, which is presented effortlessly.

‘More than just the words’, unlike the preceding tracks, takes a slightly different approach to sound building. Growing more expansively, the track is distinctively stripped back, with soft, undulating pads and sound effects occupying the mid range, as the drums take more of a back seat. As a flipside to the first two numbers, it showcases Salin’s ability to switch up style and sound whilst still making the experience feel seamless, from one outlay to the next, without skipping a beat. Three radio edits are included of the original cuts, and to wrap things up, we have a live version of ‘More than just the words’. This version flips perspectives once again, with a steady drumming pattern creating a more progressive feel than the original, whilst preserving its delicately balanced melodic feel.

Salin’s music always has a way of delving into the heart of House music, and with ‘Raw Stuff’ there are plenty of evocative moments that tell of a story of expressionism and delight. The tracks presented a prime representation of his sound, one in which melodic interplay and balanced rhythm sections combine to create vivid and exciting atmospheres. So with that in mind, why not put this EP on, and lose yourself deep within its hypnotic, emotive energies.

Mastered by Christophe Salin.
Artwork by Daria Salin.

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