[Cécille Records]

One of Nick Curly’s best A&R decisions since founding Cécille Records was providing a vinyl home to Burak Sar (who produces as SIS), an artist who operates in his own orbit. It’s just as well that there’s a dearth of information about Sar (excepting his documented passion for Che Guevara), as his music speaks loudly enough. Latin musical roots snake through his long-tailed loops, transforming otherwise banal samples into the basis for peculiarly engaging house tunes with few recognizable peers. And while comparing him to Villalobos is a stretch — SIS tunes are considerably more direct and snugly arranged — being the lone artist released by his Sei Es Drum label suggests feelings of admiration run both ways. With all that on his side Sar continues to top himself, and his latest, “Nesrib,” is a potential watershed for Cécille and himself.

Despite its inexplicable exclusion from the digital release, the title track is sure to be the focal point of this three tracker. SIS boldly fits slivers and slats of incomprehensible female vocals together to form the track’s body, only a bare swing beat with metallic accents to give the quivering mass of disembodied humanity a dance floor-ready shape. Once you’re caught in its hypnotic loopy tendrils, fuller phrases and soulful outbursts release some of the dizzying tension. For something so obviously manicured and assembled, the effect of “Nesrib” is one of insouciant joy. “Dim Dim” is a more restrained counterpoint formed by micromanaged ticks and pensive, reverberating melodies, though its simple sweetness gains lurid appeal when a man’s voice drools, “Lace, mmm….” Raising bpms and heart rates, closer “Holly Bolly” is a study in shimmering textures, rife with stinging guitar strums, tingling overtones and percussion, and bright handclaps. Favoring a tight cadence over development, this brief track seems destined to be looped by advantageous DJs. Burak Sar’s range is so wide, his skills so adaptable, that the concept of a comfort zone seems quaint; the determined energy and fine craftsmanship which defines the “Nesrib” EP, however, is anything but.