[Curl Curl]

As an off-shoot from Moon Harbour Recordings, the Curl Curl label has for the past four years been an Antipodean based venture into releasing deep-house and techno with varying results. The tenth release on the label is the “Glass Roots” EP by New Zealander Andi Numan. It would be easy enough to tar the title track with the description of being formulaic; but deeper listening reveals that despite several check boxes being ticked off for a standard, clubby tech-houser, it remains an effective floor track. Numan makes the most here of the simple two-note melody by the use of some restrained, searching strings. They contrast with the similar sounding 303 bass line, giving “Glass Roots” the character it needs to remain vibrant. Label head Phil Brökelmann’s remix changes little of the original, teasing out the acid house melody in places and accentuating it in others. It almost feels more like a re-edit than a remix but nevertheless provides a good alternative to the original.

My money is on “Translations” as the cut people will intuitively turn to, a much deeper choice that gets well beneath the skin, a beautiful moment of measured, late night house. Shimmering chords lead the way with a slight tremolo effect, immediately giving the track a dream-like feeling. A crackle sound appears and becomes a percussive effect, while a short vocal sample about poetry and a wonderfully delayed, distorted synth further adding to this deep tech house reverie. With the “Glass Roots” EP Numan displays his talent for deep introspective cuts while simultaneously being able to effect something less cerebral for the dance floor.