[Muhk]

For their debut release, Swedish label Muhk recruited Matti Turunen to step away from Morphology, his collaboration with Michael Diekmann, for his first solo record under his given name. With releases as Näköradiomies dating back to 2006 and a healthy discography as Morphology, the Finnish producer is hardly a rookie. The Elokuu EP shifts the nostalgic tones and analog drum sounds applied in his electro tracks into more house-compatible arrangements.

Matti Turunen, “Elokuu”

Although much of the recent analog orthodoxy comes off as a trendy way to convey seriousness and authenticity, the title track is another reminder that hardware-only setups can yield great music. Turunen’s restless drums work up a methodical sweat by holding up swooning pitches that smear and writhe, sharing the weight with a Chicago-reminiscent bass line. The nostalgic air and analog sounds make “Elokuu” a contemporary of many, but its clean execution and invigorating rhythms separate it from the masses. What “Stars” lacks in anthem quality it makes up for with lushly laconic melodies and tastefully varied drum arrangements. The competent but unexceptional acid house of “Things You Do,” however, seems an unnecessary inclusion, given the melancholic framing of the opening and closing tracks. With a title track like “Elokuu,” which readily fits in so many DJs’ crates, it seems unlikely Muhk will have second thoughts while staring at unsold copies.