[Uzuri]

When you see the Uzuri label, you can kind of guess what sort of sound to expect: lush, analog deep house with gently massaging bass lines, percolating drum machines, and pleasingly vintage synths. The debut from new trio Pittsburgh Track Authority (featuring Tom Pipecock of Infinitestatemachine) brings these traits in spades, but is bolstered with a loose and limber sense of group interplay that makes them one of the most exciting prospects the London-based label has yet offered.

Simply put, The First Four EP cooks like a jazz trio in its prime, an impression established from the beginning with “Duskshaped,” a collaboration with fellow Pittsburgh producer Nice Rec. Hedging forward on a lightly bumping bass line, the track lazily outstretches its arms over jazzy vibes and whistling synths that squiggle out in long, luxurious lines. Lest that all sound a little too lite FM for you, “Vertical Impact” should do the trick, a lightly syncopated chugger underpinned by squelchy chords and a well-placed wooden mallet that makes the ending of every four-bar measure feel like an event, keeping the momentum just under boiling point like the expert jammers they are. It unexpectedly breaks down into an almost Italo-esque shower of synth chords before slamming headfirst into a newly-emboldened groove with handclaps and strings, perfectly exemplifying the trio’s unique, synchronized improvisational feel.

The other two tracks share the low-slung, loping feel, with “Bloodlands” simmering on tastefully reverbed percussion and dubby chord stabs, the more cerebral qualities somewhat drowned out by a looped chant that nevertheless forcefully carves out a welcome for itself. Returning to the explicitly jazzy tropes of the opener, “77B,” coasts on vibes and syrupy boogie bass as strings that sound like they were peeled off an old disco record beam in from above. It can sometimes be hard to elucidate exactly what makes this kind of retro-leaning music great, or justify lavishing it with praise, but there’s something so refreshingly seasoned about the way Pittsburgh Track Authority build their tracks — with handclaps in just the right places to push the groove without toppling it over, synths that accent the groove without taking the spotlight, and so forth. In a world where amateurs can get exposure after only a few hours of practice in rudimentary computer programs, Pittsburgh Track Authority show what’s possible when you wait until the time is right to make your debut.