[Minibar]

In minimal and deep house, one of the biggest challenges the artist face is knowing how much embellishment is appropriate. It is the music’s lean, uncluttered sound that lures many listeners away from prog, trance and nu-rave, but it’s near impossible to make an interesting track without at least a hint of color. French producer Seuil struggles with this. Drums are his strong suit (most of his tracks are worthwhile for their tight and heavy rhythms alone), but when it comes to hooks, he’s all thumbs. While some releases are just a little too dry (like the curiously titled Deep Hooks EP), others suffer from awkward attempts at charisma, like the cheesy montage of civil rights era speeches in “Trapped House,” an otherwise exceptional track. Double Jack Ice EP finds Seuil still trying to find his balance between restraint and indulgence. But despite one wobbly moment, it seems he’s got it pretty much worked out.

To my ears, the best cuts of Double Jack Ice EP are on the B-side. “Ain’t Sleep” is Seuil at his best: the beat is brisk, heavy and intricate, complimented by sounds of distant birds and insects. “So Blonde” follows in the same vein, mixing elliptical deep house chords with the kind of organic trim Hello? Repeat artists are so fond of. Both have the same sunny vibe that makes his recent Ibiza Voice podcast such a treat. But back on the A-side, “Dipsie” suffers from the same flaw as “Trapped House.” Most of the track is top notch — the beat has a great sense of urgency and is surrounded by an incredibly vivid array of sounds that could be some of Seuil’s best studio work to date. The trouble comes at end of the break down, seconds before the bass kicks in, when a voice (that I’m almost certain is Denzel Washington’s) says: “Brace yourselves; I think we’re about to witness a murder.” It’s a relatively minor detail but it sounds very out of context, and makes the ensuing romp feel a bit silly. Other listeners might not mind it at all, but for whatever reason this brief moment really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Nonetheless, the rest of the track is perfectly bad ass, as is the rest of the EP, and such a small blemish shouldn’t stop anyone from checking it out.