[Delusions of Grandeur]

With several titles under his belt using his given name, Australian producer Lewie Day has recently adopted the Tornado Wallace guise, to what ends we can’t be sure. Stylistically, the two personalities seem to enjoy making the same kind of music, though perhaps the differences lie elsewhere, unseen, plotting quietly. In any case, Tornado’s Paddlin’ EP for the Delusions Of Grandeur label will likely see the Melbourne-based talent experience a spike in interest for his polished, classic deep house sound.

“Paddlin'” begins with reverb soaked claps being sucked backwards through distended hi hats before the thick, soupy chords rise up over a filtered disco bass line. It’s deep house with a distinctly Detroit state of mind, recalling the likes of KDJ and Theo Parrish, though most sounding like another producer those two revered figures have influenced, Motor City Drum Ensemble on his Raw Cuts series. “Swimmin'” is an alternate version to “Paddlin’,” slowing the track down further and intensifying the disco elements by going to work on the filters, tweaking the guitar licks and playing around with the vocal samples that are also present in the original mix. Firecracker Recordings bigwigs Linkwood give a special treatment to “Paddlin’,” making the chords shimmer like hot air rising from scorching sand, accenting the summer haze with vocal grunts and sighs. The percussion flows with an organic groove to it, and in many ways the whole production is similar to Pepe Bradock’s late 90’s house classic, “Deep Burnt.” Despite the obvious influences showing through on these tracks, all are executed with such precision it would take the stickliest of sticklers to bemoan a lack of originality. As Kerri Chandler noted: a basement, a red light and a feeling was all that was needed. Well, Tornado Wallace has the third part of that equation all sewn up with his Paddlin’ EP.