illywhacker - Smokin' Aces - 2020

Before we begin!!!

The Smokin' Aces playlist is now available to follow and stream on Spotify, it'll be updated weekly with all the tunes featuring in these blog posts.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4oV9djxq6DviiZQgroTClE?si=xHHI31N7RXSux1_pEfcTnQ

Number 20! Some awesome deep house for you this time!

The tune that resonated most with me last week was a track called 'Señor Blues' by London based duo Saison, consisting of Leigh Darlow and Matthew Bandy. A deep house number with infectious piano riffs and an extremely warm and uplifting feel-good vibe. It was a great way to bring myself down from the previous week's rush of listening to much faster-paced trance music non-stop whilst preparing my latest False Promises DJ mix (Ep. 006, if you like trance music).

This was actually the first track I'd ever heard from the duo, approximately two years ago now, shortly after it was released on their own record label No Fuss Records; it still sounds as fresh to me now as it did back then.

I think that this is one of the best dance music records I've heard that revolves around a piano riff; however, opinions are unique of course! This record contains a fine balance of catchy hooks and captivating rhythms. The interplay between the playful-like piano and driving bassline combine well to get the listener moving; I particularly love how the electric piano chord-stabs help keep the track flowing and link up the various sections of the record (I think it's an electric piano, albeit a muted sounding EP, I could be wrong, but I'm going with it). I don't really dance, mostly because I'm crap at it, however, this tune always gives me the urge to pop a move or two, but you'll never see it... unless I'm 10 pints in.

I wouldn't necessarily class this as a 'vocal' track, as I don't really think there's much the listener can sing along with here; however, the inclusion of the female vocal that teases in and out of the production catches your ear nicely and adds to the feel-good vibe. The 'Señor Blues' male vocal sample that makes a few appearances throughout the track further adds to the warmth of the production with its low-fi feel. The inclusion of both of these vocal samples adds just enough interest to prevent a great track from becoming stale sounding, as can often be the case when you hear an instrumental track in genres that rely heavily on repetition.

To me, what makes this track great is its versatility; I believe this track is well placed to serve as part of a chilled and deep vibed soundtrack whilst sipping away on a mojito in a cocktail lounge (I should know, I used to play in a cocktail lounge and bar in Birmingham, this would have gone down a treat just beyond the midnight hour). Equally, there's enough drive in this record for getting a crowd whipped into an uplifted state at a festival. It's a testament to the production skills of Saison, they've done a great job with this record to strike that balance.

If you enjoy this production, make sure to check out more of Saison's music, not to mention the music being released by their label, No Fuss Records!

You can find Señor Blues in the Smokin' Aces Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4oV9djxq6DviiZQgroTClE?si=xHHI31N7RXSux1_pEfcTnQ

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/6QxKd8l2JDY

Saison - Señor Blues