Doc Daneeka emerged from the much chastised UK Funky fad with a subtle restraint and lightness of touch otherwise absent from the scene. But, staying true to the rhythmic roots of the genre, he has always upheld a keen focus on pure, percussive funk. With this in mind, the latest release on 2020 Midnight Visions (a bass-oriented offshoot of house imprint 2020Vision) sees the London producer flexing his deeper side.
‘Day By Day’ is the pick of the bunch: a piece of heartfelt soul, carried by a longing male vocal niftily chopped over a faintly skipping house rhythm. A slow tempo coupled with dredging trance snyths and soft high hats make for a listen as sombre as it is soulful. ‘Just Say The Words’ is more akin to Daneeka’s usual output, a charmingly downbeat slice of conga-funk that leaves a pitched-up diva vocal to simmer in the background, at once warm and catchy.
The second half of the EP is not quite as hook-laden but no less compelling. ‘Everyday’ wields a fizzing, all-encompassing synthline beneath a wailing UK garage croon. The EP ends on a high with ‘Sunset To Neath’, a rumbling, techy turn that starts with a swelling, growling bass intro before breaking into a steady house beat come the two minute mark.
Doc Daneeka’s foray into a more outwardly 4×4 template could be his best yet, bringing to mind the string-sampling ‘Hold On’ from 2010, and marks another top release for the 2020Vision sister label.
2020 Midnight Visions | Released: 04 March
