Up-and-coming Bristol-based house duo Jacob Martin and Matt Lambert have put out a number of breezy house productions that have so far been fairly low-key. The ‘Through The Night’ 12” on BRSTL, in particular, was a gloriously slinky deep house excursion. Outboxx’s latest, however, marks their most floor-friendly offering to date and is bound to see them break through to a wider following.
With Kerri Chandler imitators in overabundance at the moment, the pair manage to avoid triteness on ‘Sunshine Mills’ despite clearly aping that New Jersey sound. The track radiates with old school fervor as piano chords and a soulful, sunny vocal hook abound; and things take an even tastier turn as a tribal xylophone enters ahead of surging builds. But this is all underscored by a reined-in pace and luscious production value that people have come to expect from Outboxx, meaning that these colourful elements never spill over the top or become too cheesy.
The flipside is a little more procedural, but still rich with a deftness of touch. A swirling, snipped diva vocal curls around tinny 808 drums and icy synths, leaving the whole thing shimmering with an ethereal glow.
We wait with baited breath for their debut LP on Idle Hands in March.
Idle Hands | Released: January
01.Sunshine Mills
02.Jaded
