Artful Division is a new imprint from the UK’s Midlands and it’s debut release see’s the legendary Rick Wade drop some heavyweight deep vibes in the form of ‘Cooler Heads’. Jon Brooks (Jon Samwell & Will Brooks) and Cecil (Tom Fallon) are the DJs/Producers behind Artful Division and have been running parties of the same name in Leicester for just over a year, plying quality deep house in a city that surprisingly (to some) has more than a solid rep for it.
This first release for the Artful Division imprint takes in two original cut from Rick Wade and remixes from label bosses Jon Brooks & Cecil and fellow Leicester housers and City Fly residents, Höhle. The skittering snares and punchy drum work Rick Wade is known for is in spades on opener, ‘Cooler Heads’ – a reduced, undulating slice of classic deep house that presents itself in a hazy, laid back way despite undoubted weight.

‘Jal’ is light on its feet and a raw counterpart to the title track but still sees Wade’s nifty use of chords and bass rhythms to turn in a slow burning, infectious groove. Höhle turns in the first of the remixes, preserving the trademark Wade grunt in ‘Jal’ but adding layers of melodies to create a dense, heady interpretation while Jon Brooks & Cecil deliver a version of ‘Cooler Heads’ that ups the skipping, earthy elements to great effect.