Uzuri Recordings is delighted to present this landmark release – for both the label as our first album project, and the artist, Lerosa, as his first full length CD/vinyl release. It further cements the close relationship between Leo and Uzuri, which began with his ‘Much Later EP’, back in 2007. ‘Amanatto’ remains true to what Lerosa’s best known for – deftly-produced house music that conveys maximum emotion whilst exercising measured restraint – a quality in common with some of the true masters of the genre. Classicism-aside, Leo’s covering some new ground for himself, here, notably with the inclusion of some vocal tracks. It was a move which shaped the album in more ways than he originally expected, too. A request for a vocal contribution from Detroit’s Oliverwho Factory led to a more extensive meeting of musical minds – resulting in three jointly-written tracks which feature on the album. The recording came together over a year and a half, coinciding with a period of some personal change for Leo. Drawing on these experiences, he attempted to capture the mood and feelings as inspiration. Indeed, even the title – referring to an item of Japanese confectionery – suggests something sweet but perhaps tinged with an element of bitterness. Leo’s sound is unpretentious and convincingly authentic, and he’s as comfortable with dancefloor-paced numbers as he is dropping the tempo right back (check closing head-nodder, ‘Reflections’). Musically, this works for us. There are hints of melancholy, but it’s by no means a brooding album. Amanatto contains some of the lushest compositions Lerosa has produced to date – his beloved clean tones sounding warm and fat, accentuated by those vocals and the collaborative influence of The Oliverwho Factory which lends a certain Motor City je ne sais quoi. We wouldn’t be surprised if a few of these numbers become record bag staples in the coming months.