4,853 miles separates London and Tony Yeboah%u2019s birthplace of Kumasi, but new London label Kumasi Music intends to bridge the gap sonically with their debut EP. Leeds-based Kreature, whose first four releases have furnished the top ten of the Beatport Nu-Disco charts, absolutely outdoes himself for the first Kumasi EP, with two original tracks of funk and flex. These pave the way for three mighty remixes from other members of the Kumasi gang; Belgium%u2019s finest Kolombo, Russian beatmaker S.K.A.M., and hotly tipped Lithuanian disco men Markas and Mindaugelis.
%u2018What You Want%u2019 opens the label%u2019s account, with dropped kick drums, sharp claps and future facing synths out in force to mesmerise and invigorate dancefloors. Despite plenty of details, it%u2019s no doubt the bouncing bassline that provides the tracks bristling energy, a club-oriented counterpoint to the alluring female voice whispering sweet nothings at the back of the track. Second up, %u2018You Can%u2019 operates in deep disco-house mode. Gently underlapping kicks caress the colourful, skyward chords, whilst an androgynous, sultry voice charms the spaces left behind. Pristine production and meticulous melodies make the track as intriguing as it is danceable, paving the way for a trio of remixes.
The first remix comes from Kolombo, a deep house producer of heavyweight proportions following well received EPs on Kompakt, Ghostly International, Noir and Solomun%u2019s 2DIY4 label. He re-imagines %u2018You Can%u2019 as a more bulbous and boisterous nu-disco cut with molten bass stands and hip swinging claps forming infectious step and vibe around which the drizzled melodies percolate.
As for the S.K.A.M. remix, it%u2019s a firm favourite of 2020Vision boss Ralph Lawson who has championed it at Space Ibiza this season to wicked effect. It%u2019s no surprise the track has been so well received given its upright and euphoric disco persona. Finally, Lithuanian newcomer Markas teams up with Mindaugelis for the final re-rub, with their version of %u2018You Can%u2019 stuffed with acidy little twitches, swathes of echo on the claps and a slurred, ethereal bassline that conjures a mysterious dead of night feel from start to finish.
You Can is an EP that not only marks out Kreature as a producer very much to keep an eye on, but also announces Kumasi Music as a label of soul, groove and impressively polished production.