Unsung herald of a certain underground house quality in the UK, Paul Cottam is a well-traveled DJ and producer who traverses his epoch with equanimity and dedication, rich of a back catalogue that could easily put to shame some of the hottest yet ephemeral sensations of the moment.
Having collated EPs on Aus Music, Ruff Draft, Versatile and obviously his own self-titled imprint Cottam, the Lancashire-based producer is back this autumn to inaugurate a new division in FatCat Records’ far-reaching directory, soberly-titled FCR.
Scheduled to hit the streets in a few days, ‘I Can’t Carry On‘ features an original mix and a subtle revisitation from the excellent Todd Cochell aka Todd Modes, who’s made quite the impression on us with his previous solo effort on Aaron Siegel’s FIT Sound label last year.
If Cottam’s killer first-hand version maintains a fine balance between an overwhelming millefeuille of synthetic layers, textured drums and a hypnotic melodic hook, Modes’ revamp drapes itself in luxurious damask motifs – his mind-expanding meshwork of smokey tribal jazz tinged with north-African folk music tropes radiating from first minute to last. Undoubtedly two of the finest house producers out there at the minute, dispensing a proper stupendous masterclass in percussions and ambience-scaping. Maximal mind-to-mind permeation.
I Can’t Carry On is released via FCR on 22nd September, pre-order a copy from Juno.
TRACKLIST
A. I Can’t Carry On
B. I Can’t Carry On (Todd Modes Remix)