Now About How vinyl

Gavin Sutherland isn't perhaps the most prolific producer in the Prime Numbers canon. Since making his debut in 2002, the Scottish producer has released just four solo singles - the most recent being last year's well-received About Time 12" - and contributed a handful of tracks to various Firecracker and Prime Numbers collaborative EPs. For those who dig his atmospheric and at times heady sound, it's been a frustrating experience. Perhaps he was saving himself for this debut full-length. Now About How largely explores his previous themes, showcasing a densely layered, occasionally downtempo take on dance music that's never less than intoxicating. Now About How is a true basement soul album. While firmly rooted in deep house (check the swampy Detroitian vibes of "Shake Out"), it never settles into one comfortable, predictable groove. Its heady, emotion-rich grooves include warm, melodic two-step and future garage flavas ("Polo", the jazzual "Silent Statues"), lazy Balearica ("Mind Swamp"), dubwise slo-mo grooves ("If We're Gonna Go") and dewy-eyed downtempo beatscapes ("It's The Music"). It's eclectic, no doubt, but thanks to Sutherland's delicious production and strangely distant vocals, Now About How hangs together marvellously.

Owain Kimber (Owain K), Tomson, SE62, ISOUL8 (Volcov), Vakula, Sai Aka Blend Architect, Manos Mara (Bliq)