Mark Slee - Velveteen (Soela’s Dub)

Buy: For release thirty-eight, label co-founder Mark Slee gets back into the producer’s chair for his third original EP on Manjumasi. The Eiderdown EP features two original tracks that very much follow in the tradition of Slee’s sound on the label: textured grooves, syncopated bass lines, and unique melodic leads. The quirky bell-like tones that feature in both Eiderdown and Velveteen have become a sonic signature for Slee, echoing the label’s inaugural Nocturne Belle EP and playing in the gray areas where organic and synthetic sound design meet. On remix duties are two outstanding artists with well-established talents for balancing groove and sensitivity. First up is Venezuelan producer Arutani, well-known for his beautiful full-length albums on Laut & Luise. His remix of Eiderdown morphs the track into a darker, moodier space with a satisfying interplay between mysterious, ethereal pads and staccato arpeggiated synth lines. Next up is Soela, whose “Genuine Silk” LP on Dial firmly established her unique take on delicate dance music. Her dreamy dub mix of Velveteen is one that you can just let endlessly wash over you. A beautiful three-chord motif forms the anchor of the track, a magical musical passage that evokes a bit of everything - sadness, love, regret, optimism, and joy all at once. The original acid line wafts in and out as the track evolves over the course of a gentle arc.