Axel Boman - 1979 [Pampa]

Barnhus' favorite boy returns to the Pampa label, and his previous installment is no easy task to follow – the year was 2010, 'Holy Love' was the name and 'Purple Drank' the undeniable track of the year; it captured the spirit of the dancefloor with its sensuous tempo and created a classic with its instantly recognizable vocal. While last time left us falling down the rabbit hole, Axel Boman's new preoccupation goes upwards, forwards, in an accelerated motion. '1979' is a thoughtful, cool-toned take on classic downtempo deep house. It holds onto the necessary basic elements of percussion but surrounds them with light touches and a comforting pastoral feel. Time is taken and moments are given room to breathe in this meditative exploration of gently shifting moods. 'Nokturn (Grand Finale)' is carnivalesque in the grandest sense, with an endless motion through its dominant percussion pattern. Its looping background is perpetually poised for liftoff, building in intensity as Latin rhythms occupy the shoulders and hips. A minimalistic upright bass phrase takes care of the low-end groove, and together with flashes of vintage disco sounds, it creates another sure-fire hit.