Don Carlos - I'm Steel Here EP [Freerange Records]

If anyone deserves to bear the name Don, it's Don Carlos. Responsible for one of the most influential and defining deep house tracks of all time, the Italian legend lives up to his name as a true master of his craft. In 1991, his debut Alone was released through Calypso Records and quickly achieved classic status, illuminating dance floors worldwide with its euphoric pianos, sunny strings, and laid-back groove. Laying the groundwork for what would later be known as "Italian dream-house," Don Carlos returned a year later with another masterpiece in the form of the Mediterraneo mini-LP, influenced by Chicago master Larry Heard but with a European and Balearic perspective that would pave the way for a wave of warm, emotive, and nocturnal house emerging from the Bel Paese.

Don Carlos' releases have been relatively sporadic since his seminal early 90s period, so Freerange Records is delighted to present entirely new material in the form of the I'm Steel Here EP. Across three original tracks, we hear him revisit the vibe of those early years, updating it for today's DJs and dancefloors. The main track combines a powerful Italo synth bass with Carlos' signature strings and pianos to create a luminous club cut that uplifts the spirits of anyone who listens.

Azimuth continues to chop and filter a piano hook reminiscent of Trackheadz, with a sampled and treated vocal providing a nineties hook for a nostalgic dose of majestic house.

Closing out this EP gem is In The Sky, which loops a classic and feel-good disco riff for a mid-tempo house track that glides along effortlessly and creates the perfect atmosphere for any self-respecting warm-up set.