Frank & Aakmael - Mercy Of Means [Scissors & Thread]

The next release on Francis Harris’ exceptional Scissor & Thread imprint is a collaboration with DJ Aakmael.

Aakmael has built a reputation as one of the US’s most outstanding deep and raw house producers, with acclaimed releases on labels such as Freerange Records, Release Sustain, Kolour Dogmatik and NDATL.

Returning to Scissor & Thread, Aakmael and label head Harris cook up an intoxicating brew on this 5-track EP. They each contribute a solo track and collaborate on the fifth, as well as remixing each other’s tunes.

The EP opens with Aakmael’s *Deep Muzik*, which perfectly delivers on its stated mission in the title. With rattling drums, a flowing groove, and deep keyboards and chords, it’s an essential introduction.

Frank’s (aka Francis Harris) *All That Light Mix* shows another approach, finding spaces within effervescent percussion to create an equally soulful piece of music.

On *Mercy of Means*, where they share production duties, the artists slide into a deep, mid-tempo groove, with a smoothly flowing rhythm providing the perfect basis for sublime melodic touches.

Frank’s *Part Song* focuses on subtle deep grooves, with lightly filtered and saturated drums forming the main body, while beautiful washes and keyboards emerge throughout the track.

Aakmael’s remix beefs up the groove, making the snares snappier and the kicks hit harder, but keeps the track’s melodic atmosphere intact.