Maceo Plex - Life Index [Crosstown Rebels]

It wouldn't be fair to say that house and techno fans take Crosstown Rebels for granted—after all, it ranked twelfth in Resident Advisor's Top 20 Labels of 2010 poll. But thanks to its consistency, the label has made it easy for fans of techno and house music to simply assume that the Damian Lazarus-helmed imprint will continue to put out good material. Luck is on those people's side—they're probably right; among other Crosstown goodies, there are albums by the likes of Jamie Jones, Deniz Kurtel, and Art Department on the way. And the label is kicking off the year with a bang in the form of "Life Index," a lush house album from Maceo Plex, the latest musical alias of veteran producer Eric Estornel.

Estornel is probably best known for his work as Maetrik, the nom de plume he uses for heavy, cavernous, and sometimes ominous techno that would fit perfectly on the soundtrack to a dark, esoteric sci-fi film. There's little gloom to "Life Index," however; the album devotes itself to the relatively simple pleasures of straightforward house. While it may be more immediately appealing and easier to grasp than an average Maetrik track, it's not Top 40 material either, as Estornel's take on house is elastic, deeply engrossing, and very often beautiful. It's also imbued with something else: soul.

That soul is at times overtly on display; "Vibe Your Love," for instance, is more or less an elegant take on Stevie Wonder's "For Your Love" (complete with full lyrics), its emotional piano chords cut up by strange, ascending bursts of what sounds like intensely treated vocal snippets. Elsewhere, the soul is hinted at: the slinky "Sleazy E" layers congas and a beautiful, Eastern-influenced synth line over its "Billie Jean"-esque bassline, while the elegiac "Love You Mama" morphs from pastoral techno into a deep, funky disco groove. (Charmingly and somewhat bizarrely, that track also features a vocal snippet pilfered from the 1970's classic gold oldie "Precious and Few" by Climax.) "Silo" adds horn bursts to the pattern; "You & Me" layers its pulse and groove with a chord progression worthy of Kevin Saunderson; the ethereal "Arise" ventures into light acid and deep bleep territory.

The set winds to its conclusion with "Bring It Back," a gorgeous track, only slightly marred by the hackneyed spoken-word lyrics "Detroit, bring it back / Chicago, bring it back." Truth be told, though, it's hard to argue with the sentiment; it's a heartfelt moment on an album full of them. As a bonus, the album is wonderfully recorded—every element is crystal-clear, yet warm, thick, and rounded throughout, and it's sure to sound great blasted through the speakers of a top-tier sound system.