Stefan Braatz - Outlaw EP [Nu Groove Records]

Berlin underground authority Stefan Braatz returns to Nu Groove with a four-track EP showcasing his timeless sound: Outlaw. An established club DJ and producer who has worn many hats in his 30-year career, Stefan Braatz is known for his vast knowledge that challenges genre conventions. His previous Nu Groove collaboration, ‘Everyman Jack’, with Chicago legends Virgo Four, combined his respect for the old school with new school techniques. Opening the EP is the eponymous track ‘Outlaw’, featuring the vocals of Chicago house pioneer Harry Dennis, a contemporary of Ron Hardy, the late Frankie Knuckles and member of Jungle Wonz alongside Marshall Jefferson. While Braatz’s relentless synth energy drives the composition, Dennis’s unmistakable freestyle guides it with ease. What follows are three solo tracks that encapsulate the Berlin expert’s opposition to genre constraints; ‘Conversation’ opens a dialogue between synth strings and piano that loops in ecstasy, while ‘Dingy Thoughts’ and ‘One More Dream’ are darker club cuts that bubble with intensity in the lower registers.