Tom Esselle - Evolutions & Revolutions [Rhythm Section]

Format: 12" in printed label sleeve.
CAT: RS069

While Tom Esselle's name may be new to many, those in the know are aware that Tom has been a key figure in Southeast London for over 15 years. He first made his mark as part of the influential Wholemeal collective, booking Floating Points in 2009 at an underground club with a capacity of barely 200 people. He also hosted regular events over the following decade with lineups that read like a veritable "who's who" of the London underground.

Tom left an indelible mark on the Peckham subculture when he opened YAM Records alongside his compadre, Theodor. If you've ever attended a Rhythm Section New Year's party, you've likely seen them playing back-to-back during the midnight countdown. It's become a tradition, and for good reason. Both DJs and collectors at the height of their powers, they opened a record shop that, along with the local radio platform Balami, offered a vital space for the emerging scene of that time. That physical space served as a breeding ground for many key talents, especially Chaos in the CBD, whose early releases on YAM, alongside those released on Rhythm Section INTL, were instrumental in their initial success. If we also add the now-classic album "Idiom" by Joe Armon-Jones and Maxwell Owin, as well as Romal Kultaan, known for Lemon Lounge, the result is practically a local hit factory.

"Employee of the Month" Beans, from Chaos in the CBD, was taken under the wing of the YAM founder in the early days, and since then, the two have developed a very special relationship. After conquering the world with his aforementioned project, Beans returned the favor by helping Tom refine his production with engineering advice and studio time. It sounds as if Tom has finally put in his 10,000 hours; now it's his time to shine.

Tom makes the kind of house music I wish I could make myself. It's built on organic grooves, Latin percussion, and warm synths. Textures float around punchy basslines that serve their purpose exactly. The music is precise yet groovy, captivating yet never arrogant. It's confident and to the point: neither too aggressive nor complacent. The songs evolve, mutate, grow, and contract, all driven by a single goal: maximum dancefloor destruction.

If you appreciate elegant and visionary house, with one foot in the golden age of tech house and the other in contemporary soulful compositions, this EP is for you.