New Phase

New Phase

Chris Carrier [Adult Only]

13 September, 2007 | 3.37PM

• Written by: Lee Smith
• Filed under: Music Recommendations: adult only, chris carrier, don’t look back, fly into the night, guillame la tortue, new phase

Along with long time buddy Guillame la Tortue, France’s Chris Carrier has been responsible for literally scores of top-notch tech-house over the last eight or so years.

However, their Adult Only imprint remains remarkably under the radar, despite displaying a flair for club burners that are resolutely underground but highly accessible.

Indeed, with ‘name’ DJs everywhere favoring wholesome house grooves over grey-scale minimalism of late, it may finally be time for the pair to achieve the wider recognition they thoroughly deserve.

All four tracks on ‘New Phase’ neatly articulate Carrier’s understated studio skills, balancing just the right levels of clattering tribal drums, dubbed-out delays and sturdy dancefloor swing.

‘Don’t Look Back’ throws an endearingly chubby bassline underneath a stuttering, tightly wound groove, while spacey FX skitter endlessly into the distance.

Walking the line between darkness and playfulness with aplomb, its versatile arrangement makes it highly effective in the mix, too.

‘Fly Into The Night’ is a lower-paced, deeper cut, utilizing a lush, drawn-out pad and gently rounded percussion.

While far from revolutionary in its ideas, it’s nonetheless expertly crafted, and ideal for more intimate settings.

Finally, the title track (and its digital-only remix) are Carrier as we know him best – jerky, bumpy grooves with oodles of live drum loops, a craftily sequenced flicker of melody, and a thumping bottom end.

Looks like drums are ‘back’- let’s just hope people don’t start bringing bongos to clubs again…

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• Check out Chris Carrier on Beatport