Tevo Howard: The Age of Compassion

Tevo Howard: The Age of Compassion

26 January, 2011 | 3.00AM

• Written by: Justin Jack
• Filed under: Music News: buzzin' fly, tevo howard

Chicago’s Tevo Howard has only been releasing music for a few years, but his embrace of his city’s classic sound, combined with his unusually musical touch, has him making waves in the deep house circuit. He lands his latest release on Ben Watt’s iconic (and eccentric) Buzzin’ Fly Records, working with vintage analogue equipment to give his deep, melodic house a gritty warmth.

“The track was written in honor of Ben Watt and Buzzin’ Fly,” says Howard. “I wanted this piece to be a dance-floor sweep, while expressing concrete theoretical musical phrasing and harmony.” “The Age of Compassion” does just that. The original mix is a beatless swirl of clean-lined arpeggios, offering plenty of possibilities for creative mixing; the “House Mix” reworks the contrapuntal themes over crisp drum machines, leaving plenty of breathing room.

It was Watt who came up with the ingenious selection of remixers. Ireland’s Donnacha Costello, founder of the acclaimed imprint Minimise, shows his techno roots with a taut interpretation with looping keys, dark, melodic bass, and a big kick.

Aera, aka Ralf Schmidt, and one of Beatportal’s Artists to Watch for 2011, brings a deeper, more downbeat vibe perfect for slower house sets, with elegant bells and a cool, loping groove.

A label that never disappoints, Buzzin’ Fly continues to push electronic music forward without losing sight of its roots. “The Age of Compassion” is a musical masterpiece with equal appeal on or off the dancefloor.

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