Alexis Raphael - Shutdown - Moda Black

Moda Black is back with a new EP from hot contemporary house talent Alexis Raphael. On 'Shutdown' Raphael serves up two tracks that continue in the fine tradition he has already established in the early part of his career. Alexis is part of London's new breed of international electronic music stars. He earned his stripes across the pirate radio stations of North and East London during the late '90s and early '00s and went on to hold residencies at such legendary London clubs as The Cross and Bagley's. Alexis then knuckled down in the studio and got his first release, Spaceship, signed in 2011 to Jamie Jones and Lee Foss' Hot Waves imprint bringing him into the international spotlight. Shutdown is a full-blooded main room house tune with razor sharp hi hats, inviting bass that drops in and out at pleasing intervals and plenty of other stylistic flourish from classic Loon bird calls to reverse synth stabs and ravey vocals. It's beefy, chunky and demands to be danced to. On the flipside, 'Exclusive' is a little more heads down. It's a deeper cut with rolling drums, chilly; ticking percussion and curious bassline that nimbly works it way in and out of the arrangement. Drum fills, echoing but indecipherable vocals and a hypnotic relentlessness all make this a sure fire floor filler.