Paul Sawyer, Giapan & Marco Bartolucci – Alchemy [ICONYC]

The latest from John Johnson's ICONYC finds Paul Sawyer returning to the label for a fresh collaborative project. The UK artist made his debut on the US imprint in May of this year with the well received 'Neptune' single. Also laying claim to one of the summer's biggest records, Paul took on the daunting task of up updating Sunscreen's classic 'Perfect Motion'. Being a massive fan of the Sunday Club remix from decades ago this was a pleasant surprise and no doubt brought back a lot of great memories for long time electronic music fans. Now returning to ICONYC, Paul teams up with Italian artists Giapan & Marco Bartolucci for 'Alchemy' alongside remixes from Betoko and Christian Bonori.

Looking back over Paul's discography you know he’s got an affinity for crafting timeless, feel good progressive house. The addition of two creative minds in Giapan & Marco Bartolucci has only furthered that sentiment. Big and beefy from the outset, it's rhythmic concepts are strong, laying a foundation for spacey arps and gaseous atmospheres. Fragmented vocals initiate the main break, and this ultimately is where the magic happens; rolling bass tones, ghostly shrieks and a gorgeous modular build converge for a tasteful apex, perfectly setting up a smooth yet powerful final act.

Also returning to the label is progressive house star Betoko. The UK artist remains one of the genre's most tried and tested talents, with a discography highlighted by releases on BeatFreak Recordings, Einmusika and Suara. Now landing back on ICONYC, Betoko delivers a stunning take on 'Alchemy'. Like much of Betoko's recent material it's the low end which grabs your attention first. With a machine gun like rumble it modulates as fiery percussion and wooden claps pave the way for the main arp. Dropping out into the break at precisely the right the moment, it's that effervescent low end which brings waves of tension to the centrepiece, before little fan fare sparks a powerful drop. Should be a huge moment for the more educated dance floors out there.

The release concludes with Christian Bonori providing the second and final interpretation of 'Alchemy'. Recent releases on Jannowitz Records and Yoshitoshi Recordings have highlighted a strong year for the Italian and now he debuts on ICONYC with a superb remix. Opting for a deeper more atmospheric approach has worked wonders and sits as a perfect complement to it's predecessors. Smooth and spacious, it takes a cue from the original using the main arp to perfection, while a low slung groove, indistinct vocals and a shifty harmonic resonance take you on a tranquil seven minute journey. A lush remix from Christian which caps off another well rounded release for John Johnson's ICONYC. Highly recommended.

Buy: https://bit.ly/2mrn6Vg

Release Date: 23-09-2019

Release Promo: http://releasepromo.com

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