Clancy: What You Do EP Label: SPIEL (sub-label of Dirt Crew)

WOW! What a fantastic EP by Manchester-bred Clancy. He now resides in London and has put out this fine release on Dirt Crew's brand-new sub-label SPIEL. I can't think of a better way for Dirt Crew to launch a new label than with this excellent release. Call it what you will - deep-house, nu-disco, whatever, it's REALLY GOOD. This is not your typical banging tracky-loopy club music. It's straight-up music from the heart - like good disco should be. It's got modern production quality but with 80s sensibilities. The winners are both versions (#1 & #3) of "What You Do" - the original is deep & funky, the remix is acidic/electro with a tip-of-the-hat to Li'l Louis (if you've heard "French Kiss" you will know what I mean). Also super-delicious is #2 ("Nobody Else") which features great vocals in the middle of the track.

1. "What You Do" (5:54) - HOT nu-disco track! Deep & soulful vocals with that distinctive disco-funk bassline laying down a thick groove. Space-y synths & effects during the breaks. Can't help but nod your head at the funky goodness.
2. "Nobody Else" (7:27) - DELICIOUS soulful disco-fied house! Smooth and richly layered synths and super-soulful deep vocals build up to a near-spiritual experience. The vocals in the middle are fantastic. This is the sounds of late 80s early 90s house but done with a very clean and airy modern sensibility.
3. "What You Do" (Prins Thomas Diskomiks) (9:31) - AMAZING! This remix of the original "What You Do" is an acid-fied version that recalls the 80s - blurping analog bass rolls over the original vocals. There's a sexy slowdown in tempo in the middle very much like Li'l Louis' "French Kiss" from 1989 - and that is a HUGE compliment to Clancy!
4. "Giving You Up" - A straightforward space-y disco-house track that features really big rich synth layers and a theatrical, dramatic vibe.