- DJ Deep's Future Roots series is only two releases in, but its eye for talent has been impeccable thus far. Or, rather, its one producer has yet to fail. Frenchman Fabrizio Ortella, mentee of Manoo, provided the goods earlier this year, but on this second 12-inch, he comes into his own.
As you might expect for a release on Deep's label, the name of the game is subtlety. Each track on Future Roots, Vol. 2 veers close to moments of ebullient release, only to back down before going down more progressive routes. "Intensive Care (Basic Mix)" sounds like Jean-Michel Jarre crossed with Jus-Ed, bringing bright synths to a house context and gently modulating them across a flightpath that takes you higher and higher before setting you down minutes later.
Ortella mines this same sound throughout Future Roots, Vol. 2—"Into You" wouldn't sound out of place in a Dixon set what with its sighing vocal sample and groaning and moaning melody, while "Psychotrope" takes things in a darker direction. "Singtho" might be the highlight, however. It's got the wood block backbeat, step-up-step-down synth line and stabbing propulsion that begs for someone to blend in something to take the whole thing to Digweed land. That Ortella keeps things from spilling over, and still somehow unleashes a tasteful climax, is testament to hisskill behind the boards and Manoo's expert advice. Excellent stuff.
TracklistA1 Intensive Care (Basic Mix)
A2 Into You
B1 Psychotrope
B2 Singtho