NICOLAS AFTALION Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Skylax has never cared for trends of fads and has always dealt in classically inclined house music from artists old and new. The French imprint now looks to Nicolas Aftalion for the second volume of his Spirit of House EP. He captures just that expertly with the opener 'Cruise In Paradise' riding a nice mid-tempo groove with heartfelt vocal hooks. 'A Message To Mad Mike' ups the energy a little with more prominent pads and 'Paris Is Burning' taps into a sense and soulful groove with lush, lazy drums. 'Soulful In Paris' has a nice 90s feel the way the chords and drums sit with one another and is sure to bring the good times.

Review: Skylax offshoot Wax Classic is not a reissue label, as some might imagine, but rather an outlet for fresh productions rooted in vintage house and U.S garage sounds. French artist Nicolas Aftalion is the producer at the controls on the label's latest EP, marking his return to wax after seven long years. He first doffs a cap to Kerri Chandler classic 'Bar a Tym' and chunky, funky '90s house on 'Rue Des Wallons', before opting for breezier synth stabs, rubbery bass and sweaty beats on 'NY Hoodz'. With its' eyes-closed, classic-sounding female vocal samples and jaunty keyboard stabs, 'High Life' has a rushing early '90s U.S house flavour, while 'When You Come Home' brilliantly brings the curtain down on a deliciously old school-sounding EP.