KIKKO ESSE Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Soul Departure clicks up its fifth EP here with Kikko Esse the able producer at the helm for the occasion. 'Deep Mind' is indeed deep but it's fulsome too - warm pads rush through the air waves as the drums and kicks establish the groove below. '4 PM' is more stripped back to the thudding kicks and lo-fi synth leads but diffuse chords bring plenty of late night soul. There is an upbeat energy to the surging house warmth of B-side opener 'Take It Easy' then 'Make It' shuts down in devastatingly emotional fashion with heart-melting chords and nagging little vocal hooks.

Review: Southern Italian producer Michele Sodano aka Kikko Esse returns on his Sound Departure imprint with the Vibrations EP, continuing his explorations into soulful house. On the A side, you've got the smooth late night house of 'Under Pandemic' powered by creamy Rhodes keys and sexy trumpet parts, followed by the evocative and near spiritual vibes of 'Baby You'. Over on the flip, 'Feelings' nails that timeless Chicago style reminiscent of Ron Trent - this one's absolutely life-affirming - and finally there's the sanguine sounding 'Recovering Soul' featuring an infectious panpipe melody throughout.