MARK E Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Mark E returns to his own MERC imprint for the first 12" vinyl release in seven years. Though this is a long-running label, the 'Take A Deep Breath' EP is no fanfaring comeback in itself, instead preferring a mood of technical chill and serenity, and building on Mark's unswerving love of deep house. Going by the tagline "understate to intoxicate", the takeaway is that even sedative moods such as this can function as dancefloor intoxicants: 'Transient Neighbour' and 'Deep Breath' are relentlessly smooth painkillers, administered by ear canal only and yet still working as successful deliverers of whatever the sonic entoptic equivalent of light trails are to the depressant dancer. B-siders 'Ultra Violet' and 'Sun Dog' move increasingly exotic, though the fourth track is especially moody and trembly, its fantastic low synth string resembling a prosthetic cello, not of this earth and yet doubly able to affect us.

Review: Now 18 years into his production career, Mark Evetts AKA Mark E is far less prolific than he once was, but his occasional releases are stronger than ever. That much is proved by his second EP for Delusions of Grandeur. Opener 'Enchantment Under The Sea' lives up to the promise of its title, with the Black Country-born producer wrapping fluid, ocean-deep chords and lapping electronic melodies around lo-fi drum machine beats and an undulating bassline. 'Zone Tonight' is similarly deep, melodious and tactile - all atmospheric synth strings, hypnotic drums, starry pads and bubbly bass - while 'Vertigo' is a jazzier and sunnier affair guaranteed to put smiles on faces. To finish off, the Merc main man blurs the boundary between lilting analogue synth-pop and wide-eyed deep house on the gorgeous 'Bodymap'.

Review: Mark E has spent the last few years re-tracing his loopy edit roots with the E Versions project, while exploring Balearic pastures with brother-in-law Nat Woodcock as Project E. Those who've always enjoyed his more peak-time productions will love this new two-tracker for Futureboogie, as it sees him applying his love of loop jams to suit darker, sweatier dancefloors. "Basement Trax 1" sets the tone, looping vintage, Twilo-era organ motifs over a tactile but chugging, nine-minute groove. "Basement Trax 2" is a little more musically expansive, with dreamy chords and similarly ear-catching organ motifs slowly building over a punchy house rhythm and undulating synth bassline.