It’s been close to twelve-months since we’ve heard any new material from Martin Stimming (and more than two years since we’ve had a 12” of fresh tracks). For an artist who was once very prolific, putting out multiple records a year, recent times have seen the German producer reign in his release schedule. And whilst last summer’s slightly disappointing eponymous album might seem to refute the quality over quantity adage, the arrival of a new Stimming EP on one of house music’s premier labels still feels like something of a major event.
A two track affair, a-side ‘China Tree’ finds Stimming playing to his strengths and the result is rather wonderful. A clicking, chopping bassline and live-sounding drum pads make for a water-tight minimal, mechanical-sounding groove that is complemented by cool and nonchalant vocals from Piper Davis, whose voice floats in and out never out-staying its welcome. Yet, it’s the mid-track arrival of a mournful strings that emit a warm, melodic penumbra that stamp the track with Stimming’s signature touch. The juxtaposition of the strings and the stripped-back austerity of the bass and kicks takes the track to boiling point, then the melody melts away and the techno elements masterfully re-emerges as prominent and tougher than before. It’s wonderful to hear Stimming crafting the kind of confident, club-friendly yet idiosyncratic track of the kind that sent waves through the dance-music community when he arrived all those years ago.
‘Southern Sun’, not to be confused with the god-awful Paul Oakenfold track of the same name, arrives on the B-Side. It’s a slightly softer affair to ‘China Tree’. Live-sounding percussive elements and deep pads are layered beneath cascading, harmonising electronic sounds, supplemented by the appearance of Piper Davis’ vocals appear again. The gentle and beautiful piano refrain that emerges in the last third of the track bring a tenderness and fragility that, if not already clear, confirm this as an afterhours cut. A dub cut completes the package.
After a few years in which Stimming’s releases, with a few exceptions, haven’t lived up to his early work, it is vindicating for both the producer and his legion of fans for such a solid release to touch down and prove that he can still deliver the goods for the dance-floor. Moreover, ‘Southern Sun’ is a package that feels well-suited to Pampa, the off-kilter and low-slung electronics at work find their nearest contemporary in the recent work of label boss DJ Koze. An exciting return to form for the Hamburg producer.
| Artist: Stimming Title: China Tree EP Label: Pampa Records Tracklist China Tree feat. Piper DavisThe Southern Sun feat Piper Davis The Southern Sun feat Piper Davis - Dub (Digital Only Our rating: 8.5/10 |  |
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