K’Alexi Shelby - Dark Smiles Vol 1 EP

Seth Troxler & The Martinez Brothers’ Tuskegee Music welcomes Chicago legend K-Alexi Shelby for a new EP that features some essential solo cuts as well as two great collaborations with Tony Lovlesss.

K-Alexi is a genuine Chicago great. He’s been at the core of the scene since the eighties and releasing his raw grooves on DJ International, Trax and Transmat, as well as his own K Klassik label. He has recently remixed for Seth Troxler’s other label, Say It Play It, but is now back serving up the sort of engaging originals that have made him such an enduring star.

Excellent opener ‘Cherry K Moon’ is a raw slice of deep and soulful tech. The driving bassline melts your mind as afro percussion and driving drums make for a solid groove below. It’s one for the late-night hours that will twist and turn any crowd inside out. The superb ‘Dark Smile’ is less tense and more house oriented in nature, with preacher style vocals up top and busy kicks down low. Live, chattery hand claps bring an organic feel and synth stabs inject looseness that will get hands in the air.

The pressure then builds through the manic Tony Lovlesss collab ‘Anal Probe’, a powerful techno track with hi tech drums and taught synths freaking you out as they ride up and down the scale. Their second track together ‘Fly Shit’ is more playful with radiant synths opening it up to the skies and lively, funky drum programming bringing a real sense of a sun kissed terrace party. Last of all, the standout ‘Run With Jackals’ feat. A.D.M is another heavily percussive track with rattling toms, vocal chants and hammering hits all adding up to a compelling afro-house rhythm.

These are all innovate tracks that explore various different moods and grooves with a real sense of quality.

Tracklist:

A1 – Cherry K Moon (Raw 5King’s Mix) – K’Alexi Shelby 
B1 – Dark Smile – K’Alexi Shelby 
C1 – Anal Probe – K’Alexi Shelby & Tony Lovlesss
D1 – Fly sh!t – K’Alexi Shelby & Tony Lovlesss
D2 – Run With Jackals feat. A.D.M – K’Alexi Shelby