Higher Concept – Do the Damn Thing

Asylum Afterhours is the Hawaii club attached to the Asylum label and now one of its residents, Higher Concept, serves up a four track EP that shows he is as skilled in the studio as he is in the booth.

With multiple productions forthcoming on different record labels, Higher Concept is on the verge of catapulting onto the global scene. He is also one half of DOZEGUISE with partner Darren Zane and works with Willis Haltom for Get Physical Music.

Says the artist himself: “I chose the title for this EP because it’s more or less stuff I did over the early years in my production, and was holding it back but wanted to get it out before I show where I’m at right now in my work.”

Opener ‘Pushing Time’ is a deep and sombre bit of house with a creamy groove, well placed vocal samples and warm vibes oozing from its core. Sure to bring both boys and girls to the floor, it’s a classic bit of modern house. Next comes ‘Some Kind of Feeling,’ a more kinetic and tech leaning cut with shimmering vocals, rich bass and something of an r&b feel.

‘The Next Level’ then ups the ante once more and unfolds in slick, melodic techno fashion. The focus here is on the lush chords and stabbed bass, which make for dramatic hooks throughout this main room piece. ‘Nature of the Business’ then drops back into a very modern, r&b inflected house groove with neon chords, slick bass and cute arps that sound like a fine evolution of the famed Hot Creation sounds.

On this evidence Higher Concept really has a fine grasp of dance floor grooves and can do every style of house and tech with equal élan.