- Atom Heart is one of many dormant aliases of Uwe Schmidt, the illustrious German producer also known as Atom™ and Señor Coconut. Originally released on Roughmix (a subsidiary label of the German branch of Rough Trade) in 1994, the Milagro EP has long since attained holy grail status among record collectors and DJs, with original copies changing hands for upwards of €70. It therefore came as little surprise that it was next in line to be exhumed by Rawax, a Frankfurt family of labels that mostly represses sought-after vintage house.
In contrast with some of his more cerebral works released around the same time, the bulk of Milagro finds Schmidt in a dance floor-friendly mood. With its celestial atmospheres and chorus of sonar bleeps, "Milagro 02" marries these two approaches through an irresistible 909 swing. "As She Left" is the real jewel in the EP's crown. The spaced-out introspection of the title track is toned down for a slick and swaggering club bomb, with an endearing quirkiness provided by jazzy flourishes and hyperactive vocal cuts.
"Opacity" unfortunately doesn't sound quite as fresh. The track's disparate textures feel a little convoluted, with a lack of the razor-sharp grooves found elsewhere on the record. "Slow Motion," on the other hand, is another fine exercise in pensive yet perky deep house, its dreamy pads offset by whimsical keys and that familiar strut. One seldom encounters tracks that effectively combine musicality, emotional depth and dance floor potency like those on Milagro.
TracklistA1 Milagro 02
A2 As She Left
B1 Opacity
B2 Slow Motion