- It was only a matter of time until Justin Zerbst and Dan Curtin linked up. Both artists love vintage synthesisers, melody and driving basslines, and are favourites of DJs who trawl the spaced-out section of dance music where deep house intersects with techno. From City Lights, Zerbst's second EP of 2017, lands on Curtin's Metamorphic label, and collects four tunes that were—in case you couldn't tell by the quick tempo—produced in the '90s. Two are dance floor killers that sum up why this sound is so loved. The others? Not so much.
The standouts, "A Time And A Location" and "Away," are both around 140 BPM, with simple kick-snare patterns and fidgety basslines. "Away," the more reduced option, is especially nice, thanks to its easygoing groove and a snaking acid line. It's one of the more straightforward tunes from the Red Ember camp, but also one of its best. "Places" and "In Deep" are less subtle. They start steadily but pile on harsh synths and pads until they become a mess. Luckily for us, there's enough heat elsewhere to make From City Lights worth picking up.
TracklistA1 A Time And A Location
A2 Places
B1 Away
B2 In Deep