- New York DJ/Producers John "roc" Mateo and Eddie "e-z" Matos aka Mateo & Matos platter up a mix of African grooves and four to the floor beats with their release of Essential Elements. Recognised for their lengthy stint on the New York house circuit and a long list of releases the duo's renowned production and remix techniques have seen them record under labels such as King Street, K7, Defected, Nervous, Large and Glasgow Underground. Mateo & Matos are no strangers when it comes to serving up something new and very listenable.
Back in "85" John "roc" Mateo was spinning whole sets over the airwaves of his CB radio, through this self-produced show Eddie "e-z" Matos first made contact with John Mateo. Becoming friends and partners soon after Mateo & Matos performed at a staggering number of club's, festivals and block parties from "86" through "89". Taking Mateo & Matos into the 90's is their deep house driven beats and eclectic style has kept them at the forefront of soulful deep house music.
First track A Life To Come starts with the tribal feel and wobbly effects building up to a thumping house beat setting the pace for the rest of the album. That Afro Rythm slides in the same feel with familiar beat and keeping stern with the "Afro" thang. Mas Alto slips into something more comfortable with a catchy vibe running throughout proving their ability to create a smooth jazzy house track, catchy as it is classy. Synthy stabs and subtle horn curls make Afro Experience a heated up version of thing past returning that kicking house beat and throwing in a livelier feel into the mix. Backing up Afro Circus is a minimal track consisting of a drawn out beat and quirky vocals, really not much to the track.
Returning to the jazz tip is Got To Reach rolls out a nice track full of stabs, fills and turns. Breaking up the album is an intermission of tribal African vocals nice as it is, it gets a bit much after the African's have had the floor for a while. Homeboy’s Groove puts down a bass heavy beat, kicking back into the flowing, synth riddled wrap up. One Time horn riff is taken from Papa’s Got A Brand new Pigbag a track its self well known for good reason, funky and up tempo it steps the album into some well needed sunshine that was lacking from the deep house rolling and brewing throughout.
Mateo & Matos Frankie Knuckles quoted “a brilliant collection of insatiable grooves” a CD worthy of any avid house collectors stash.
01. A Life To Come
02. That Afro Rhythm
03. Mas Alto
04. Afro Experience
05. Afro Circus
06. Got To Reach
07. Afrilude
08. Homeboy's Groove
09. One Time
10. Mozam's Mood
11. Blessed Rhythm
12. That Latin Rhythm
13. Soul Connection