Various ‎– Testing The Water

Label: Testing The Water ‎– TTW.001/TTW.002
Format: 2 × Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: UK
Released: 2000
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Deep House

Under the radar double pack from the short-lived Testing The Water sub-label of Manchester's Rainy City imprint.  Whereas early releases on the main imprint secured a reputation for pushing it’s own brand of jazz-dripped Detroit influenced house music, this spin off release feeds off the Brazilian roots of label member Franco Ze whilst pushing the label into new territory.  Afro Bota’s ‘Genesis’ track is a lurking, slo-mo blend of stripped back latin percussion that’s invaluable to DJs keen to fuck around with tempo / rhythms and already a low-key weapon for those in the know, whilst The Tellurians’ offering on the flip ups the energy for a rowdy bout of clattering of pots ’n pans.  The other disc reverts back to the label’s signature sound, bridging the Manchester -> Detroit connection with ‘Mars Probe’ - a low-slug funk-infused deep house slow burn that feels right out of Pittman’s / Wilhite’s / Wade’s / Theo’s playbook despite retaining a sense of UK authenticity whereas The Elastic Band’s nippier cut is a premium future-jazz nugget (a first on here!) that recalls some of the stuff the Norweigan’s were doing early 00’s, that Kahuun ‎– Batteri 12” for example.  Yeah a lot to go at here, all killer no filler double pack, brewed up in our fine city no less.  (VG+/VG+)).

Tracklist

A1 –The Elastic Band (2) Funk In Suspense (Film Score Edit Act 1 Scene 1) 6:08
B1 –A Tellurian Brother The Mars Probe 7:11
A1 –Afro Bota Genesis 6:10
AA1 –The Tellurians (2) Eros Bateria 7:00