Alan Smith

Moody, hypnotic deep house from south Ireland's Al Smith on Chateau Chepere. Four late-night tracks that drift through shadowy, introspective territory - our pick is 'Amber', a track that settles in like smoke and refuses to leave.

Smith operates in that sweet spot between deep house and deep techno where restraint becomes hypnotic. These are tracks built for 4am listening, when the dancefloor thins out and the music gets properly introspective. Minimal but textured, patient but never static.

Chateau Chepere continues to mine that vein of European deep house that privileges atmosphere over obvious dramatics. CC06 arrives as the label shows no signs of losing its ear for production that respects the listener's intelligence.