scott hess: sirius city

300 limited edition blue release of Bangkok-based child of Detroit Scott Hess returns with the latest in his vinyl-only 'Redlight' series. Welcome to the interplanetary voyage of Redlight volume 2, the stunning result of a prolonged spell of concerted studio exploration by musician, DJ and producer, Scott Hess. During the enforced lockdown that much of the world endured earlier this year, Scott took the opportunity to hit the sonic laboratory harder than ever before, and the result is some of his most accomplished work to date. Undoubtedly blessed with the essence of his Motor-city birthplace, there exists, too, a distinct extraterrestrial yearning in the music. Add to this a sense of cabin-fever-induced paranoia, and the result is a complete and coherent collection that's as funk-flecked as it is experimental in nature. The heavy electro-fuelled flavour of 'Sirius City' is designed to activate maximum booty-shaking. Summoning some kind of soul dirt, Scott gets the beats clapping over futurist refrains and an almighty intergalactic top-line to . On 'Stars', Scott invited friends from all corners of the planet to contribute vocal textures, with each of them supplying spoken word proclamations of various stars and constellations for him to skilfully work into the cut. The music evolves delicately but purposefully, with carefully placed textures complimenting the vibe-rich synth hook. On 'Call Me, Acid' we find Scott in an adventurous mood. Bubbling bass provides a bed for idiosyncratic synth lines to meander over tight snares and other-worldly textures. The bold arrangement leaves room for each part to have its say before allowing the brooding acid to take to the fore. 'UFO' tips a respectful cap to a golden age of Detroit house and techno soul, with its heavy pads, crunching snares and infectious 303. Arguably the most club-ready cut on the 12", yet still endowed with a star-gazing quality of production and tone.