Dean Demanuele – Lucky

Label: Dazed & Confused

Score: 7.5/10

Chances are that if you’ve already encountered Dean Demanuele’s work, then you can already speak volumes for his vast repertoire of sprightly tech-house, a genre he seems to have an affiliation with like few others. To give the producer his dues, however, Demanuele’s sound is far from the generic and formulaic sound that can occasionally prove a burden on the genre these days, and on the contrary, his is a way of working in the studio that means his music is always as engrossing as it is catchy, delectable and relentless in its manner.

On that basis, his latest outing for his slowly emerging Dazed & Confused label is another real treat. While it only features two tracks, Demanuele squeezes every last bit of juice out of them, and thanks to their sound, they’re as likely to get an airing with house DJs as they are DJs of a more techno preposition. The title number is proof of the fact. Buoyant and full of pounding charm, it starts off on a fairly innocuous tip before it morphs into an all-out synth affair that’s notable particularly for its heady and emotive stabs.

‘We R Well’ is an altogether different beast. Vibey and skippy in nature, it moves with a swagger that suggests it means business from the get-go. Full of suspense, the listener is treated to a journey that’s like a still-active volcano in that we’re expecting it to blow at any moment. Cleverly, the Maltese producer decides against any obvious ploys, meaning ‘We R Well’ is a track that knows when to restrain from the jugular. With pounding and intricate works on show, Demanuele’s latest is proof indeed that he’s just as comfortable when he’s paired away from his sidekick, Lee Van Dowski. For top-draw vibes this Christmas time, look no further than this one…