- Naming yourself after a 50-year-old movie about a pimp by Italian auteur Pasolini probably says more about Portuguese producer Jose Reis than we've got space for here, but his Hudd Traxx debut is more than enough proof of his musical skills. And, attracting a Matthew Herbert remix is as good a badge of honor as any.
"A Reason Not To Try" is a loose-limbed house cut with a moreish bass pattern and smears of moody marimba. But you may be put off by Reis's voice. A cracked drawl delivering a half-sung vocal, it merges into the background after several plays. Thankfully, "One Of A Kind" is an instrumental. Reis achieves a warm, East Coast house vibe through intelligent use of wooden percussion, which is joined by a smoky organ lick and spitting cymbals.
Herbert's take on the lead track toughens it up considerably. As ever, he doesn't choose a conventional route, combining drops of buzz-saw bass, a brutal tempo and chinking synths. Adopting a more commercial 4/4 approach, "Walkin & Talkin" shows off Reis's bass programming skills, and comes complete with a neat music box-style melody. It also proves his voice can just about carry off a tune.
Tracklist A1 A Reason Not To Try
A2 A Reason Not To Try (Matthew Herbert's Gimme Some Remix)
B1 Walkin & Talkin
B2 One Of A Kind