"Wow" is the first word that you may find yourself saying at about the six-and-a-half minute mark of House of House's "Rushing to Paradise (Walkin' These Streets)." The duo of Saheer Umar (Afrika Islam's nephew) and Olivier "Liv" Spencer (Still Going, DFA) probably wouldn't have it any other way. Unabashedly dramatic, the track is almost ridiculous in its attempt to make you feel. This deep house epic is in the grand tradition of Ernestus & Von Oswald's Main Street records, but just as much echoes the sort of pop star charity "We Are the World" extravaganza that reaches for bombast and settles for magniloquence. In short, it's completely overblown in the best way possible. Tinkling keys, children singing, a throbbing bassline, a man talking about how he's been "treating his love so wrong" and then giving up because we know what he's talking about anyway, a fadeout that lasts nearly three minutes, a build-up that lasts six...well..."wow."
Things quiet down for "The Rough Half (Don't Stop)." The B-side is a casual house jaunt, reminiscent much like "Rushing" of the late '80s production-wise. Balearic guitars fly high over sighing synths, while piano pounds away and the vocals knowingly repeat the words "running around in circles." At times, things get a little cluttered—the only complaint that could be leveled at "Rushing" as well—but if "House Of House were formed to inject a grandiose and soul-searing bit of drama onto the dance floor," they've certainly accomplished it here. The only question? Where do they possibly go from here?
Published /
Wed, 04 Feb 2009
Tracklist: House Of House - Rushing To Paradise
A Rushing To Paradise (Walkin' These Streets)
B The Rough Half (Don't Stop) | 
