- John Daly is a man of retrospect. Perhaps even a little more so than your average deep house producer. Look no further than the Irishman's DJ sets for proof, where you'll find his own Bryan Ferry edits slotted alongside Led Zeppelin riffs. Subsequently, his latest EP, Big Piano hosted by the Zurich-based Drumpoet Community imprint, is a throwback to a time when deep house was more than soft chords and delicate eight-bar loops.
The title track and opener, "Big Piano," is straightforward enough, with big drums, big reverb and a big bassline greeting you within the first minute. All DJs need to do is drop the needle and let the kick do the work. "Reach" follows and, in the aftermath of the EP's introduction, trails nicely. It's here that Daly's prowess at programming structural intricacies really shines through. The atmospheres created by the rolling percussion and drifting cosmic samples are the package's most sonically developed, and showcases Daly for the cautious and complex producer he has become.
"Long Distance" and "Atlantic Drive" both sit comfortably on the flip. The former ups the pace set by the A-side, employing a thick analogue layer that results in a Chicago-inspired tech jaunt. The Balearic finale, practically speaking, is the EP's weakest moment. At just four minutes long, the oscillating melodies won't get much airtime outside the exceptionally early or late hours, but if used in the right place, could go down as quite a treat.
Tracklist A1 Big Piano
A2 Reach
B1 Long Distance
B2 Atlantic Drive