- Elan Benaroch is an unsung hero of Vancouver's laid-back house sound. The man otherwise known as ESB and Elka makes springy but relaxed dance music with an arsenal of hardware. He's been producing for a while, but he's only now getting attention. A regular contributor to Edmonton's Heart To Heart label, Benaroch represents the earthier, more retro side of Vancouver's scene. He shines alongside a fellow Vancouverite, D. Tiffany, on Deep Intervention.
Instead of the deep house we're used to, Benaroch's first track, "Broken (Dub)," is dub techno. But his ear for modulation, arrangement and funk is still there, with a two-note synth lead that adds a nice house twist. With its zippy bassline, acid squiggles and wind chimes, "Wanderux" takes a kitchen-sink approach to composition. It's a more unwieldy than "Broken (Dub)," but it's also fun, like listening to an impromptu jam session.
D. Tiffany's side is split down the middle. The highlight, "Plush Beam," looks to the breaks-informed style of her DJ Zozi alias. The funky wah-wah licks, which are paired with slow-moving chords, stir up the kind of stoner groove she often nails. "Far Out" is a simple house track that moves with a tumbling gait. Like many D. Tiffany tunes, it's smooth but pleasingly ramshackle. Deep Intervention is another solid entry to Heart To Heart's catalogue of straightforward and endearing house music.
TracklistA1 Elka - Broken (Dub)
A2 Elka - Wanderux
B1 D. Tiffany - Far Out
B2 D. Tiffany - Plush Beam