- Slinky break-up house with an excellent Erol Alkan remix.
- The world is becoming a more dangerous place for queer people by the day. In the US, the political climate is marked by a wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation, and around the world, queer safe spaces—a constant target of conservatives—are becoming less safe. Queer music has always been subversive, but amidst such hostility, overtly queer expression is more vital than it's ever been. London vocalist, producer and fabric resident Josh Caffé is an artist who regularly contemplates these ideas of queer safety and visibility. His Sunday party Love Child has recently extended into a talk series focused on queer issues within the music industry, and his production radiates intimacy and vulnerability.
Caffe was raised in a home soundtracked by R&B, soul and house by way of its two resident DJs: his father and sister. The warmth of that music is ingrained in his DNA and reveals itself in releases like his latest single EP, "You." Caffé's vocals are distinctive and emotive, opening with his nasally pleading: "Don't lie to me / Don't waste my time / It's all about you." He also turns deep and gravelly on this breakup song, as he elongates the words "Walk out the door / Heard it all before." The bassline is slinky, the drums are tough and when the vocals cut out, celestial disco synths soar in the background. The decadent atmosphere is pared down on the rework from Phantasy label owner Erol Alkan, who strengthens the kicks and hi-hats and lures Caffe's vocals out of the fog.
Tracklist01. You
02. You (Erol Alkan Rework)