The duo AZ&TOR, aka Aisha Zoe & Rich Main, were thrown into the limelight by BBC’s Introducing series, tipped as ones to watch, and releasing their debut ‘Resend’ via Madtech’s fortnightly free download series. The producer / singer outfit return to the label here with a full length EP, joining the likes of Citizen, Voyeur, Waze & Odyssey and Krystal Klear on the roster.
The EP kicks off with the original version of title track ‘Sit Back’, a contemporary deep-house workout, drenched with soul and cossetting warmth. Aisha’s heartfelt vocal lines brilliantly meander around the sturdy groove’s foundations, built upon organic piano chord progressions, bright string melodies and bubbling sub tones. ‘Feels Like’ follows, embracing a similar aesthetic with hypnotic, warbling synth melodies, shuffling, off- kilter drums and sensual vocal lines, jazzy sax licks add a further musicality to the cut, building to a focal point, where an elongated, penetrating bass takes things up a notch, resulting in a heady peak-time house number.
Next up is ‘Carry Mine’, displaying a more ethereal side to the duo’s productions with brooding pads, resonant synth lines, broken-beat drum programming and a contemporary house feel, achieved through an amalgamation of urban vocal lines.
Following their critically acclaimed ‘Crying Wolf’ EP which preceded this release, No Artificial Colours step in to rework, ‘Sit Back’, the duo stamp their signature low-slung, house meets garage sound on the original record, with hooky bass, heavily swung snares and murmuring chops of the original vocal. To close the release Polkadot turns in a mix of ‘Sit Back’, putting things on a New Jersey tip with raw 909 drums, Hammond organ tones and gritty saw-wave bass action.This is yet another outstanding addition to the Madtech catalogue, and further testament to the attentive A&R approach of the imprint. AZ&TOR’s ‘Sit Back’ EP is release on Madtech 8th July 2013.
Directed by Matilda Finn & Laurence Blake of The Au
