#2 Feat. Staff Picks in Melodic House & Techno

Time to welcome a new name to the TAU family, as Samer Soltan makes his debut with us. The Belgian producer has made his presence felt over the last year or so with a steady flow of solo cuts, remixes and edits, along with some exemplary DJ mixes. Samer runs his own label, Sanctuary, and he's recently released with Solomun's Diynamic. On the Hurricane EP we find Samer flexing his creativity and demonstrating why he's fast becoming hot property, merging a variety of flavours within his distinct sound. The title track gets things rolling, immediately entrancing us with its undulating low end. After a prolonged intro, Samer ushers in the main body of the track with vintage rave stabs, siren-esque and a vocal clip that repeats "Come on... Let's go...". The array of sounds, and Samer's considered approach to the arrangement gives this one a minimal and hypnotic appeal, with intermittent bursts of energy. Next up is 'Leave', which has an alluring groove, lulling us into a haze of sonic enchantment. Samer's use of unique sounds and layers keeps the track full of character, with a heartfelt female vocal providing the human element. The emotive quality of this track becomes more apparent as it develops, Samer's exquisite composition giving this one a goosebump-inducing breakdown. This is followed by 'Kiss Me', another delicately balanced cut that combines subtle production elements with classic house effects and a wonderfully sultry vocal. With its oscillating bassline and crisp beats, 'Kiss Me' is sure to be a dance floor filler. The vocals are especially moving, amplifying the breakdown perfectly, and bound to be a highlight of DJ sets around the world. Lastly, 'Emotions' takes things into a more introspective space. A dense low end chugs along, while the percussion adds plenty of energy and movement. Hypnotic rhythmic structure captivates us, while the vocal teases in and out as the track builds to a crescendo after a breather midway through. A slow builder where Samer showcases his mastery of subtlety and patient arrangement. So, there it is, a superb debut from Samer Soltan with four distinct and thoughtfully-produced cuts. Bravo!

Samer Soltan