Proceed Digital is the offshoot imprint of Italian house music label Proceed Records, established as a place for the label’s artists and producers to stretch out a bit and try some new sounds. If a track doesn’t quite sonically fit on an artist’s EP on Proceed but still has the quality and dance floor appeal that demands to be heard then this is the place for it. Thus Proceed Digital presents the second in a series, the Impossible EP #2, gathering four tracks from some of Proceed’s shining Italian producers and giving them a proper home on one fantastic house music release.
Proceed’s proprietor, DJ / producer Haldo, who has also released cuts through Transport Recordings, Conya, and Adaptation Music, is represented by his dreamy “A Short Trip.” A gentle piano melody and warm keys lead into an evocative synth solo, all buoyed by a solid four-on-the-floor rhythm. This one’s primed for the summer poolside. Fuscobeat & Magrini, the duo of Marco Magrini and Simone Fusco, follow with the deep and pulsing “Deep Lover,” incorporating sharp strings, hefty chords, and a swirling breakdown into one effective track. Odo Makes A Smile, who should be no stranger to fans of Proceed through his many remixes, contributes “Morena,” showing the more electronic side of the label’s roster. Italo-style bass, big stabs, and a whimsical vocal sample that appears midway all make appearances in his slinky, musical track. Rounding out the EP is Fabrizio Marra (Musoul, Liberate) whose “Shake It” offers a dose of floor appeal with solid percussion, dubbed out effects, a sparingly used soulful vocal, and a driving bass line. These four tracks are here just in time to do funky damage on summertime dance floors.
Glenn Underground - “Haldo’s ‘A Short Trip’ is dope song … very true to the sound and era.”
Graeme Park - “Lovely!”
CJ Mackintosh - “Nice EP … I like Haldo’s track.”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “‘Shake It’ is a superb slice of dubby, retro-styled house music.”
Vincent Kwok - “Another great release from Proceed.”
Dave Mayer (Strictly Rhythm / Hardsoul) - “Very cool tunes!”
Nick Holder - “I’m digging this!”
Grant Nelson - “Very tasty!”
Hippie Torrales - “Great package … I can use everything here.”
Christos Kedras - “Nice package. Haldo and Fabrizio Marra take the trophy … will support!”
SumSuch (Colour and Pitch / Deepwit) - “Some nice chilled stuff. ‘Morena’ is the stand out track for me … perfect for a sunny afternoon session.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Cracking EP. All four cuts have a real charm, but in particular I’m feeling ‘Shake It’ and ‘Morena,’ the latter which is a superb deep house boogie jam.”
Norbert Borchers (House Sound of Hamburg) - “Just wonderful … all of them!”
Gareth Morgan (Blues & Soul Magazine) - “I really like ‘A Short Trip’ … very balearic feeling and summery. My favourite track by far though is ‘Morena’ … that filtered piano breakdown at 3:28 made the hairs on my arms stand up.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “Four beautiful, uplifting tracks that should send shockwaves across the floor.”
Available now from Juno Download and Traxsource.