(Soma/Stomp)

The latest from Soma sees Alex Smoke put his name to a classy remix that demands attention. On the rebound of his outstanding ‘Incommunicado’ album, a host of top-shelf remixes and touring half the globe Smoke once again has produced quality moody minimal techno with that infectious flavour that he is famous for. 

First up on the single is the Casita Verde Mix by Alex Smoke. The track begins exploring the lush depths of deep hypnotic minimal that Smoke has become famous for. Moving into the body of the track the percussion picks up as does a very deep bassline. Driven largely by shifting hypnotic chords and chopping glitches the nine minute remix weaves in and out of emotions and temperatures. The middle stages of the mix see the vibe collapse into a relaxed hypnotic blend of crazy zappy sounds, from here the tempo builds as Smoke explores more big-room minimal territory. This is one of those tracks that you’d play last before a big name Dj, it’s just has that vibe, that wicked Alex Smoke vibe.

Next up is a remix by Soma aficionados the Vector Lovers. The mix is encrusted with a host of hi-hat chattering and loud dubbed string sounds, these elements rule the track. The bass is a little too ‘punchy’ for my liking, it tends to go against the deep nature created by loud dubbed string sounds. A saving grace of the track is a jazzy mid-track acid line. The track would be well positioned in a set as a transition from minimal to techno. Look out for the Vector Lovers new album ‘Capsule For One’ soon to be released on the magic Soma label.