(Swank/Stomp)

“Late night … those few precious hours at the club before closing time, long before the at-home chill or sleepless all night benders … it’s a special twilight time for music.”

Now that’s a time we all recognise. Multi-talented San Francisco based musician-songwriter-producer-remixer-DJ (gasp…) Andy Caldwell has gathered together a dreamy selection of tunes for a delicious album that dives into the netherworld of house – the wee hours of the morning when the mood is “at its most hypnotic, rhythmic, narcotic, sleazy and uplifting.”

Instantly recognisable from his appearances on the fabulous Hed Kandi, Renaissance and Global Underground series, as well as Deep Dish’s renowned and revered Yoshitoshi Recording’s sub-label Shinichi, Caldwell forges out on his own here to great effect. His self penned Brand New Day, which heads up the album, is a lovely, lovely soulful house tune with lovely, lovely vocals. In fact that and his other track The Waiting Game really hint at a rare talent – a DJ who can do all that he proclaims on his shirt.

To pinch once more from the crib notes (what a treat they are!) the range of influences on Caldwell’s work is quite phenomenal. From “San Francisco’s soul-stirring tunes, Chicago’s pulsating jazzy-house bounce, Detroit’s gritty and futuristic techno-funk, West London’s rude boy swagger, and Germany’s minimal tech-house washes, this collection is a sparkling reminder of just how brilliant house music can be.” Hey – these PR people have stolen all of my adjectives!

Standout tunes on the album are the aforesaid Caldwell numbers, the energetic Never Before from Spirit Catcher and Mylo’s techno-electro tinged Otto’s Journey (the title of which sounds like a bad 80s film … yes, I know I am stuck in that era). Mash It Up is a delightfully dirty tune from the depths of New York which manages to artfully incorporate the ol’ classic No Diggity, while the sexy-saxy Chuck Love’s Back in My Life is going to storm the clubs in coming months – mark my words.

This is a great taste of deep, vocally-luscious house at its sublime best. Upbeat and soul-stirring but never cheesy, it will be a treat for Caldwell fans new and old.