Recloose
Cardiology

Debut works always have an experimental and exploratory component, sometimes well-executed, sometimes less so, but rarely repeated in future projects.
Especially when there is that particular alchemy that makes them "successful" right away. That's what happens with the first album by Matthew Chicoine, who, under the moniker "Recloose," presents one of the most resounding debuts in the electronic/techno scene of 2002.

Matthew's story, as far as we know, tells of the usual nerd who scrapes by with odd jobs during the day, dreaming at night in his little room of becoming a producer and performing in front of thousands of people. Like all fairytales with a happy ending worth their salt, the lucky day comes. It happens that in the bar where Matthew is working as a waiter, a client of Carl Craig’s caliber shows up.
Realizing he has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he hands him, along with his order, a copy of his demo. It's not known whether he always had his music with him, but the fact remains that Carl Craig was positively impressed and decided to sign him under the legendary Planet-E label.

Thus begin the collaborations with the more experimental Detroit scene, which has Craig as a pioneer. After several EPs and numerous collaborations, in 2002 "Cardiology" is finally ready, released by the cult electronic label !k7. It's yet another variation on the theme of the Detroit sound that progressively veers away from the darker and rougher aspects of its origins. The enthusiasm generated around this album is largely justified. The sound mosaic presented by Recloose lightly spans between refined techno and dance, between jazzy influences and black roots, dub and broken beat. A sound that is both sophisticated and straightforward, where the beat perfectly blends with the more listening-friendly parts. Recloose deftly navigates this kaleidoscope of moods, between the cold sounds of techno, soft deephouse layers, hinted soul, and excellent vocal parts (there's also a featuring by Ursula Rucker). An honorable mention for the irresistible opening track "Ain't Changin", with its syncopated rhythm, synths, and the voice of Justin Chapman, and for the closing tracks "Cardiology" and "Absence of one", almost ambient-worthy closures of a work now classic in its genre.

Unfortunately, left without worthy sequels by the author.