Holzwege EP by Simone Gatto, Legowelt

The moods Gatto injects into his tracks is Holzwege EP's strongest point. With simple synth lines, the Italian turns what's otherwise a pretty standard deep techno track into a captivating dance floor tool. This is most clear on the record's opening cut, "Maseo." Long repetitive chords make it feel heady and subaquatic while giving it the type of genuine emotion that so many producers aim for but rarely pull of. A tough, loopy remix of "Maseo" from Legowelt closes the A-side, while two more originals, "May 28th" and "It Comes Back," sit on the flip. All are significantly more upbeat than the opener but, while they're handy dance floor cuts, they don't match its unique poignancy.