Audio Asia: Hamza Rahimtula & Loopy Juice serve up the 4/4 funk on 'Soumba Soumba'

Title: Soumba Soumba
Artist: Rahimtula & Loopy Juice
Label: Selekta Recordings
Release Date: April 2

Indian house pioneer Hamza Rahimtula joins forces with Loopy Juice to serve an exceptionally tight 10-track collection of floor-focussed club jams.

New Delhi-based Hamza has managed to manifest a truly international sound thanks, in part, to time spent travelling the world and gaining experience living in Paris, New York, and Boston. Along the way, he took the time to familiarise himself with renowned masters of various forms of house music – from original tech house pioneers Terry Francis and Dave Mothersole to tribal legend Danny Tenaglia, and Chicago-flecked boompty Maestra, DJ Heather. His sound embodies elements of all of these influences and more, with an obvious emphasis on the funk.

The core of the collection is undoubtedly rooted in the realms of bona fide deep house, but there exists, too, an adornment of globally-centred flourishes that reflect the artist's Indian roots. The music is infused with a classic state-side glow, with almost the entire body of featured jams endowed with the feel-good warmth of the halcyon days of US house. Highlights include the catchy vocals hook of opener 'Giving It Up', the mutant synths of 'Get That Feeling', and conspicuously dark and dubby groove of 'Ego Invader', which provides a striking counterpoint to the sunnier tracks on the album.

In truth, any number of the titles could have made their way into the Audio Asia selection, but in the end, we've opted for the irresistible groove of 'Soumba Soumba'. Solid drums, filtered chords and lively percussion give the music a delicious deep house leaning, as gentle vocal stabs and mystical sitar licks add depth and texture. The sound is held down enough to appeal to dub-minded selectors, weighted enough to move the floor, and blessed with enough sheen to radiate light in the chicest of cocktail bars.

Hamza Rahimtual & Loopy Juice 'Givin It Up' is out April 2 on Selekta Recordings. You can listen and pre-order here