Integrity Records take it back to the raw on new Miles Ellis EP

Title: 'The Pier EP'
Artist: Miles Ellis
Label: Integrity Records Singapore
Release: March 13 2020

Singapore's excellent Integrity Records is set to release a four-track EP from up and coming American artist Miles Ellis.

The label was launched by Singaporean DJ and producer Eddie Niguel in 2016 with his own 'Back2Basics' EP. Since then, it's gone on to release work from respected artists, including Fabrice Lig, Tony Lionni, and Kiko Navarro, in the process carving out a deserved reputation as a standard-bearer of the deeper shades of house, techno and electronica in Southeast Asia.

For their 13th release, Integrity call on the rising young producer, DJ and live performer, Miles Ellis, who's previous outing came as part of Integrity's 'The Other Side' compilation.

The main-room house of the title track 'The Pier' gets straight to work, a pounding, sub-heavy kick driving the groove as minor chord stabs build to an intense frenzy. Next, Miles picks up the pace on techno-house belter 'Got To Go', and the EP closes with the experimental madness of 'Tangled Strings'.

Our pick to play here is 'For Kerri'. Lush pads and synth motifs float over a raw rhythm track, hats shuffle and ride cymbals hover as the melodic parts intertwine over the purposeful bass. This is deep house that has more than enough edge to move the floor.

Miles Ellis creates a club-friendly EP that feels inspired by the house pioneers of Chicago and New York, K Alexi Shelby, Stacey Pullen, and Kerry Chandler spring to mind here. Raw and unpolished, but with enough glimpses of musicality to ensure this isn't mere filler material. This impressive release suggests there's plenty more to come from the young producer, and credit is deserved for the A&R endeavour of the Integrity team for shining a light on his promising material.

Miles Ellis 'The Pier EP' is out March 13 on Integrity Records Singapore, you can listen and buy it here