Mysterious Japanese artist MC Matsui joins Daniel Monaco on the funk-flecked 'Swimming' EP

Now, this is an intriguing collaboration. Napoli's finest, West Hill Studio, have launched a new offshoot to their wildly popular Periodica label, ushering in a global-facing series of releases with the arrival of Periodica International. The first release from the new imprint – 'Swimming EP' – features a collaboration between Italian producer, Daniel Monaco, and mysterious Japanese newcomer, MC Matsui.

Amsterdam-based Daniel Monaco, real name Daniele Labbate, is a producer, bass and synth player who's been in fine form of late. With releases on labels including Slow Motion, Bordello a Parigi, and Pizzico Records, his future funk sound signature has seen him land a coveted appearance on Periodica with a suitably shimmering slice of futurist electro-boogie. What sets the release apart from the rest of the uniformly exceptional Periodica canon is the inclusion of a low-slung lyrical flow from MC Matsui. Rhyming in Japanese and English, the newcomer shows swagger as his understated flex rides over rolling funk bass, sparkling synths, and crisp machine drums. The EP features two tracks, 'Swimming With Turtles' and 'Swimming With Dolphins', with each fitting neatly into the instantly recognisable West Hill Studio aesthetic.

Rooted in the esoteric funk sound that was born out of Naples in the '70s and '80s, the West Hill Studio crew have stamped their mark on the refined tip of the electronic underground. Comprised of producers Dario Di Pace, Raffaele 'Whodamanny' Arcella, and an extended family of talented players, their distinctive music routinely finds its way into the crates of the most discerning disco-inclined selectors. Their policy of allowing the music to speak for itself helps set them apart in today's climate of unquenchable social media thirst, but, conversely, it does make it tricky to garner any specifics related to their releases. We've scoured our resources and are fairly confident 'Swimming' is MC Matsui's very first release, but we'll be sure to keep eyes and ears peeled for more from him over the coming months.

Daniel Monaco & MC Matsui 'Swimming EP' is out now, you can buy it here