Audio Asia: sunset-inspired electro-boogie on 'Vanity' from Bali-based Gold Suite

Title: Vanity
Artist: Gold Suite
Release Date: February 1

Gold Suite is the new production moniker of Bali-based DJ, producer and sunset disciple, Joey Fitzgerald. Following on from a handful of remixes and edits released on the likes of NuNorthern Soul, the tropical island lover returns with an excellent debut EP under his fresh new alias. When not locked in the beat lab perfecting his studio craft, Joey can be found manning the ones and twos at some of Bali's most celebrated esoteric music spots, including the mighty Potato Head Beach Club, 40 Thieves, and Karma Beach. His DJ mixes, reworks and edits have regularly seen airtime on stations including NTS and Worldwide FM.

The 'Hideaway' EP sees Fitzgerald flex his equatorial muscle in some style, with lush soundscapes and mood-enhancing harmonics on show across the board. Title track 'Hideaway' is a bitter-sweet sundown chugger of the highest order, complete with emotive pads, steels drums and rush-inducing synth-work. The slap-bass of 'Safari' ups the energy levels, transporting listeners to the set of Miami Vice through the power of Yamaha DX7 synthesis, while the distinctive acid dirt of 'Heatstroke' combines wonderfully with its marimba bed. The blissed-out vibrations of 'Parasol' represent perhaps the most introspective work on the EP, with atmospheric strummed guitar gliding elegantly as warm harmonic layers caress like gentle ocean waves. We've opted to play you the floor-filling flavours of 'Vanity'. Here the '80s theme continues, as reverb-heavy beats drive the groove under infectious bass-stabs, hooky rhythm guitar, soaring strings and powerful Prophet-style chords.

This is a genuinely impressive debut from Gold Suite. The sound seems to combine the blissful essence of the likes of sunset maestro Max Essa with the undeniable '80s sound signature of Paul Hardcastle and Harrold Faltermeyer – with the net result something akin to Lauer on Valium.

Gold Suite 'Hideaway EP' is out February 1 via Bandcamp, you can buy it here