It wouldn’t surprise me to find out that the majority of LWE’s readers haven’t heard of Altered Moods Recordings. In fact, I only discovered the obscure imprint earlier this year myself. What struck me most was the unassuming and dogged path that label owner, Malcolm Moore, had set off on after starting it in 2004. The focus of Altered Moods has clearly been on developing promising talent and releasing records he truly believes in rather than chasing a quick buck. With 10 releases that reach from deep house to ambient under its belt and no marquee names emblazoned on its record sleeves, you know this is a labor of love.
Enter Luv.Renaissance, Moore’s newly formed side project (attributed to a sub-alias know as Michel Diallo) that could be described as a long-standing love affair with the deeper side of house. And while deep is an oft-used term this year, what passes for deep on “Once Chance Luv” is a more thoughtful display of house music’s tenets. Think Larry Heard, Ron Trent or Chris Gray for the level of musicality put forth on this five track release. While the title track shows a steady groove, warm pads and some solid synth work, it isn’t until “On My Mind” that Moore really shows his cards. Emotive strings and staccato percussion lead the way, evoking images of a mysterious setting, but thereafter the mood is lifted by a series of vibraphone melody lines and a witty, playful turn on bass that propels it to the grade level of Moore’s mentors. “Luv Is Deeper” treads similar ground as the title track, only utilizing a flute and a heavier string arrangement to fully expand the melody structuring. “Elements Of Luv” stands out for an egress on rhythm, choosing to focus on a jazz-inflected 808 break beat, the curlicue synth figures and distant strings are highlighted by a tightly programmed drum solo. With a treated vocal intoning “endless” and more upfront percussion “Endless Luv” is complimented nicely by a cascading synth line, strings and melodic soloing. It may sound like more of the same, but it points to a consistency in both following the theme of the release and maybe more importantly, to the overall direction of the label.
what is that picture? it’s fantastic