[Dessous Recordings]

Since Steve Bug first discovered him in 2007, Ryo Murakami has been busy giving Japan’s techno scene a good name. Following close on the heels of his deep and dubby Lost It EP, the producer has delivered yet another aural treat from Tokyo. Rarely do house singles have the coherence and consistency found on this release. Put simply, this is just good stuff. The three tracks fit together like the matching pieces of a china set: the slow and sultry title track is the bulbous tea pot, steeping some seriously deep house grooves; the remix is the flare-rimmed teacup, delicately endowed with fresh organic drums; “Untitled” is the wide-mouthed sugar dish, full of party sweets. Each piece earns its distinctive place in the set.

“Just For This” is a careful balance of sloshy chords, taunting strings, and gentle percussion that’s already found its way into the crates of the likes of Jus-Ed and Will Saul. Graeme Clark (aka The Revenge) gives the original his unctuous disco treatment, softening the edges without dampening the funk. Clark’s hesitation to stray too far from the parent track is a testament to the excellence of the source material. And then, with a bass line that is sure to melt many a late-night dancer straight into the floor, “Untitled” brings the jack, unfolding with a soulful gift at every corner. After such a spot-on 12-inch, we can only wait with bated breath for the release of Murakami’s full length, which is due on his own Pan Records later this year. In the meantime, these torrid tracks are sure to evoke some ecstatic dance floor cheers throughout winter 2010.