[Buzzin’ Fly]

Tevo Howard, much like his contemporaries Jus-Ed or Omar-S, often does whatever the hell he wants within his own self-contained ideological bubble. Hewing close to a classic Chicago style while using his own set of paints, his output is, while sometimes naggingly inconsistent, usually quite pretty. His latest EP, which arrives on Ben Watt’s Buzzin’ Fly label, continues with this inconsistency; I’m torn right down the middle with this one myself.

“The Age Of Compassion” has all the makings of a grand euphoric experience: a distinct, memorable melody that spills out in gorgeous silky streams, delectable warmth, and a smooth, chugging progression that makes seven minutes fly by. But there’s something troubling about the sounds that he uses: the track’s melody is played through chimes that sound way too “adult contemporary” for comfort. Think cheesy ’80s incidental film music, and not the nostalgic, evocative kind. On the “House Mix,” the gently tugging bass line and insistent arpeggio almost salvage the track, but on the beatless original the problem comes right to the fore, like the end credits to some terribly dated melodrama.

German weirdo-house producer Aera saves the day with his “Recompassion Mix,” severely pitch-bending the chimes and sanding off the smooth rounded corners. His shuffling rhythm section, powerful kick and labored bass line take the track in an entirely satisfying direction. Aera replaces the pastoral pastel of the original with a more assertive, powerful voice, as chords are drunkenly slurred and stuttering drums mercilessly chopped. Donnacha Costello’s “Rough Rub” lies somewhere in between, building up a satisfyingly chunky techno backbone that juggles the original in a nearly unrecognizable jumble. Unfortunately for Messrs Howard and Costello, the release quickly becomes all about Aera, whose adventurous and unconventional take acts as a pertinent reminder that the new producer is a must-watch in the outskirts of the Berlin house scene.