Around this time last year, we came across Close Counters, a project created by Finn Rees and Allan McConnell, and their Flux EP (Wax Museum Records). Before, in 2018, they released the impressive SOULACOASTA, their first long-form body of work and a dance-floor worthy mixtape of organic house/boogie/disco and more. The sequel, SOULACOASTA II, dropped today containing 14 colourful tracks moving through influences of soul, house, broken beat and contemporary jazz. Bass and beats drive the mad vehicle created by Rees and McConnell as the synths, keyboards and samples decorate the view. 60 minutes long, the journey goes fast and leaves a strong energy behind it, working equally well in vibrant club floors or on headphone journeys.

Going deeper into dance music archetypes, SOULACOASTA II is filled with brilliant elements that the duo dived into - niche sounds and samples collected from movies, archives or digging through the crates across Australia, UK and Europe. Making more sense when listened from track 1 til’ 14, Close Counters built a record in which the tracks and moods merge into each other, feeling almost like a DJ set in itself. They masterfully deploy sounds and textures to take the listener through different environments while keeping the grooves in the front seat. This is one to visit and revisit. Available on Bandcamp, via HOLY SOUND, don’t sleep on this. Big up for the Aussies, delivering light and energy.

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