out now: Steffi – Yours & Mine [Ostgut Ton]

Artist:
Steffi

Title:
Yours & Mine

Label:
Ostgut Ton

Cat#:
OSTGUTCD16 | OSTGUTLP08

Release Date:
7th February 2011

Format:
CD, LP & download

Tracklist:
01.
Lilo

02.
Piem

03.
Yours
[feat. Virginia]

04.
Arms

05.
Manic Moods

06.
Mine

07.
Nightspacer

08.
You Own My Mind
[feat. Virginia]

09.
Moving Lips

Press Info :
Her previous releases for Ostgut Ton, „Kill Me“ feat Elif Biçer, „24 Hours“ which was featured on Tama Sumo’s Panorama Bar mix, or the mysterious „My Room“ for the „Fünf“ compilation, all served as fantastic introductions to Steffi’s sound. What’s more her collaboration as part of the Third Side project on Restoration indulged in her more raw tendencies. Now with her debut artist album, „Yours & Mine“, we discover an even further developed producer in Steffi.

She shares with us her personal journey. A long period of intense experimentation and self-discovery led to this sensitive, instinctive and extremely insightful long-player.

Carefully mixing old and new, warm analog synth and drum textures flow in unison with modern studio finesse over nine tracks, each telling its own story. Ethereal, hypnotic passages and positive, uplifting messages to the dancefloor meet temperate, slow-building vibes and heart-wrenching moments. Often simplicity blurs into satisfying complexity. Moments of sheer joy arise against the backdrop of a rich and elegantly controlled exploration into her own sound.

The opening track „Lilo“ is a soothing, harmonious forecast of this wonderful deep dance music album; swirling, and reduced. A warm solid state thump drives it however, and it becomes clear that the beauty in Steffi’s house music lies in this meeting of classic, emotion-drenched melodies and bold, earthy drums.

The tactile „Piem“ rises and climbs with a strong late-night intensity before „Yours“ featuring Virginia comes to the fore. Steffi recently collaborated with Virgina on the excellent „Reasons“ EP for Underground Quality, and now her smooth and distinctive voice shines in this powerful recording. Virginia’s vocal talents have already seen her working with other respected figures like Steve Bug, Abe Duque and Butch. Striking a clever balance between positive, addictive pop and and straight up club energy this vocal led future-classic is a loud and proud testament to how far Steffi has come. Not only as a producer, but as a DJ who understands the need for balance, control and of course release!

Perhaps an ode to the many foundations of house that have no doubt inspired Steffi, „Arms“ is a string-led jack track, a slow burner in the best sense, and all the better for it. Similarly „Manic Moods“ sells itself on the strength of its handful of carefully crafted analog synth lines, slowly fusing to become one while her beats urge us forward.

The urgent, sci-fi tones and extended, soaring strings of „Mine“ bring it back back to the club as heady images of warehouses past, present and future flash before us. This retro-futurism is then taken further with the muscular „Nightspacer“, whose NY house roots are fleshed out by blossoming pads and an unstoppable throbbing, traveling vibe.

Drawing the album towards its close, the deeply spaced „You Own My Mind“, featuring Virginia’s beautifully smooth vocals washes over and wraps around us in a calming and gently melancholic blanket of colorful sound.

Deeply personal to the last, „Moving Lips“ could be that special last embrace; one more moment to end the night and yet keep us longing for more. At the heart of it a clear and powerful theme emerges, reminding us that we have all been through this together, for the better.

Listen: