Photo: Thomas Bone
Daley Padley, aka Hot Since 82; a proud Yorkshire man and a fine talent that has come out of Leeds came back to his local neighbourhood and performed a 5 hour set at Mint Club on Thursday. With the release of his long awaited debut album ‘Little Black Book’ under Jamo and Andy George’s label, a huge fan base was eager to party with the now renowned producer/DJ.
Following such an exciting release it would have been rude not to go and see the man himself in action at Teknicolor on the 21st. Playing into the early hours of the morning, Daley transferred his Ibiza skills to the much loved Mint club and did not disappoint. Its not often you get to see such an exiting set where the producer shares the thrill and contagious energy of the crowd. The packed club at 6am was a testament to the level of interaction Daley has become renowned for.
Initially it was hard to know what to expect of an album that can be described as part mix compilation/ part album/ part remix release. However after listening from start to finish, this was one of the most cutting edge productions I’ve come across in a while. Many of the tracks have been floating around cyberspace; owing to Daley teasingly leaking one track each week, but with the official release of the album there were a couple of previously unheard floor fillers thrown in for good measure.
The album has an undeniable groove to it. Daley’s remix of Green Velvet’s ‘Bigger Than Prince’ being the obvious stand out with its shuddering bass line and low slung vocals that give testament to Hot Since 82’s speedy rise into global DJ stardom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1-9leL7f4w
The ‘Little Black Book’ contains a whole lot more than deep grooves however; his remix of Shadow Child’s ‘So High’ lends a darker atmosphere to the album, which has been featured in a number of sets over the past few months. The track will undoubtedly be a favourite for deep house lovers and those with a taste for acid house. The use synth mixed in with meandering vocals and a bouncing sub will no doubt be a front-running choice for DJ sets for some time to come.
Finally Daley’s personal favourite ‘The End’, as the name might suggest is the concluding track of the album. Reflecting the producer’s wide ranging spectrum of sound, the track fails to fit into any fixed genre. Mixing elements of techno, oscillating vocals and being masterfully fused with a sample taken from Reflekt’s ‘Need to feel loved’, the track delivers as a feelgood, sunrise-in-Ibiza masterpiece.
Though some of his tracks could be seen as a venture too far, it’s hard not to be impressed by the substance of this debut album as the precision and focus in each track establish Daley as a force to be reckoned with. If this is just the first major release from Hot Since 82, it will be exciting to see, and most importantly hear what this talented Yorkshire man can produce in the years to follow.
Ben Rimell