C.9ine - Wonder (SOUND GARDEN)

"C.9ine is the future..." When Sakhile Mzizi, Director at Bass Breaks & Beats heralds this, one should listen up. He is after all the guy who's helped Liquideep rise to the summit of the South African dance scene, assisting them to their "Fairytale" success; the guy whose very first label showcase, 'House Afrika Sessions', sold Platinum (and is still selling); the guy who has backed DJs whose beats are on a higher level right now -- the likes of DJ Thobs and Deep XPressions. And on the back of the evidence - C.9ine's debut artist album - he's tipped another winner. 'Sound Garden' is a startling long-player; quite possibly the classiest dance record ever issued in South Africa - and certainly the most accomplished first effort. It's the kind of sonic statement that seals the country's stature as the most essential cauldron for dance music on the planet right now. A blossoming deep-house masterpiece, 'Sound Garden' is the beat-child of Katlehong duo Skitzo & Danny, who've been together since 2004 and who have already made dents in dancefloors with tracks like "Heaven Is Here", and whose promise has already been picked up by a host of international acts, leading to collaborations with the likes of Suges, Fish Go Deep and Gene King. The hook-up on this album is with Israeli deep house expert UPZ, who rework "Sons Of Soul" into a sublime offering that slots perfectly into place alongside eleven other variegated and heavenly cuts. Mixed into a seamless, non-stop party piece, the 'Sound Garden' is an exploration of all that's lush and deep in modern dance music, and it features immaculate collaborations with Cozmiq (who's already laced C.9ine track like "I Want You" with memorable vocals), SkinnyPHAT and P'Olivera -- a trio whose combined vocal skills (on the superb "Strangers In Japan") are nothing less than blissful. Elsewhere there are vernacular vocal snatches, the seductive feminine voice stylings of Kholi, maskandi-inspired guitar picks, warm pads, jazzily-lapping loops, sweeping and techier sounds, the unforgettable and spine-tingling talents of experimental music maverick Joao Orrechia, traces of neo-disco, dramatic organ lines, acoustic guitar flourishes, sumptuous keys and even a dash of spiky electric guitar. Its closest relative may be the inspired deep sonics of Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers, but even this is just a brief scent on the floral wind that blows gently through C.9ine's garden of sonics. They've come a long way in the less than two years since their "Dancing On Keys" mix for 'House Afrika Sessions', becoming the major planetary music force they were tipped to. Dive into this SOUND GARDEN of unearthly delights and your spirit will forever be nourished. The future is here -- and it starts with C.9ine...

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