Huxley – Lost Love

Label: Rinse

Following up pop-infused dance hybrids from xxxy and Krystal Klear, London radio institution Rinse has tapped UK house star Huxley for his second EP in as many months. While his last release for Hypercolour didn’t quite deliver on the promise of last year’s Let It Go, Lost Love sees Huxley returning to form with a trio of more substantial big-room tunes which straddle the styles of deep house and UK garage.

Lead track Lost Love sees Huxley spinning out his conventional downpitched vocals and 4/4 stomp with a burbling acid twist, resulting in a colourful club track that finely balances his pop sensibilities with the pleasing weight of that swung-out beat pattern. Next up Who Am I leads the B-side with a big shiny chord loop that gives way to a hard-edged synthline, adding a much-needed touch of grit to the track’s shiny surface.

As a two-tracker this package would be standard club fare, resolutely inoffensive but far from revelatory. However on the final track Huxley sets the UK garage tradition squarely in his sights to greater success, resulting in a catchy stepper reminiscent of Todd Edwards. A stuttering 2step beat pattern and iridescent synthwork are paired with a slick diva vocal, but just when you think it’s all business as usual, Huxley unleashes a powerful woodblock pattern which makes Walk 2 U easily the most memorable of the bunch. Huxley doesn’t look set to push any sonic boundaries but he’s clearly got a knack for crafting club tunes that bump and flex with style, containing the pop appeal for the wider crowd and the darker edge that’ll please the heads too.

7/10