Ever a hallmark of quality, Funk Embassy Records – home of Estonian live funk legends Lexsoul Dancemachine – have a new signing and that new signing is Latvian producer Artis Boris. Turns out our man is a jazz pianist who also likes his beats and his five-track debut EP, Easy Living, puts his interests and skills to excellent use displaying material that puts him in the same ballpark as Dâm Funk. Opener Ryo is a clavinet-toting tribute to fusion synth legend Ryo Kawasaki, Throwback is a contemplative synth-drenched piece, while Can You Dance finds label-mate Rita Ray providing guest vocals on a eighties-inspired piece of disco-boogie. Of the remaining two tracks, closer In The Mall (Easy Living) provides loungecore/ elevator music vibes while the energetic Scream channels late eighties/ early nineties Prince.
(Out 28 April on Funk Embassy Records)