2020 Vision Recordings

2020Vision present another perfectly manicured ep of trademark Mancunian deep house from the man who goes by the names of Moodymanc, Dubble D and plain old Danny Ward.

Moodymanc started life as bit of a laugh, a cheeky vinyl release showcasing some of the housier tracks from the Dubble D’ Playin’ out album, but has now grown into a Frankenstein’s monster and developed a life of his own.  Releases have followed the first three 2020 ep’s on high profile labels such as Tsuba and Dessous, and Danny’s housey alter ego is in high demand for remixes and dj work all over the shop. 
The Mode EP sees him ploughing familiar furrows that we saw forming on his debut Dubble D album in 2005, marrying deep house instincts with his love for jazz (He’s a jazz drummer by trade, and an excellent one at that), but the jazz influences are toned down and harder to pinpoint on his Moodymanc excursions (but they are always there, as Juan Atkins said ‘Jazz is the teacher’) as he lets the tight 4/4 grooves stretch out and speak for themselves.  Over the three tracks Danny treats us to the deep, brooding, menacing piano theme of Mode, in original and then dub version for the saxophone fascists, a deceptively simple drum track proves his drum programming to be as refined as his real life drumming in Passout, and finally Crushed a paean to 5am moments in dark sweaty clubs with a knowing nod to classic Detroit techno.
All in all another superb release from Danny, with something for everyone of a deep, groovy 4/4 persuasion.