This contemplative and grooving deep house EP, “wisetraxx vol. 1”, opens with the glitchy and building track west almond. Its melodic peak is reminiscent of the more experimental moments on the iconic indie-poppy Broadcast album Tender Buttons (2005) with a clear Boards of Canada influence jumping out to me as a listener. “wisetraxx vol.1” then fades back to a stripped down moment focusing with final clarity on the sample of russian vocals refrained throughout before we are engulfed by the sweeping synths of the second track, deeplandd.

Carried by both an airy, open sound and a deep mysterious baseline that makes one feel as though they’re standing in an open field with a strong wind whipping about their hair and clothes, the land is indeed deep. The second to last track, morningstarr, uses upbeat house organ in a more straightforward, less romantic groove, still danceable and fun, while the finale of the release, prism of the day, is a brightly melodic and wistful track with a glitch beat. The EP’s sound is progressive while having a deeply vintage sensibility, due to dj wisdmm’s method of sampling floppy disks on the 1988 ensoniq EPS synth.

The whole release throbs with a dark, moody energy while remaining vibrant, soundtracking inner states of euphoria and calmness. Some songs/albums help us channel a definite emotion, solidifying and enabling the expression of a mood or energy which runs rampant through us. For me DJ wisdmm’s wisetraxx vol. 1 acts as an emotional regulator, striving for balance out of chaos – a task which I think the record can easily accomplish on both sunlit, introspective walks through the city and on smoky dancefloors.