Leftroom continues its fine run of EPs (recent outings have come from Kate Simko, Sam Russo, William Djoko, Matt Tolfrey and others) with a first appearance on the label from Lil Mark. Born Mark Currell, Lil Mark has been producing top-notch house since 2001 when he appeared on Classic and Music For Freaks, and more than a decade later still puts most of his peers to shame. The two tracks he supplies here come with remixes from Matt Tolfrey and Matthew Styles.

First up is ‘1994’, a house track with a heavily vocodered vocal that works to a peak with elastic synths and slapping claps helping to drive the thing along. Peppered with little pricks and ticks, bubbles and pops it’s an arresting joint that pleasingly recalls the old school but in a less than obvious fashion.

It’s boss Matt Tolfrey who tackles the re-rub. Naming it his ‘Freedom To Party Mix’ he opts to pin the whole ting around an undulating, neon glowing bassline as percussive. It’s loose and malleable with FM tones and party-fuelled percussion helping to colour the overall picture.

Lil Mark’s ‘Dark of Pain’ is another tight as hell house joint with finger clicks and buried deep synth line setting the early tone. Despite the pace and tightness of it all, there is a micro funk which emerges as the tune plays on that really gets under your skin.

It’s Ostgut Ton amd Running Back associate and all round-revered producer Matthew Styles that turns in a ‘Tropicana Remix’ of this one. He ups the drum quotient and stiches in a bobbling, grubby bassline before unhinging things at the mid point with some nice filters, effects and colourful synth work.

A brilliant EP of no nonsense house music from Matt Tolfrey’s Leftroom . House Music that goes its own way and is hugely refreshing as a result.