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OA’s time-slipping journey into classic/future-gazing electronics continues with the arrival of Marvis Dee. This new 12” is in fact the brainchild of Jeremiah R, the Dutch electro maverick who kicked off the label back in 2013 with The New Wave, and who has since gone on to respected outposts such as Tabernacle, Enklav. and BAKK. As Marvis Dee he’s been equally busy over the past two years, springing up on In My Dreams and Lime Street Music with a spin on deep Chicago house that should strike a chord with fans of Larry Heard et al.

On the Alpha EP, Marvis Dee has ample space to explore the boundaries of his sound across six original productions that strike a unique, curious chord even as they display the comforting hallmarks of hardware house music. “Alpha” paints a vivid, noirish fantasy around the structure of jacking 707 drums, using fulsome bass swells and uneasy leads to create a sinister mood patched in the direction of the darkest basement dance. “Dipper” is no less deviant in its design, channeling a little of Dopplereffekt’s dystopian synth tones while managing to bridge further back to the heartwarming pop charm of Kraftwerk.

With “I Can See It In My Dreams” the true nature of Marvis Dee’s mission is revealed – the track rides on a pristine, punchy bassline as tumbling toms and soaring pads notes swirl in the romantic haze of synthetic sensuality. The emotional gauge is pitched squarely in that uncertain, melancholic headspace where the questions are as enticing as the answers – a feeling wholly carried through to the brooding twitch of “Intervention”. This is not house music to spell out how you should be feeling.

Cygnus takes a lighter approach to melody, calling on the kind of sweet-natured harmonics that defined early B12 material while faithfully maintaining the straight-up thrum of the drum machines. The track’s beauty lies in its simplicity, using gentle pad refrains and deft dabs of bleep to intone a message of calm – a sentiment echoed on beatless EP closer “Outro”.

Orgue Electronique is the perfect match for the woozy tones of Marvis Dee, and so the Dutch mainstay takes to “I Can See It In My Dreams” and delivers a subtle revision, boosting the rhythm section and sprinkling some additional sparkle on top of the original production. It’s an understated, respectful approach to the remix tradition that aligns with the overall ethos of the Alpha EP.

To complement Dee’s homage to the spirit of Chi-town beatdowns, the record comes housed in a jacket indebted to the iconic designs of early house music, continuing OA’s fine tradition of on-point, concept-led visuals.

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(words by Oliver Warwick journalist for iDJ mag / RA / Fact / Ransom Note)