Playin’ 4 The City – Backfire EP

Review: French DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist Olivier Portal sadly passed away in January, aged 65. His best work came as Playin 4 The City and this EP is one of his most sought-after on the Plastik People label. It features two tracks originally released on the 'Backshop' EP on Tropism Records 2002 and one newer sound. Opener 'Minor Track' is a brilliantly aloof deep house cut with swinging, dubby drums and cute chord stabs that do enough to keep you moving. 'Backfire' is just as breezy but a little quicker with some sleek synths and nice claps moving things on with a cosmic edge. 'Backside' rides a nice chunky, tumbling rhythm with more subtle but seductive synth work.