Primitive Arts

The solo debut album from Chicago House artist Ron Trent came nearly a decade after he released his iconic Altered States single and in the intervening years Trent had created his own distinctive corner of the house music world that was mesmerising, transporting, sumptuous, and psychedelic. Chicago dancefloors have always loved a relentless, looping groove, it’s a central aspect of Chicago House music’s identity, and while Trent’s lush, detailed productions are a long way from the rough and ready, cut and paste lo-fi sound of early house, that looping element is still very much present here. His deep house is largely devoid of the epic build-ups and breakdowns that characterised much ‘90s house and rather than progressing from A to B, his tunes turn in place, constantly travelling but rarely arriving, finding a musical, rhythmic and mood sweet spot then focusing in on it and rinsing it out. The inclusion of an airy, light fusion track and a dreamy, dubby part-lounge, part-jazz funk tune, both superbly done, also act to bring out the casual intensity of the rest of an album that’s oceanic in depth and celestial in mood.