DJ Richard - Grind (2015)

German label Dial was probably not the most obvious choice for DJ Richard to release his debut album on, but it turns out that Grind is a perfect fit. Tracks like "No Balance" and "Waiting for the Green Flash" are eerie, atmospheric compositions and capture the often times sangfroid sound (and design) of the Hamburg imprint. Elsewhere, there are nods to the classic deep house and techno, especially on the winding, stop-start bleep groove of "Savage Coast" and the fragile, sublime melodies of closing track "Vampire (dub)". However, if there is one track that really consolidates the Dial-DJ Richard relationship, it's the staccato beats and sonorous bass of "I-Mir", an arrangement that perfectly captures the label's wintry escape from the daily grind.