Despite beginning his recording career twenty years ago, this is the debut album from Domenic Cappello, who is probably best known, along with Harri, as resident DJ at their long-running Subculture night at Glasgow’s Sub Club.

Basement Philosophy kicks off with “Mushroom Waltz,” a raw 4/4 kick drum with some gritty percussion low in the murky mix, a pretty, and a twinkling synth arpeggio paired with brooding strings. The beats are pure underground house, the arrangement completely dancefloor focused and the sound palette a classy mix of tension-stretching pads and synth programming: it’s a strong opener and introduces the listener to exactly what they’re going to get in the rest of the album. Some DJs use their artist albums to stretch out from their club sound, conscious of the perils of house music albums where each of the tracks have a couple of minutes of drums at each end, perfect for DJs to mix with, less ideal for home listening, but there are no beatless field recordings or downtempo Balearic experimentations here. You get high quality underground dance floor tunes, deep house and techno, all proper, authentic real house tackle, the kind of tracks you get from someone who’s been a resident DJ for the best part of three decades, who knows the dancefloor.

The album sounds a little like an audio love letter to American 4/4: there’s plenty of OG Detroit techno influences in all those the rich yet restrained pads and chrome-plated abstract synth wriggle combos, while tracks like “Midnight With T” recall a more soulful New York house feel. Capello also serves up a couple of deftly-arranged acid tracks, some peak-time heads-down tech-edged killers and some proper blissed out 4am-in-the-key-of-MDMA drifters.

I get the sense that you could pepper your DJ sets with a few of these tracks over the next few months and you might find one or two underground anthems tucked away in here. Great house music album.

⚪️ Basement Philosophy Tracklisting

Domenic Cappello: Basement Philosophy (Alien Communications / 12" Vinyl + Digital)
1. Mushroom Waltz (07:36)
2. Midnight With T (06:06)
3. 3AM Jamaica Street (06:24)
4. Not For Instagarm DJs (07:04)
5. Acid Rain (07:31)
6. Burning Past (06:30)
7. Moon Jump (07:14)
8. Early Flight (06:30)
9. Midnight With T (instrumental) (06:06)
10. Acid Rain (instrumental) (08:32)

⚪️ Disclosure Statement

This record was submitted as a promo.

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5 Mag Issue 212
Out April 2024

BELOVED: This was originally published in 5 Mag Issue #212 featuring an oral history of Freerange, DJ Paulette, Black Sjuan, Elbert Phillips, Dark Heaven and more. Become a member for $2/month and get every issue in your inbox right away!