Kirk Degiorgio Presents As_One* – Elegant Systems

My favorite Degiorgio album. While there is something to enjoy in every release and every phase of his career, I think Elegant Systems is the best example of the style of music that only Kirk produces. Deep house, rhythmic techno and melancholy, emotional ambient music of the highest degree, in an incredibly cohesive, fluent package. "Rumours" was my introduction to this album (thanks Tom Middleton!) and while it's definitely the most club-worthy and an incredible house track, it's really the rest of the album that does it for me. There is something very childlike and innocent about these tunes - a soundtrack to a younger time. Track titles are especially fitting. I'll never get tired of this album and will always be in my top ten.

Christ, does Kirk DeGiorgio ever stop? The 2004 release "Out of the Darkness" was a quite beautiful blend of the broken beats of "21st century soul" and his first moody detroit efforts. This one... this one could be an evolution of "Out of the darkness", but let me describe it this way: it's like Ultramarine's "A user's guide" or Isolee's "We are monster" use of analogic synths, but in the DeGiorgio style. No organic sounds this time. No vocal tunes. Just timeless electronica (don't know if you can call it future jazz or IDM). Just another quality release from the "As one" moniker, which is saying a lot.