Review

City Tales releases their second compilation album, Sunset Tales, packed full of soothing deep house talent

Soothing is not necessarily the first word that jumps to mind when deep house is brought up. But Durban’s scintillating event series City Tales have somehow pulled together an EP that’s just that. Sunset Tales is bred for your sundowner boogie and ropes in the expertise of a gaggle of creatives from across the globe for a four and a half track sunset experience. 

Opener “Holding On” solidified the soothing tone I mentioned. It’s German producer Vincenzo’s take on the Lost Arcade original – and it pairs Aussie crooner Matt Young’s dreamy vocalism with a breathy synth which juxtaposes delightfully with the driving beat which underpins it all. 

Los Niños’ contribution is a playful, percussion-heavy sprawler of a dance track titled “Star Odyssey” – all organic textures and pillowy synth – while “Sunshower” drops the contrast with bulbous alien production and tinny metallics courtesy of Lukas Poellauer, Aunty, and Roberto Rodriguez (who’s remixed the track itself). 

Wrapping things up is Ticck D.H.A.’s “Order of the Underground” – minimalism meeting unsettling high tone textures, with a heady beat that slaps of night-time party shenanigans, before a 30-second voice note-esque outro ties the knot. And that’s pretty much that: a fleeting offering that leaves you, appropriately, tracking down the next jol.