Soulful selector and skateboarder extraordinaire Hugh Hardie is back with his latest EP, ÔLearning To FlyÕ, consisting of four sublime cuts, hot on the heels of his recent Ô7 Tunes In 7 DaysÕ lockdown project. Produced from his home studio in Bristol, HughÕs new release features collaborations with DJ Marky and singer/songwriter Cimone.
Named after the Indian mountain city in West Bengal, opening track ÔDarjeelingÕ is a faultless embodiment of HughÕs trademark jazz-inspired groove. Filled with transcendent piano chord progressions, rolling breaks and an enchanting upright bassline, ÔDarjeelingÕ is a classic example of the soulful liquid beats the Bristol-based DJ has become known for.
ÔSaid & DoneÕ sees the commanding vocal talents of Cimone take the lead as Hugh Hardie and DJ Marky team up on the buttons to create a smile-inducing bouncer drenched in feel-good summer vibrations. Infectious descending bass wobbles lay the foundations below swinging piano licks and sharp-edged, shuffling percussions. With DJ Marky being an avid supporter of Hugh and CimoneÕs initial link up on ÔRaindropsÕ, it only made sense for the trio to jump on a track together.
ÔLearning To FlyÕ with graceful strings and arpeggiated plucks, leads seamlessly into a crisp drum track and driving bassline. HughÕs delicate yet powerful and uplifting pieces of music explore a broad range of emotions, taking the listener on a stimulating musical journey.
Drawing for original jungle sounds whilst staying true to his soul-heavy style, ÔLate Night HarpÕ does exactly what it says on the tin as captivating harp melodies and acoustic guitar riffs are infused with fizzing sub-heavy basslines and steamrolling breakbeats generating a no-holds-barred banger.
His ÔLearning To FlyÕ EP is the second project to emerge from Hugh Hardie in the 2020 lockdown. His previous Ô7 Tunes In 7 DaysÕ extended EP saw him create a track from scratch every day over the course of a week, and received support from DJs across the board including the legendary LTJ Bukem. With the success of both his ÔShadows & SilhouettesÕ and ÔColourspaceÕ LPs under his belt, HughÕs dedication to ensuring that soul remains the main ingredient in his productions is cementing him as a staple figure in the world of liquid drum & bass.
