March 25, 2022
Correspondant Records
Correspondant welcome the return of Belfast heavy hitter Hammer. Previously spotted on the label in 2019 with his 'Jupiter' EP, Hammer's roots are in the Feel My Bicep blog and night, where he's honed a distinctively dreamy but heavy disco signature. Following dispatches on the likes of Needwant, Permanent Vacation and his own Italo Hits & Remmah labels, he's back on Jennifer Cardini's imprint with 'DFR', an EP that takes its name from his father's initials. Celebrating one of the most important people in his life, the title track is a gentle giant thanks to its rolling bassline bubbles, spiralling arpeggio weaves and heaven-sent pads and chords. It's backed by more sprightly sonic adventures as Hammer tools us up for the new year with nothing but positivity… 'Oneiro' is a timeless star-gazing anthem that carefully balances big sweeping emotional synths with a bounding elasticated bassline while 'Freq AM' tunes in and turns on with goosebump-inducing harmonics, a juggernaut bassline and a fairy tale-like sense of soul that wouldn't have gone amiss in the mid 90s. The deeper we dig, the more gold we strike as the release also includes three remixes: Fort Romeau gets crispy on the keys, flipping 'Oneiro' into a euphoric house odyssey while Sedef Adasi provides her unique perspective from two different directions on 'Freq AM'; an effervescent, party-primed Raw version and a slightly tempered, deeper Slow version. Just like Hammer, the remixes hit hard. Now if you'll excuse us, we're about to hit the dancefloor.