12"

Genre: HOUSE

Label: Hard Times Records   Cat.No: HTRE016

Hard Times welcomes the return of Alex Arnout and his BLACK LOGIC project, following the recent "Pull Up" EP with a second instalment of new music from the collective - The Illusions EP.
A native of West Yorkshire, Arnout spent his formative years on the Hard Times dancefloors, soaking up the beats and vibrations that would later shape his productions. His journey with the label reignited when he was invited to remix the Michael Watford classic "Love Change Over" and the new Steve Silk Hurley hit "All I Need." Now he returns with something truly special.
"Black Logic was born out of the pandemic," Arnout states. "I wanted to move away from drum machines and synths, returning to sampling jazz and 90s deep house sounds, drawing inspiration from artists like Bugs in the Attic, Jazzanova, and Ernest Saint Laurent."
What began as a solo project soon evolved into a collective endeavour. Bassist and guitarist Alan Riggs, formerly of Delta 5, joined the sessions, bringing warmth and groove to the productions. Vocalists Tempo O’Neil, Anthony Beckford, Mariana Orsho, and Sophie Barker added their distinctive voices, completing the vision.
Across four tracks, The Illusions EP delves us deeper into the rich and dynamic universe of Black Logic. The title track pairs Tempo O'Neil’s vocals with a deep, undulating bassline, while "Dusty" glides on brushed snares and ghostly Rhodes, its saxophone lines weaving through the mix like smoke. "Chasing Daze," with its analog synth reflections and Tempo’s velvety tones, is a track suspended between head-nodding groove and astral elevation.
The curtain falls with "Disco Down," a jubilant ensemble of Hammond organ, flute, guitar, bongos, and horns intertwining in joyous dialogue.