Anthony Collins - Exhibit C EP on Natural History

Parisian house head Anthony Collins booted up his Natural History label last year, as an offshoot to his existing Scissor & Thread stable to allow a differentiated focus on the rawer, more analogue sounds on the deeper tip. Exhibit C is the third in a series of EPs to come from the studio of Collins himself, and it comes packing with five extremely effective DJ tools.

Conscience is a ‘no frills’ slab of tough, sexy house, driven by a deep bassline that’ll do the job on the dancefloor, plus swirly synths to help summon the appropriately deep atmosphere. There’s a stripped–back dub version for those who want it straight up, plus a vocal version featuring some cheeky MCing from Warren Big Sexy Bruce. Expect some rather familiar refrains about ‘taking it back’ to the roots of house; though they’re delivered by Bruce with such smooth style, that he more than gets the job done.

Solid is another stripped back, bassline driven house cut with a harsher, steelier approach to the atmospherics, meaning it carries a techier vibe. Not as much personality as Conscience, but it’s yet another cut from Collins that’ll lot effortlessly into a DJ set.

The EP’s final offering Soul Jackin comes raring with the heaviest bassline so far; brimming with jackin’ house energy, there’s a techy edge to the production that’ll ensure Collins holds his own with those interested in a more modern tech house sound. Black Light Smoke offers a deeper take on things, though it’s not quite up to the polished standard of what Collins has on display.

The word that keeps popping up for Exhibit C is ‘functional’, but that’s no disservice to the swathe of excellent, dancefloor-ready cuts you’ll find on this EP.