Raw Materials

The aptly-titled Raw Materials sees Marquis Hawkes making a welcome return to the primitive house rhythms for which he became known on his early work for Dixon Avenue Basement Jams. Highly influenced by house originators Ron Hardy, Gene Hunt, and Roy Davis Jr., Raw Materials updates the form with modern production techniques while preserving it's authenticity. The title-track eases us in, with dreamy vocals, dusty pads, and deep 808 beats. The two cuts of raw drum-machine clatter on the flip, however, take no prisoners, with strained vocal cuts on 'Ave That and primal analog tones on Jerk U Later.