Cass & Mangan "Shoes EP"

Cass & Tom Mangan are well known for being jacks of all trades when it comes to their love for music, though some would call them the biggest jokers but that´s just because these two love the music and have fun making it. Between them, they have touched upon everything from deep house to techno, a sprinkling of that progressive house back in the day, and shades of electro, breaks, jackin house and everything in between. There might even be a sink in there somewhere. However, following on from 2004´s Wall Of Sound outing ´Iknowyourknow´, the duo find themselves on the rather excellent Fine imprint where the theme of the day is shoes (well and eggs.. green ones to be precise) but mainly about Shoes, hence the apt title of this debut EP.

Kicking off the EP in fine style is the vocal interpretation of ´I Love Your Shoes´. An upbeat number that makes its presence known via tough electro bass stabs is seemingly more than one may expect as it begins to unfold. Some subtle layering underpins B.Pirate´s quirky vocal lead but by the second round of the ´love your shoes chorus´ you will be hooked, as Cass & Mangan take the Tiefschwarz-esque sound and add a dose of madness to it.

´Green Eggs´ is some unashamedly straight up acid house, but as is ever the case with anything that escapes from the minds of it´s creators, it´s got a dirty, twisted edge to it. A mad little ditty that will turn the dancefloor into a k-hole, make no mistake about it.

The ´Dub´ interpretation of ´I Love Your Shoes´ takes a few steps away from it´s counterpart, with a rearranged beat structure and tweaked bass. Indeed, it´s rumbling low end is a far departure from the earlier version, but with some stunning synth progression and a door flattening kick, this is the bigger, tougher brother coming to pay the dancefloor a visitor, kicking the ass of everyone in it´s path, and asking questions when the lights come on.

´I Gotta Thang´ bookmarks the end of the EP, and whilst it´s seemingly misplaced when coupled with the group of dancefloor killers that have led us to this point, it highlights the musical diversity and influences that have brought the two madmen from London together. Some old school piano riffs, string sections and diva style vocals are all she wrote on this delightful, emotive slice of house that brings things to a close on a somewhat poignant yet curveball induced tangent, but coming from the pairing of Cass & Mangan that´s no surprise at all.

What more can be said. This EP features all you would expect from Cass & Mangan with a few bonus surprises thrown in for good measure. The good news is is that this is a start of a beautiful friendship between the duo and Fine, as the word is that another EP is already well on it´s way to completion.. and whilst the mind boggles about the potential of that, for now, treat this 12" with all the care and attention it so rightly deserves.