Artist: J-Punch
Title: Reach
Label: Climax Recordings
By: Simon Jones | 21 January 2004
Tracklist:

• A: Original Mix
• B: Fretwell Mix

J-Punch "Reach"

Washington DC producer Justin Katz has already made fans out of fellow locals Deep Dish and many others with his downbeat house grooves and song writing ability. The buzz around this man's talents has been growing for the last few months so when word got out that he had signed to UK based Climax Recordings for several single, the label started receiving many enquiries about his forthcoming work. However, the wait is now over as his debut for the label entitled 'Reach' now arrives.

Justin's 'Original Mix' is something slightly different to his previous work, fusing elements of electro and breakbeat with deep house grooves and a stirring piano line which sails over the top of the beat arrangements in a subtle and hazy style. Crazy beats and laser synths may rise up on occasion, but this is still one sultry sexy slice of electro breaks for the slightly more experimental amongst you.

The b-side though, is a straight up dancefloor monster as Climax's home grown and currently on fire 'Fretwell' stirs in his trademark deep atmospherics and trippy effects, whilst starting a fire with some glistening breakbeat arrangements. Melodies filter back and forth as the mood is slowly constructed from the foundations up, before culminating in a spooky and hypnotic finale which will leave you in a state of awe.

A great debut which holds much promise for the further J-Punch singles, and once again Fretwell shows exactly why he is fast becoming one of the most sought after remixers by many of the bigger labels. Be sure to check this out.