Hidden Spheres .Drum Chums Vol 6.

Summertime sounds abound on the sixth Drum Chums disc, which comes lovingly dubbed and diced by our friendly Fruit Merchant Hidden Spheres. Known globally for his free-flowing DJ sets, halcyon house hits and mastery of melody, Tom’s been at the top of his game for time now - just check those releases on Rhythm Section and Scissor & Thread - and it’s a pleasure to carry his drum sticks for this one. Cracking open his vault of top secret DJ tweaks, Spheres explores sweltering proto-house, tropical disco lilt and deepest waters across three floor-ready cuts.

The Fruit Merchant plucks something ripe from the Kalimba Tree on the A1, starting the party properly with joyous Afro-house jam “Stolen”. Carnival-friendly drums and a Boyd Jarvis bassline wind up your waist while the call-and-response vocals and exuberant brass send hands and heads skywards before the track transitions into an utterly ecstatic sax-led breakdown. This is magic.

For the B-side, Hidden Spheres treats us to a couple of deep digs from his time in Australia, both originating in the Aboriginal community. Emerging from the astral vibrations of a didgeri-drone, “You Better Dance” casually locks into an irresistible 105bpm groove, strolling through the echo-laced dubspace as its poetic vocal speaks to your soul. Balearic-paced and cosmic-minded, this one plays perfectly next to those I-Level 12”s. For finale “Together”, Spheres shifts back into proto-house mode, locking a hypnotic piano riff into some militant snare rolls to lay the foundation for the impassioned vocal. Delivering the occasional diversion into more mournful territories, Spheres reminds us why deep house deity DJ Sprinkles always takes his calls.

At Tom's request all profits from this release will go to Pay The Rent, a grassroots charity in Victoria, Australia working to honour the Sovereignty of Aboriginal people.