Kepler launches his new label and event series called Contact with a debut statement that feels less like a first step and more like a fully formed manifesto. His “Desire EP” is a four-tracker that dances between UKG, House, and deep club pressure – channeling everything that’s made the Leeds-based producer one of the most consistently exciting names on the scene, while also revealing new layers of nuance and intention.
The opening track “Desire” sets the tone with that unmistakable UKG backbone: tight, swinging percussion, a heavy sub-weighted bassline, and sweet, breathy chord progressions that echo into the early hours. But it’s the vocal that seals it — a nostalgic nod to late-90s R&B and Aaliyah’s ghost, whispering “Desire, you don’t know what you do to me?” into a smoky dancefloor haze. It’s both vulnerable and vibey – an opener that plays like a love letter to the floors.
“On The Move” follows with a collaboration between Kepler and Paul Rayner – the artist behind the track “Baby,” which Kepler recently remixed. This one’s classic UKG in structure but modern in execution. The short, syncopated stabs and choppy vocal hits swirl into a break that quite simply kills – those rapid-fire vocal snippets and that punchy, rubberised lead synth have become something of a signature for Kepler. It’s peak-time energy with surgical control, riding the tension right where it counts.
“Sanctuary” shifts the mood – still club-ready, but more restrained and atmospheric. While the tempo holds steady, the tone deepens: floaty pads, a straight-ahead House bassline, and more melodic elements that guide rather than demand. It’s the early-evening or post-peak tune — the one that warms the room without setting it ablaze, giving the dancers time to breathe without losing momentum.
Closing cut “Let You Down” is the hinge between intention and release – a stripped-back, low-slung groover that does everything with less. A raw bassline carries the weight, while vocal loops (“Let you down…”) skim across the surface, building and receding. The breakdown offers a whisper of drama – “I’ve never let you down” — before the synth snaps back in with just enough push to bring dancers back into the fold. It’s clever, minimal, and absolutely made for the floor.
“Desire EP” marks an assured beginning for Contact – both as a label and a curatorial voice. Kepler doesn’t just showcase his command of rhythm and space here; he sketches out a full night’s arc in four tracks. Expect DJs to reach for these in all corners of the night.
Words by Holger Breuer
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