EP Review: DJ Phil - Boarding Pass: Prelude To The Flight
Label: Moveltraxx
Released: July 12th, 2024
Genre: Footwork, House, Jungle
Tracklist:
01. House Love
02. Only You
03. Turbulence
04. Something New
05. Burn The Sox Off
A modern-day staple for introducing anyone to footwork.
Earlier this year, I spoke to some of DJ Rashad’s family, collaborators, and successors to commemorate ten years since his passing. What I found was that a decade later, his presence can still be felt everywhere. DJ Phil, a student of Rashad, is one of the Teklife heirs carrying the torch—and you can hear hints of the late pioneer in his music, too. Last July, on London-based record label Moveltraxx, DJ Phil released one of my favorite projects of 2024. Boarding Pass: Prelude To The Flight is a comprehensive collection of five tracks that encompass footwork’s expansive range with inspired intent.
You can especially hear Rashad’s influence in “Only You”—the beginning of the track makes it feel like it could have been discarded from Double Cup, before it transforms into a jungle tune (which, coincidentally or not, was also a technique Rashad was known for behind the decks). “Turbulence,” on the other hand, is Spinn-esque. “Something New” seems to be aptly-named, as a song that most prominently exhibits a more left-field, instrument-sprinkled sound that’s distinctively DJ Phil. Where the producer shines are his blends between what should be mismatched sounds in a singular track. Whether he’s switching genres mid-song or layering soulful woodwinds over aggressive shit talk, each trial is refreshing and well-executed.
I’m not over-exaggerating when I say "House Love” is close to perfect. A rework of a 1997 R&B classic (no sample snitching), the song reminds footwork fans that despite its characteristically high BPM, the genre is directly derivative of house music. The triplets are thoughtfully subtle, and the beat mimics house’s four-on-the-floor model cleanly. I’m not a dancer, but “Something New” and “Burn The Sox Off” are two solid battle tracks that represent what footwork is all about. The latter was also a standout when it was first released on the Street Bangers Factory 25 label compilation in October of last year.
DJ Phil doesn’t just show how the footwork has expanded from Chicago to London and other parts of the world, but the project’s title can also be a metaphor for his journey through the genre’s evolution. From the opener paying homage to its Chicago house roots to the closers being quintessential battle tracks and DJ Phil’s experimentation in between, Boarding Pass: Prelude To The Flight is a testament to where footwork came from and sonically, all of the places it can go. This EP is definitely something I’ll be reaching for the next time I introduce someone to footwork.
