Joaquin Joe Claussell 'Manifestations'

Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell's latest full-length excursion is, in typical style, a little different from your average artistic full-length. Instead of showcasing the spiritual house maestro's completed productions, it instead offers glimpses of familiar favourites, B-sides and deep album cuts in various stages of completion. That may not sound appealing on paper, but it genuinely is. For starters, Clausell is a fine musician, and many of the showcased "manifestations" are effectively early, stripped-back takes laden with a mixture of fluid and jazzy piano solos, soulful vocals, spacey synthesizer chords and acoustic guitars. Some cuts are inspired ambient soundscapes, while others are breezier, lighter dancefloor numbers underpinned by a variety of African and Latin inspired deep house rhythms.