henna onna: maboroshi ep
Francisco Espregueira
Armenian producer Henna Onna is about to release her anticipated vinyl debut. Known for effortlessly blending house, jazz, and broken beat, she brings her unique sonic pallette to Deeppa Records with the mesmerizing Maboroshi EP. The project's title is deeply symbolic; in Japanese, Maboroshi translates to an illusion, phantom, or dream. It perfectly describes a fleeting vibe that feels beautifully unreal and almost impossible to catch. This conceptual framework sets the stage for a sophisticated deep house record. It caters perfectly to heads who appreciate musical, heads-down grooves with a leftfield edge.
The project opens with "Shibuya Oiran," a hypnotic cut that utilizes syncopated drum patterns and modal synth lines. It pulls Eastern tonal references directly onto the dancefloor. Producer Kuniyuki Takahashi steps in to extend this vision. His deep dub version is packed with live-feel percussion and lush, sustained chord progressions. Deeper into the record, "Enoshima" locks into a steady, warm groove elevated by smoothly filtered melodic elements. To push the energy further, Satoshi Fumi provides a high-octane remix. He dramatically increases the rhythmic density through smartly layered drums, driving bass and acid sequencing. Ultimately, the Maboroshi EP is a thoughtful crafted journey through jazz-informed textures. Available on vinyl.