Life and Death regular Luke Alessi returns with a sultry, late night deep house trip that blends disco decadence with hypnotic club pressure.
Luke Alessi continues to carve out his own lane on Life and Death with the After Five EP, a four track package that feels tailor made for that hazy moment when the party shifts from playful to provocative. Known for sidestepping genre boxes, Alessi once again leans into groove driven storytelling, drawing on disco flamboyance, funk swing and deep house hypnosis.
The title cut is pure after hours theatre. A strutting bassline anchors the groove while brassy stabs and filtered vocal touches give it a flamboyant, almost burlesque energy. There is a definite nod to 70s disco in the rhythmic bounce, but it is framed within a modern deep house structure that DJs can really work with.
The arrangement builds patiently, layering percussive textures and swelling melodic phrases that feel both indulgent and controlled. It is sexy without being obvious, playful without losing its edge. On a proper system, the low end rolls with confidence, while the top line elements shimmer just enough to keep dancers locked in.
This one eases the tempo slightly and leans deeper into the hypnotic side of Alessi’s sound. The groove is looser, more fluid, with a sun soaked warmth running through the chords. Subtle vocal inflections drift in and out, never dominating, just adding atmosphere.
There is a Balearic undercurrent here, but it is still very much club focused. The percussion swings gently, giving DJs space to blend, while the evolving synth layers create a slow burning momentum. It feels like that golden hour moment when the lights are low and the dancefloor starts moving as one.
Pablo Bozzi flips the title track into peak time territory. The tempo jumps and the groove tightens, introducing a sharper, more driving energy. The bass hits harder, the drums are punchier, and there is a subtle Italo tinged edge to the synth work.
Where the original seduces, Bozzi’s remix commands. It keeps the essence of the brass and vocal flair but reframes them in a way that feels darker and more urgent. Ideal for pushing the energy up a gear without losing the EP’s signature flamboyance.
Aldonna takes the deeper original and injects a tougher rhythmic backbone. The groove becomes more percussive and driving, with layered drums and rolling low end giving it a more late night warehouse feel.
There is still warmth in the melodic elements, but they are stretched and reshaped into something more tension filled. It is a clever rework that transforms the track from sunset reverie into early morning propulsion.
After Five EP captures Luke Alessi at a confident point in his evolution. Having already made waves with previous releases on Life and Death and collaborating with artists such as Chloé Caillet, Carlita and Rufus Du Sol, he continues to prove that his sound resists easy categorisation.
This EP feels intentional and immersive, balancing groove, flair and dancefloor functionality in equal measure. It is deep house with personality. Sultry, slightly theatrical, and built for those moments after five when the night really begins.
The ‘After Five’ EP by Luke Alessi is out now here.
