Italian producer St. David continues his ascent through the underground house world with a debut outing on one of the UK’s most revered labels, Hard Times.
A label long associated with proper dancefloor house music, the pairing feels natural from the outset. Davide Distanto has spent the last few years refining a sound rooted in the golden era of US house whilst still carrying enough punch and clarity for modern floors, and ‘The Message Of Love’ EP captures that balance beautifully.
Opening track ‘Keep On Reachin’’ sees St. David link with US house veteran Jason Nevins for a rolling slice of chunky, feel-good house music that instantly recalls the heyday of Strictly Rhythm and Nervous Records. Warm stabs, bouncing basslines and crisp drums all collide with a carefree energy that feels authentically steeped in 90s New York club culture without slipping into parody. There’s an undeniable swing to it that feels built for hands-in-the-air moments in sweatbox basement clubs.
‘Extortion’ then shifts the mood slightly deeper. Piano licks dance around jazzy undertones whilst stripped-back percussion keeps things firmly locked to the groove. There’s a touch more sophistication here, the kind of track that sneaks up on you during the middle hours of a set rather than demanding instant attention. St. David shows restraint, allowing the groove to breathe naturally.
The title track ‘Message Of Love’ swings things back toward tougher club territory with crunchy kicks, rugged drums and looping vocal hooks that channel raw warehouse energy. It feels like the EP’s peak-time weapon, fusing old school attitude with modern production weight. There’s a roughness to the drums throughout the record that gives everything an infectious drive.
Closing cut ‘Just Like Dat’ rounds things off with a more percussive workout. Tribal leaning rhythms, chopped vocal snippets and restless groove work make for a classy finale that DJs will likely keep tucked away for later set excursions.
Across all four tracks, St. David proves once again that he understands the essence of house music. Groove, soul, swing and functionality remain at the core of everything here. No gimmicks, no overproduction, just proper club music crafted with genuine understanding of the culture that inspired it and what better label than Hard Times to bring this to life.
‘The Message Of Love’ is another strong statement from a producer whose stock continues to rise with every release. Buy it now here.
