A sophisticated collection of deep, jazzy house grooves blending Detroit soul, live instrumentation and late-night dancefloor elegance.
Berlin’s Ascension On Wax continues its impressive rise with another classy addition to its catalogue, this time welcoming Portuguese producer Diogo Ruiz, better known as DFRA. With previous releases on respected imprints including Sometime Mate, People Of Earth and Hudd Traxx, DFRA arrives with a four-track EP that comfortably balances deep house warmth, jazz-infused musicianship and Detroit-inspired soul.
Opening title track “A Quiet Storm” immediately draws listeners into DFRA’s world. Built around a dreamy house groove, the track layers warm electric piano chords, liquid electronics and expressive saxophone passages to create a beautifully immersive listening experience. Spacey synth flourishes drift through the arrangement, giving the record a timeless quality that feels equally suited to home listening sessions and late-night dancefloors.
“Stings” follows and shifts the energy up a gear. Louder piano stabs, bolder rhythms and densely woven field recordings create a more urgent atmosphere while retaining the musical sophistication that runs throughout the EP. The production remains rich and detailed, rewarding repeat listens as new elements reveal themselves within the mix.
On the flip, “Charlene” taps into a more soulful corner of the deep house spectrum. Shuffling drums, warm chords and subtle vocal touches combine to create an effortlessly groove-led track that recalls the golden era of 90s deep house without sounding overly nostalgic. It’s understated yet highly effective, allowing the emotion of the arrangement to shine through.
Closing the release, Detroit’s Jon Dixon delivers a superb reinterpretation of “Charlene”. Blending analogue house aesthetics with jazz-house sensibilities, Dixon introduces fresh layers of musicality while preserving the spirit of the original. The result is a remix that feels both respectful and transformative, offering a fitting finale to an already impressive EP.
Throughout “A Quiet Storm”, DFRA demonstrates a deep understanding of groove, space and musical arrangement. Rather than relying on obvious hooks or gimmicks, he allows the quality of the compositions to speak for themselves. For fans of deep house rooted in soul, jazz and Detroit tradition, this is a release well worth seeking out.
Release Date: 9 June 2026, buy it here.
Label: Ascension On Wax Germany
Format: 12″