House Of Dreams

OK, so house music isn’t exactly a genre that’s known for producing many classic albums, so deep and groovy types, pay attention; there’s one on the way that will definitely float your boat. Pete Moss’ new long player, In Your Dreams, boasts ten cuts of solid grooves for the head and feet. Reinventing the wheel it isn’t, but worthy of your sheckles it is.

After a standard introduction to the world of DJing (“I started going out to the clubs as a kid in Boston and fell in love with the music. We had great local DJs, that completely inspired me to buy turntables”), Pete got into a sound that, more than any other, epitomises the US east coast/NYC – deep, soulful house music. It is, in a way, carrying on the legacy of the likes of Larry Levan – the legendary disco spinner and the DJ-in-the-know’s DJ – and his Paradise Garage club.

Frankie Knuckles and co took up the baton in the early to late ’80s, just as what we know today as house music was taking shape, before passing it on to Todd Terry and the incomparable Masters At Work – both of whom Pete cites as his main influences. But what attracted him to house – as opposed to anything else – in the first place? “I think it was the connection I had with soulful music. I was raised with lots of soulful music around me and I naturally was drawn to house when I started hearing it – warm keys, musical, edgy, vocals… it was perfect.”

His first releases came out about six years ago – after slowly building up his studio by “buying gear every now and then” – on his own Recline label and the likes of Siesta, and Earthtones, before a move to Philadelphia, where he found favour with local kingpins Josh Wink and King Britt. “I was a big fan of their and I was trying to get some releases cracking. Those guys were into my stuff and that’s how the whole thing started. Since then, we’ve become great friends and have done a lot together.”

That’s included a string of releases on Ovum – ones that have found favour with Irish house DJs like Greg and Shane and Padraic Disconaut – and now the new album on Kevin McKay’s Alola label. In his own words, In Your Dreams is “on the deeper side of things. I always try for a soulful sound with a good edge to it. I love a big bassline that drops at the right time and warm keys. Nicely placed vocals with a ton of effects on them.”

So who’s going to buy this one? Who’s it aimed at? “I hope the same people and dj’s who buy the 12”s buy the album. The singles are being released on vinyl with remixes so that should be cool for the vinyl heads, and the full LP is being released on double pack vinyl as well. But as far as the mixed CD LP, I can see anyone who likes deeper dance music picking it up and enjoying it.”