Close your eyes and you’ll lose yourself in the dreamy electric piano chords and disco inspired bassline of ‘Something Special’. The new single from Northampton-based accomplished Jazz musician gone solo, House of EL, is as lucid as it is immediate. Adding the spacious production of Karma Kid to his quietly budding list of collaborators – which already includes Laura Mvula and Jay Prince – House of EL (real name Kieron McIntosh), creates a mood of hypnogogic sensuality.
The soundscapes are tastefully sparse, but it’s House of El’s irresistible falsetto vocals that really make this song. The repeated refrain of “something special” really is just that. It has an uncanny ability to pull one into a near-hypnotic trance only to click you back to reality with a gorgeous, soulful funk bass hook à la Childish Gambino’s “Red Bone”, and retro high-pitched, lo-fi synths that reek of Tame Impala’s “Currents”.
“Something Special” is stunning in its own right, and is the ultimate teaser for his much-anticipated mixtape ‘Book of EL’ releasing January 2022. To listen to ‘Something Special’, click here.
House of EL expressed: “Something Special is really a vibe, a mood, we made it really quickly and it’s the kinda track you have just got to feel. I hope it makes people move and feel good positive energy. Simple.”
“A soulful scorcher with an infectious groove” – CLASH
“An old-school 70’s funk soundscape dripping with warbling guitar licks and killer drums” – COLORS
Spotify / Instagram / Youtube / Twitter
Words: Aimee Armstrong
