By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – London, the global dance music landscape has always thrived on the unexpected synergy of cross-continental collaborations, and the latest release from Riva Starr and the Australian duo Close Counters is a testament to this enduring tradition. Titled the Push Your Luck EP, this four-track collection serves as a sophisticated bridge between the grit of London’s house scene and the lush, jazz-inflected textures emerging from the Southern Hemisphere. By enlisting the vocal talents of UK soul mainstay Andre Espeut, the project elevates itself from a mere club tool to a rich, multi-layered listening experience that honors the past while firmly planting its feet in the contemporary underground.
Riva Starr, the moniker of Italian-born, London-based producer Stefano Miele, has long been a chameleon within the electronic realm. As the head of Snatch! Records, he has navigated everything from high-energy techno to quirky "snatchy" house, always maintaining a signature sense of groove. In this latest venture, he finds a perfect aesthetic match in Close Counters. The Melbourne-based pair, consisting of Finn Rees and Allan McConnell, have built a reputation for high-octane live performances and a production style that seamlessly blends broken beat, house, and disco with a musician’s touch. Their joint effort on Push Your Luck represents a convergence of Miele’s veteran club sensibilities and Close Counters’ organic, instrumental fluidity.
The EP’s title track, "Push Your Luck," is a masterclass in understated elegance. In an era where many producers rely on aggressive drops and maximalist sound design, Riva Starr and Close Counters opt for a "less is more" philosophy. The track opens with the simplest of 4/4 drum patterns—a clean, crisp kick and snare that provide a steady heartbeat. However, the true character of the song emerges with the introduction of a strolling bassline. This isn’t a distorted, overbearing low-end; rather, it is a melodic, walking bass that feels as though it was plucked directly from a 1970s funk session.
The harmonic backbone of the title track is defined by a distinctive descending chord progression. These chords provide a sense of narrative movement, creating a melancholic yet hopeful atmosphere that perfectly sets the stage for Andre Espeut. Espeut, whose voice has graced tracks by the likes of Faze Action and various Defected Records staples, delivers a performance marked by precision and restraint. His soulful delivery avoids the histrionics often found in modern vocal house, instead leaning into a smooth, rhythmic cadence that mimics the track’s instrumental flow. The result is a piece of music that feels timeless—equally suited for a sunrise set at a Mediterranean beach club or a sophisticated lounge environment.
Moving into the second track, "Gearbox," the collaboration shifts gears into high-energy territory. This instrumental "galloper" is a vibrant homage to the jazz-funk and disco-house hybrids of the late 20th century. The most striking element here is the use of "squiggly" lead synths, which immediately evoke the legendary sound of the Brazilian trio Azymuth. Specifically, the track draws a spiritual line to Azymuth’s seminal "Jazz Carnival," a piece that famously merged samba rhythms with futuristic synthesizers. "Gearbox" captures that same sense of forward momentum, using a driving percussion section to propel the listener through a landscape of cosmic synth modulations. It is a track that celebrates the "musicianship" side of electronic music, highlighting Close Counters’ ability to infuse programmed beats with the improvisational spirit of jazz.
The third offering on the EP, "Dizzy," takes a different stylistic turn, pivoting toward the golden era of 1990s New York garage-house. This sub-genre, characterized by its "swing," soulful samples, and organ-heavy arrangements, has seen a significant resurgence in recent years, and "Dizzy" is a sparkling contribution to that revival. The track dials down the overt jazz influences of "Gearbox" in favor of a tighter, more rhythmic focus. The percussion is snappy, featuring the signature shuffled hi-hats that define the garage sound. There is a "sparkle" to the production—a clarity in the high frequencies that makes the track feel fresh and modern despite its nostalgic DNA. It is the kind of record that would have felt right at home in a Tony Humphries set at the Zanzibar, yet it carries the polished low-end necessary for today’s high-fidelity sound systems.
The EP concludes with the "Push Your Luck (Scat Dub)," a version that is likely to spark debate among house purists. As the name suggests, this version focuses on the "bouncy" elements of the original’s house structure while incorporating scat-style vocal improvisations from Espeut. Scatting—the vocal technique of using nonsense syllables to mimic instrumental solos—has a long and storied history in jazz, and its integration into house music has been a recurring trope since the genre’s inception.
For some listeners, the "Scat Dub" will be the highlight of the EP, offering a playful, rhythmic layer that enhances the track’s infectious energy. The "bounce" in the dub version is undeniable, with the bassline pushed slightly further forward in the mix, encouraging movement. However, for those who prefer their house music more streamlined, the scat vocals might feel like an unnecessary distraction from the pristine instrumental work. While Espeut’s technical skill is beyond reproach—his tone remains "sweet" and harmonically accurate—the divisive nature of scatting in a dance music context remains. Nevertheless, as a "Dub," it serves its purpose of providing DJs with an alternative tool for different moments on the dancefloor, even if some might find themselves wishing for a purely instrumental version to let the strolling bass and descending chords breathe entirely on their own.
Looking at the Push Your Luck EP as a whole, it is clear that Riva Starr and Close Counters have succeeded in creating a body of work that is "highly playable" without being generic. The production quality throughout is exceptional, striking a balance between the warmth of analog-style sounds and the punch of modern digital engineering. This EP is not just a collection of singles; it is a coherent exploration of where house music meets its ancestors in jazz, funk, and soul.
The involvement of Andre Espeut cannot be overstated. In an industry that often treats vocalists as afterthoughts or interchangeable "top-liners," the collaboration here feels genuine. Espeut’s voice is integrated into the fabric of the tracks, acting as another instrument rather than an overlay. This synergy is likely a result of Riva Starr’s long history of working with vocalists and Close Counters’ background in live instrumentation.
As the global club scene continues to evolve, releases like Push Your Luck provide a necessary grounding. They remind us that the heart of dance music lies in the groove—that elusive combination of rhythm and soul that transcends trends. By looking back to the jazz-funk of Azymuth and the garage-house of 90s New York, while maintaining a contemporary edge, Riva Starr and Close Counters have delivered a sophisticated, vibrant, and ultimately essential EP. Whether it is the strolling elegance of the title track or the synth-driven gallop of "Gearbox," there is something here for every discerning listener. Despite the minor "scat-niggle" that may affect some, the EP stands as a strong testament to the creative heights that can be reached when established veterans and rising stars join forces to push their luck.
