It's a testament to the multivalence of house
music that it continues to invite breathy, earnest whispers of words like
"serenity" without ceding any of its seedy allure. Indeed, the interplay of the
two extremes helps account for the recent resurgence of aging house modes in
the newer reaches of minimal-techno. Prosumer + Murat Tepeli represents that
resurgence as it's happening in Berlin: The duo, affiliated with the storied
club Berghain/Panorama Bar, crafts careful dance tracks that distill the
essence of old Chicago house while giving it a contemporary sense of space and
shine. The songs—many are certifiable "songs," with vocals—fall in
line with the kind of domesticated house proffered by Matthew Herbert a few
years back. But Prosumer + Tepeli favor function as much as comfort, whether
leaning into a groove or pulling back to remember how grooves used to go.