Label-regulars Donatello & Shane Blackshaw unite and make a triumphant return to Stripped Recordings with ‘Catch 23’, while Kastis Torrau very effectively turns up the heat on the remix.

Donatello’s original sits nicely on the boundary between deep and progressive house, with its gentle, ascending stabs and wicked twin basslines establishing a serious groove, while leaving plenty of space for Shane Blackshaw’s delivery up top. The breakdown offers a slight lull, bringing the vocal to the fore and adding some sweet pads to offset the bass tones, before it’s back down to business again for more low-slung action complemented so well by Shane’s voice and lyrics. Fellow Lithuanian and regular studio partner Kastis Torrau steps up on remix duties, and I like his take on ‘Catch 23’ even more than Donatello’s original. Unsurprisingly, he takes the track in a chunkier, proggier direction, with seriously menacing bass pulses and a bleepy, atmospheric soundscape offering a perfect home for Shane’s vocals, while sci-fi washes add a further splash of melody during the breakdowns and the dreamy sequences that follow.

This is another awesome package from Stripped, with a strong original from Donatello and Shane Blackshaw, an even better remix from Kastis Torrau, and instrumental versions of both – there’s something for every discerning listener and every discerning dancefloor here.

Buy ‘Catch 23’ on vinyl at Juno or as a digital download from Beatport now.