Road Less Traveled
If deep house ever had a flag bearer, Kevin Yost would probably be just that man. His releases over the years (which culminated in 1999's brilliantOne Starry Nightalbum) have seduced thousands with their deep beats and jazz-flecked trimmings. For those tired of boshing Euro house or bland East Coast garage, Yost's middle road was one worth traveling. Forward-thinking, groovy, hypnotic and obtuse in equal parts, Yost's blueprint has been imitated by many but rarely bettered.Which brings us toRoad Less Traveled. Essentially, it's more of the same but with added twists and turns, no doubt influenced by Yost's remix work for the likes of Josh Wink, Everything But the Girl and Kings of Tomorrow. The opening "Move Your Mind" actually throws you off a bit, its house-verging-on-prog sensibilities screaming out to be dropped by Sasha or Tenaglia at the end of some marathon 12-hour set. But after that it's straight into the house mood; tracks like "Love Not Love" and new single "7th Heaven" are classic Yost creations with their jazz-tinged piano and soulful vibes. Wisely, Yost doesn't keep it locked all night to the four/four beat - he meanders with the dope robot blues of "In Walked Mr. Cool," the Hammond-fuelled jazz workout "Intentions" and Jazzanova-styled rhythms of "5 Alive." But it's Yost's love of house music that he returns to, with cuts like the rumbling "When In Doubt" and the Latin-esque "One Day Without Her," that round out this impressive package.Kieran Wyatt--From URB Magazine