Peach
Soak Vol. 1
Mood Hut
Peach is a DJ—and a beloved one at that. Over the past decade, the London-based Canadian has been steadily ascending the dance music ranks, mostly with her work behind the decks, but also via a handful of releases on labels like Peach Discs (which, despite the name, she doesn’t run), can you feel the sun and her own Psychic Readings imprint. Known for her bubbly selections and even bubblier personality, she’s someone who mere presence tends to liven up just about any situation, especially when that situation involves a dancefloor.
Yet even the most vivacious figures can’t be “on” all the time, and with Soak Vol. 1, Peach explores a different side of her persona, opening a window to what happens when the party’s over. Written in the aftermath of an Asian tour, the decidedly cozy EP was partially inspired by a visit to a Japanese sento (a communal bath), where she was stuck by the tranquility she found in the middle of an otherwise chaotic Tokyo. That experience, combined with what she describes as a concerted effort to “focus on working with [her] body and [her] hormonal cycle,” laid the groundwork for a move into slower, more relaxed sounds.
Ambient music may be new territory for Peach, but she immediately sounds right at home on opening cut “Bathtime Bliss,” a spa-coded number with glowing, chime-like tones, a bit of melodic sparkle and some whispered vocal fragments that have been luxuriously doused in reverb. Even more zenned-out is “Rainy Season,” a soothingly woozy track that evokes visions of a manicured temple garden, and while “Christian’s Song” exudes a more playful, almost childlike energy, its colorful sojourn is nonetheless steeped in a sense of quiet contentment.
Tracks like these are perfect for Mood Hut. Aside from the Canadian connection, the celebrated Vancouver outpost has long been a bastion of both deep chill and sophisticated dancefloor know-how. Soak Vol. 1 strikes a similar balance, offsetting its ambient excursions with sneakily punchy songs like “Batangas Beat”—which sounds like a DJ Shadow riffing on the instrumental of Bananarama’s ’80s anthem “Cruel Summer”—and the cooly swaggering “Accidental Zoom.” While both tracks remain relatively loyal to the EP’s laid-back atmosphere, they’re also a sign than even when Peach is actively stepping away from her hectic routine and looking to decompress, there’s still something inside her that desperately wants to move.