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By now a well known player in his native France, Chris Carrier, a resident at Parisian clubbing institution Le Rex, delivers his debut EP here for Berlin imprint, OFF Recordings.

The 'La Fabourienne' EP is (in digital mode at least) a 6 track EP built for heaving, bustling, peak time dance floors.Tracks such as Amir's 'Jazz Loops' and Bastian Schuster's 'New Orleans' (also released on OFF) have paved for the way for an unexpected resurgence of the saxophone in techno circles, of the type not seen since Laurent Garnier's career defining 'Man with the Red Face'.

Carrier's 'La Fabourienne' is further evidence of how these conflicting sounds blend strangely well together. Essentially a pitched up jazz track overridden with a thumbing 4/4 beat and a shrewdly placed kick drum.

'Jeudi' takes matters down a notch. Almost peaceful at times, the opening half of the track is reminiscent of to the days when 'chill-out' compilations were bizarrely, in fashion. With little more than a flat, subtle bass line, some cymbals and some clicks, 'Jeudi' does eventually come to life, though even when it does, it's still a somewhat muted, forgettable offering. What 'Jeudi' does prove, is that there's great scope to Carrier's productions. As a Dj, scope and diversity is a valued trait. As a producer however, to include two tracks of such conflicting style is in this writers opinion at least, a bold move which does little for my overall opinion of the EP.

Fortunately, Amsterdam native William Kouam Djoko is on hand to provide a far better version of 'Jeudi'. His 'perky' remix is evident of the track that the original, could, and perhaps should have been. The bare bones of the original are kept intact, although this time they're layered with percussion and bass aplenty.

Cycles Gladiator completes the vinyl package. As expected, Carrier has atoned for 'Jeudi' by providing us with a tech house smash, complete with horns, drums and the by now customary, skewered vocals. The digital pack also includes a dub version of 'La Fabourienne', for those of you who like your grooves more dry and minus the sax. It's a pity the dub version is eve included, as the spirit of 'La Fabourienne' is simply inexistent without it. On the whole however, Carrier's debut EP for the fledging imprint is a solid, if unspectacular affair, worthy of note for the inclusion of 'La Fabourienne' alone.

Artist: Chris Carrier Title: La Fabourienne EP Label: OFF Recordings Tracklist La Faubourienne Jeudi Jeudi (William Kouam Djoko's Perky mix) Cycles Gladiator Digital Only: Jeudi (William Kouam Djoko's Aftermath mix) La Faubourienne Dub www.myspace.com/offrecordings www.myspace.com/chriscarrier Our rating: 6.5/10