Back in January, we announced that after 20-plus years as a contributing member to the worldwide dance music community, Detroit house legend Rick Wilhite was set to finally release his first artist album, Analog Aquarium (artwork above). Well, today is the day his LP is set to hit the streets, and we’ve got a little album taster here in the form of “City Bar Dancing (Basement Mix).” With its one dark chord, frighteningly deep bassline, and miniature tribal percussion, the feeling the track evokes isn’t too far off from its title. Wilhite is slow to build upon the initial groove, letting the song’s elements repeat until they’ve enveloped the listener in a trance-like state, eventually adding rhythmic vocal loops and some soulful oohs and ahhs along with a short-lived funky synth sample in methodical fashion. At times, it sounds like the song was taken directly out of a DJ set, as Wilhite inserts drops and even runs the entire track through a flanger effect for a bar or two. An intriguing peek into Wilhite’s creation and one you can build upon by getting your hands on Analog Aquarium today.

City Bar Dancing (Basement Mix)