Photo by Lewis Khan

When you catch the ears of house legend Kerri Chandler, you better believe that there is something special going on. UK duo Benson Herbert and Leo Picking, better known as Voyeur, have been working closely with Chandler for a while, dropping releases on his labels MadTech and Madhouse. Voyeur have now closed the deal with their debut LP I, out October 31st via Chandler’s Kaoz Theory imprint.

I may technically be considered a house album, but Voyeur have taken full advantages of their musical influences including soul, jazz and more. This is evident with their first song ‘Silents’, a beat-less track constructed with gorgeous piano riffs, sporadic vocal samples and slick guitar licks. ‘Presence (Sequenced)’ picks up from the latter, going straight into deep house territory as thumping 4×4 drums now act as the heartbeat. Voyeur display their experimental side with tunes like ‘Seamless Seamstress’, in which tweaks and bleeps are weaved within the spacing of atmospheric synths and echoing whispers. ‘Tough Love’ pumps with broad, husky chords whilst haunting vocal high notes dance with beautiful piano play. Kerri Chandler joins the team for the dark and tribal ‘Long Beach Island’ whilst also co-producing the future-forward cut Patron Saint. ‘Lost In Paris’ is the closure which gives listeners the last dance, sending them off to a distant galaxy of pure house bliss.

Whilst Voyeur tend to stay in their lane of cosmic deep house throughout the album, perhaps the consistency is the magic. Where many house LPs tend to fall by the wayside due to lackluster fillers, I is designed to lift you into a zone and keep you there until the end. One thing is certain, Voyeur has scored a winning shot with their debut, a record that will stay with you for a long time.

Voyeur’s I is out October 31st on Kaoz Theory.