Windimoto: The Travels of Windimoto

The name Windimoto conjures a dance fan’s fantasy: the meeting of the two meccas, Chicago and Detroit. However, Windy City-born DJ Sean Haley and Motor City-born producer Scorpio (a.k.a. Scorpeze) reach beyond their roots for inspiration. The duo’s debut EP The Travels of Windimoto both introduces the group, as well as explores its theories behind a groove. Focusing on two vocal tracks “Don’t Let Me Leave Alone” (featuring newcomer Victor St. Clair) and “A Place for Us” (featuring another freshman Carlita Durand, as well as St. Clair) in original and remixed formats, The Travels of Windimoto presents the duo as well-versed students of dance. The group favors nuanced and atmospheric productions that would play well in a club, but are better suited for the meditative ride home afterwards. Their syncopated footwork on “Don’t Leave” and the light Latin touch of the instrumental “Underground Peace Lounge” are gently fleshed out with strings or simple synths that invoke head-nodding melodies more than kinesthetic fits. That said, the duo pays tribute to the club and wisely invites fellow dance explorers, like Nicolay and Trackademicks, to provide some counterpoint. Nicolay adds a welcome driving thump to “Don’t Leave” while Trackademicks transforms the single into a neck-popping funk nugget. The Travels of Windimoto is therefore a collaborative effort that relies as much on the duo’s talents, as well as those of its peers, but is an encouraging first excursion that begs repeated exploration.