Skatman has started 2024 with intent. Take the impressive EP on Jennifer Cardini’s Correspondent as evidence, with the excellent ‘Transmission’ EP which reinforced his breadth, taking in elements of body music, hip house, acid house and indie dance. A shiny new single also dropped on Laurent Garnier’s COD3QR label, with ‘Tribute to a Dancefloor’ standing as a euphoric string-led production stamped with a timeless energy. He extends this impressive form with the fourth release on his own Cognitive Prophecy imprint, ‘Paint the Picture’. The brief was simple – only the strongest trio of tunes that have highlighted recent sets – from gigs at Watergate, to FOLD in London and the recent SXM Festival. The title track is imbued with the artist’s colourful, narrative-led approach to sound design, as chugging grooves underpin a volley of vibrant chords that bloom and recede throughout the composition with subtle nods to Chicago and Detroit along the way. ‘Overture’ continues in the same vein, a silky, heart-led production that goes deeper, before amplifying the energy throughout the second half as an uplifting vocal and marching percussion bring the heat. ‘Unchained’ feels like an instant classic, as a soulful vox, strings and immersive melodic swells fill the room.