Garrett David and Adam Rowe return to Stripped & Chewed with an accomplished new EP, "Now That We Are Here, Where Are We?". Also known as the Bell Boys, the pair were last seen on a funky electro 7" for Star Creature following 2013's "Hotel Garma EP" for Discovery Recordings. This new five track record finds the Chicago-based duo making major strides forward in their already rather mature sound, fusing razor-sharp rhythms with plush melodies informed by deep knowledge of house music history -- no surprise from two buyers for Chicago institution Gramaphone Records. Listeners ease into proceedings with "Sound Space", dappled by hand drum loops and engulfed in warm bass notes that help piano stabs and cooed vocals hit pleasure centers with accuracy and glee. "Full Mood" continues in this vein but is even more pointed, firing off Prescription-strength stabs and expert level hi-hat work into gooey melodies. The A side closes with the weightless ambience of "Space Jam", shimmering like sun cracking the horizon. Side B offers two versions of floor-filler "Summit", which epitomize David and Rowe's aesthetic and production methods. The "Smoov Mix" pairs twitchy, relentless drum programming and a brisk, walking bass line with triumphant synth lines for a propulsive but lighthearted tune. The "Smashed Mix" has harder edges and more quirks, like squirrelly synth squiggles and an ascending synth line that could part the darkest clouds. "Now That We Are Here, Where Are We?" is a stunning start to 2016 from Garrett David and Adam Rowe as well as Stripped & Chewed. - Steve Mizek