With its percolating keys, yearning synth line, rubbery bass and, in the background, angelic chorus, there’s a deep-house-in-the-cosmos ambience running through ‘Healing Wounds’, the latest tune from South Africa’s Donald-Tek. Released on the on-fire Iron Rods Music label, that vibe is a common thread to his output to date, much of it released via the excellent Vitamin Deep Recordings. There are comparisons to be made to artists like Larry Heard — he himself cites like-minded artists such as Atjazz and Martin Stimming as early influences — but Donald-Tek’s managed to carve out his own aural identity through a decade of experimentation. In interviews, he’s compared making music to meditation, and it shows, as there’s a calmness and intimacy at the heart of his music that’s hugely appealing. It’s not exactly peak-time material, nor is it meant to be —instead, it’s music as a soothing balm, the kind that helps to smooth away life’s rough edges.