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Review: Retromigration's Cloudin is a deep house 12" that offers a great blend of fun, jazzy, and serious tracks. Sometimes, all in the same track. It opens with the title track, which is a proper deep house effort that is techy and fresh, with tribal and psychedelic elements. This is followed by 'Only Well,' which is a jazzy funk track with a nice melody. The third track, 'Just Take It,' is a catchy, slick house track with an addictive melody and hints of disco. Side 2 of the album opens with 'They Hatin',' an urban groove track with cool sound effects, an old skool jazz feel and a 70s sound. The album closes with 'You Win,' a clever, different and unique track. Overall, Cloudin is a great 12" that shows that house music can be much more than just an evolution of disco.

Review: The amount of ultra-rare, hard to find, essential Northern Soul classics seems to be infinite. Here comes another reissue that aims to right that wrong with an officially licensed pair of tunes from the Phase One Network that has artwork based on the original promo version. 'Don't You Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come' is brimming with soul and immediately swells your heart with its elegant strings, graceful piano chords and swirling sense of groove all lifting you off your feet. 'Try To Leave Me If You Can' is a heartbroken slow song to conjure up memories of all the loves you've lost, or maybe never had.

Review: Sindh combines old and new worlds on his latest mystic hymns, this time kicking off the A-Biotic label with his dark and alluring four-track EP 'Andaman'. He manages to fuse organic and synthetic materials here as he heads down a darkly introspective path where minimal and IDM, dub and techno all collide in mutant form. 'Jangil' is a real standout with its bubbling halftime rhythms and icy synths backed by distant angelic chorals. The bewitching sounds continue on 'Galathea' which rides back and forth on its heels as subtle sines, scurrying synths and menacing pads all interlock before 'Hinam' locks you in a dense synth stasis and loopy sense of lurching rhythm.

Review: The fledgling but already notable UFO Series now looks to Italian producer and prodigious underground innovator Riciar Ghir for a captivating journey through the more energetic house realms, all with an outer space feel. 'Niriba Shuttle' opens with tribal percussion and progressive synths that are coloured by subtle acid lines. 'Silenzio' is slow, heavy and persuasive with its old school piano acting lighting up your soul. There's a twisted tech funk to 'Platter Dreams' that makes it perfect for 2am cruising and 'Bad Egg' sets down with plenty of colour. These cuts will all work several different moments on the dance floor making it a hugely useful 12".

Review: The Phonogramme label is a real stamp of house quality, whether serving up deep, French or garage-tinged. This new 12" from Lucas Monet does a bit of all that and more. 'Low Gravity' (feat Dusty Fingers - Deeper dub is a classic New Jersey sound with neon chords and Kerri Chandler kicks. 'Losing You' (Paradise mix) has a more optimistic and upbeat feel with organ stabs and finger clicks and 'Deep In The Blue' (937 club mix) has a little more jack and swing to it. 'Music' (UKG Private mix) shuts down with an irresistible old school groove full of love.

Review: A sizzling hotplate of previously unreleased, unauthorised edits from deep house hero Chez Damier, released in an unexpected act of dancefloor philanthropy. Regardless of the lack of information and apparent authorisation, 'Boot Germany' have collated four essential Damier cuts, from the cosy swang of 'Jabalou' to the stroboscopic drive of 'Take Me Away' via the timeless synth horn jack attack of 'Mix Masters' and the whimsically titled lounge trip 'Classic Piano'. Essential quick-draw record bag lingerers for discerning house heads.

Review: Continuing Four Flies' dedication to delving into lesser-explored periods of Italian music, Africamore: The Afro-Funk Side of Italy (1973-1978) takes us on a captivating carpet-ride into the intersection of Afro-funk and the Italian soundscape prevalent in the six years between 1973 and 1978 - a time when disco was still in its nascence, and the nightclub market was rapidly expanding. Bottling the critical moment at which DJs such as Dave Mancuso discovered Manu Dibango's 'Soul Makossa' - with classics such like Jean Paul & Angelique's 'Africa Sound' and Nat King Cole's 'Calypso Blues' following as floor-bound hits - all these productions pushed the boundaries of dance music at a time when disco had not yet taken over.

Review: Australian producer Inkswel is back on the Cosmocities label in France with more of his superbly soulful sounds, this time with none other than Chicago legend Robert Owens. The lush 'Space Love' is a playful deep house jam with the sort of cosmic synths that recall early Fingers Inc and Owens's smoky tones only heighten that feeling. Steve Spacek provides a mix that rides on broken beats with elastic bass but just as much cosmic energy and a Fluterumental gets all loose-limbed and seductive. On the flip side are two Yoruba Soul mixes that bring extra rich soul vibes and shimmering pad work. A classy and timeless EP for sure.

Review: Shadowed Tales From Mulhouse captures punk's original rebels in live action in 1994, feeling like a return to their rowdy garage punk origins after spending the latter part of the 80s helping to shape goth rock and then take it overground and into the charts. No sign of 'Eloise' or 'Grimy Fiendish' here though - this all about genre-defining hits like 'Love Song', 'Neat Neat Neat', 'New Rose' and 'Smash It Up', with a heap of perfectly suited and totally unlikely cover versions, from 'Pretty Vacant' to 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling' and 'I Walk The Line'. All on nice coloured vinyl, too, it stands as a testament to The Damned's storytelling prowess, leaving audiences enthralled and craving more from this enigmatic ensemble.

Review: 'Fast Car' was a groundbreaking song when it came out. Making Tracy Chapman a household name. The song became an international hit and entered the top ten in many countries including being number one in Canada, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands and Portugal. The single went triple platinum in UK alone. The song was lauded for being a moving account of escaping life's difficulties and achieving some material success only to fail again. Tracy's performance was riveting and the song propelled her to win three Grammy's that year including Best New Artist, Contemporary Folk Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The song was also nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song continues to be an enduring classic having entered the charts multiple times and been covered my many artists. The song is also featured in Rolling Stones 500 greatest songs of all time.

Review: Depeche Mode's Radio Transmission 2001 encapsulates the band's evolution and enduring influence on the electronic landscape. The album showcases their mastery of blending dark, brooding atmospheres with pulsating rhythms and haunting melodies. Depeche Mode's signature sound, characterised by introspective lyrics and innovative synth textures, is fully realised here in an album that, here pressed up on pink wax, contains the 'Hits Walking In My Shoes,' 'Enjoy The Silence' and many more that have more than stood the test of time.

Review: Calibre's brand new drum & bass album Rudy comes in a minty-fresh contrapuntal breath, following hot on the heels of a new white label reissue of his earliest and most enduring works from the mid-to-late 1990s. The sudden time-warp back into the present day proves just how far he has come since then, yet also just how much he has retained what worked, too; Rudy begins in an orthodox liquid jungle fashion with the likes of 'Stunted', before breaking away into impressionistic vocal free-associations like 'The Game' (with Dominic Martin) and halftime reese-swellers like 'Heaven'. All the tracks originate from the same aetheric stratosphere - imagine if drum & bass had kicked off not on a terrestrial, but totally gaseous planet - yet Calibre still gleans enough variation from this potent condensate to either pack both more vacuumy punches ('Cousin') or more laid-back but cerebral inhalations ('Dumb Bum').

Review: Now celebrating its landmark 50th anniversary, Pink Floyd's seminal The Dark Side Of The Moon remains a timeless masterpiece and is a groundbreaking fusion of progressive rock and psychedelic soundscapes. This iconic album, known for its conceptual brilliance and sonic innovation, continues to captivate with its introspective lyrics and haunting melodies half a century on and this 50th Anniversary Edition pays homage to the monumental work on some very special vinyl pressings and packaging. With its celestial tapestry of sound and thought-provoking themes, his record is often cited as one you need to hear before you die, and you really do.

Review: Lynn Davis, known for her illustrious career as a backing vocalist and member of George Duke's band, continues her solo journey with 'Beautiful You, her second single. Following the success of her debut release, 'Come Over,' Davis showcases her vocal prowess and sensuality once again in this sophisticated r&b ballad with a touch of jazzy swing. In 'Beautiful You,' Davis sings of recognising the inner and outer beauty in her partner, expressing gratitude for finding someone who surpasses expectations. The song beautifully captures the feeling of discovering that something seemingly too good to be true is, in fact, real. With its soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics, 'Beautiful You' is another standout track from Davis, reaffirming her talent as a solo artist.

Review: Danny Krivit's officially sanctioned re-edits of Earth Wind & Fire's "Brazilian Rhyme" and "Runnin" have been sought-after since they first appeared on a Japan-only 12" back in 2004. In fact, such is demand that even later bootleg pressings now go for silly money online. As this reissue proves, though, they're arguably amongst Krivit's strongest scalpel works. Certainly, his three-minute revision of the always too short "Brazilian Rhyme" teases it out to just the right length, in the process delivering a sweltering, sing-along summer anthem. The flipside revision of the equally as summery "Runnin" is every bit as good, with Krivit making merry with the original's life-affirming scat vocals and killer piano solos.

Review: Unstoppable next-gen junglist Nia Archives presents Silence Is Loud, her forthcoming debut album following an introductory onslaught of bangers such as 'Crowded Roomz'.AIn keeping with the contemporary torch-bearer's take on jungle, Archives' sound is cuter and, dare we say, more original than many Terminator-helmeted old-heads would dare allow themselves. Lead single 'Silence Is Loud' demonstrates this as much, with its expository beat drop marking a return to and cogent awareness of, jungle tekno, with its 4x4 undergird topped up by a floaty trip-hop vocal line, its lyrics evoking city reminiscences and staying afloat in troubled times. Promising both banger delivery and sentiment, Silence Is Loud is poised to pave the way for the very next incarnation jungle.

Review: D Dan is fast becoming a fan favorite in the techno scene, with multiple releases on the high profile Lobster Theremin label. This is the third release on his own label, Summerpup, and the second from himself. 'Rising' is a white knuckle ride of hard techno reminiscent of Ben Sims, Surgeon and Bryan Zentz, while 'Freak' and 'Hide & Seek' are demented storytellers in the science fiction genre. Think Jeff Mills and Axis. For the second side, 'Organic Mechanism' is a percussive and eerie workout for the headstrong. Fans of Tresor, Johannes Heil, Regis, Oliver Ho and the like should feel right at home with these uptempo loops and late 90s sounds.

Notes: Replacement JNP110 stylus with elliptical stylus and aluminium alloy cantilever.

Fits MP110 cartridge.

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Review: The classic 1977 album Aja by Steely Dan gets a deluxe reissue treatment from Analogue Productions, reminding us once more of its stellar jazz-inspired arrangements, complex harmonies, and impeccable composition. Known affectionately as a 'studio is an instrument' album, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were meticulous and uncompromising at the time of its crafting. It's for these reasons alone that Aja remains a masterpiece, in which titles such as Peg, Deacon Blues and Josie resounding again with blues-pop-rocky flair.

Review: This 2024 edition marks the return of Joe Bataan, via the same track that made his name in 2004. Vampi Soul first welcomed the Latin Soul king to the label two decades back, facilitating the release of his 2005 album Call My Name. The pre-release singles for the album were 'Chick-A-Boom' and 'Cycles Of You', packed onto a single 7"; these quickly became DJs' favourites and have thus since remained long out of print. As it was twenty years ago, 'Chick-A-Boom' is a simultaneously upbeat but ghostly track, with Bataan's vocals quadrupling up in a wall of sound while providing the vibe equivalent of a Jackie Chan flick. 'Call My Name', meanwhile, goes heavy on the clavichord and synth whistle, as Bataan revels in a funereal theme, dancing, thundersticking into the great beyond.

Review: The latest Discotech release finds tech house stalwart Jay Tripwire stepping up for a batch of potent party starters. 'Jaybee Loves Old Shit' is precision-tooled workout for those who need a driving beat track laden with bouncy congas and a throbbing bassline. 'For Nathan' lets a little more synth work into the mix with some distant, dubby chords and analogue bleeps, but they're managed carefully. 'The Omen' is where things widen out more with cascading pads and strafing, low-end monosynth action creating a haunting, late-night mood which Alex Arnout jumps on to cast off into swirling, funked up after hours territory.

Review: Gone but never forgotten, The Best Of Amy Winehouse is a poignant testament to the late singer's incomparable talent. This collection curates her most iconic tracks, from the most famous and soulful 'Rehab' to the emotionally raw 'Back to Black.' Winehouse's unique blend of jazz, r&b, and pop is on full display, showcasing her raw vocals and lyrical depth and of course each song is a window into her turbulent life, filled with heartache, addiction, and unbridled passion. Despite her tragic passing, Winehouse's music continues to resonate and this album proves she remains the most influential voices of her generation.

Review: With roots as a backing singer for Stevie Wonder, Wycoff went on to become a soul ambassador throughout the early 80s. This 1982 reissue is one of the best examples of his silky, heartfelt delivery... "Looking Up To You" is a dynamic love song where traces of big 70s production build and build throughout. "(Do You Really Love Me) Tell Me Love", meanwhile, was only ever released as a B-side. Its 80s production counter the dramatics of the A-side with cool synthetic perfection. Reissues don't get much broader in production or sweeter in sound than this.

Review: Late Nite Tuff Guy bursts through RSD 2016 with a hot selection of disco-flavoured house chuggers, and we'd been waiting on a comeback from both the dude and label - all boxes ticked from our side. "Hold Tite" is the perfect summer blazer, all luscious vocals and dripping beats, and "I Don't Like Acid" takes that same soulful spirit but strips the groove right down to a bopping little rhythm that is likely to be enjoyed by both hip-hop and house fans alike. The flip's "One Night In A Disco" is a sample-heavy, string-infused floor-melter, whereas "Shelter Me" goes all balearic and feet-up - the perfect lounge cut.

Review: Lee Morgan's Search For The Land is a soulful exploration of jazz that now gets reissued as part of this classic series son the iconic Blue Note. Released first in 1966, the record showcases Morgan's virtuosity as a trumpeter and composer. With a lineup featuring heavyweights like Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, each track is a journey through intricate melodies and dynamic rhythms. From the exhilarating title track to the introspective 'Melancholee,' Morgan's next level improvisation and emotive phrasing shine throughout. The album's rich textures, buoyant grooves, and evocative solos make it an evergreen gem in the jazz canon and one that captures the essence of Morgan's musical vision with unparalleled depth and allure.

Review: Jazz and punk's best legacies fuse together with this latest collaborative release between The Messthetics and James Brandon. Brandon is a jazz saxophonist and contemporary virtuoso from New York; meanwhile, the Messthetics consist of former Fugazi members - bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty with guitarist Anthony Pirog. Continuing the latter's pegging as a 'jazz punk jam', the focus here is on Brandon's novel sax playing, lent to the Messthetics' cathartic, ultimate punk-riffing focus. All is instrumental, as signalled on the lead single 'Emergence', which finds pure enjoyment in variation around a singular four-by-four bass loop. In the saxophonist's own words: "The Messthetics are friends at this point and collaborating with them over the years has now brought us to another high point of musical bonding and purely unapologetic energy!"

Review: The upcoming collaborative studio album between Liam Gallagher and guitarist John Squire is set to shine a refreshed light on the current state of Britpop. Consisting almost entirely of round-bellied rock, leading the charge is the arresting 'Just Another Rainbow' - here the pair are heard in neat unison, painting a picture of unfazed Gallagher-esque nonchalance in the face of a promised utopia - and 'Mars To Liverpool' - concerning the experience of realising a relationship is over before it's too late. Squire and Gallagher make for an exciting pairing, their synergy fleshed out by the album's stellar, full-bodied mix.

Review: Myedits is back, this time with the ever wonderful Moxy producing some pure dancefloor bait for those who like to mix up classic samples with raw house beats. The A-side takes some turn of the century hip-hop hooks and vocal snatches and layers them over raw, hardcore house drums that are sure to get any party sweating. Track two is no less irresistible - a gorgeous r&b hook plays out over some lush deep house drums with a great sense of swing and silky synth designs. Good fun stuff for sure.

Review: Ou la la, here comes DJ Merci with another EP for which we should be thankful because it's a joyful one packed with feel-good house and disco sounds. 'Shake It' gets things underway with warm chords and cosmic synth work over 90s house beats. 'Sound Of One' offers lung-busting diva vocals and great piano work and 'Step Into My Life' then sinks into a more late night and seductive sound with a jazzy melodic overtone and laid-back beats. 'Rosemary' is the closer and one with another organic percussive sound and louche drums for smooth grooving.

Review: REKAB has been making strong moves in the world of techno with his classic inspired but futuristic blend of melodic techno. The My Future & My Past EP showcases that. 'Soulful Season' opens the album with a magical and traditional Detroit techno sound, featuring playful melodies and ambient touches. Key piano notes impact the tune, setting the tone for the rest of the album. The title track, 'My Future & My Past,' is a robotic funk and techno fusion with a touch of electro. The beautiful melody adds a touch of soul to the track. Side 2 opens with 'Raw Note,' featuring an addictive groove and memorable keys. 'Bad Nights Better Nights' closes the album with a deeper groove, combining UK ambient techno and IDM influences. Overall, Soulful Season is a diverse and engaging album that showcases the artist's range and versatility.

Notes: Latest version of the classic Technics DJ headphones, updating the classic RP-DJ1200 design, which sold more than half a million units in its lifetime. Solid stuff. Popular for a reason.

Supplier notes:
New-Standard EAH-DJ1200 DJ headphones with excellent functionality, furability, and DJ playing performance.

The EAH-DJ1200 is a successor model to the RP-DJ1200, which has sold more than 500,000 units since it was launched in 1996. While inheriting the basic concept of the previous model, the EAH-DJ1200 better meets the needs of today's DJ users, resulting in DJ headphones with more advanced functions, design and sound quality. In addition to ordinary listening, the EAH-DJ1200 provide precise monitoring of the beat even in large-volume sound environments such as those in clubs. The matte finish black colour design also makes it an excellent match for the SL-1200MK7 DJ Turntable.

The newly developed driver uses a 40mm-diameter CCAW voice coil. It achieves clear, detailed sound, and high-durability input (2,500 mW) with no distortion even at high volumes. Also, because the sound is well balanced from low to high ranges, DJ play in high-volume surroundings is not buried in noise and monitoring is comfortable.

The EAH-DJ1200 is a lightweight on-ear type design. The housing is equipped with lockable swiveling mechanisms so the headphones can be used for monitoring with one ear. It adapts to all styles of monitoring by DJs. The headphones can be folded compactly for easy portability and storage.

The detachable cord is easy to clean and maintain. A locking mechanism is provided to prevent accidental detachment of the cord during use. The stretchable coiled cord, coupled with the L-type plug which resists internal wire breakage, enables extra ease of use and high durability. It withstands harsh and intense usage by professional DJs.

Based on the RP-DJ1200, which remained as a long-selling model in the market for more than 20 years, the EAH-DJ1200 sports a contemporary black color scheme for an updated appearance. Armed with high durability and excellent functionality, the EAH-DJ1200 matches perfectly with the SL-1200MK7, which features a matte black finish.

Review: You might think that you could cop a copy of New Order's seminal hit 'Blue Monday' fairly easily and cheaply given its ubiquity over the years. But no, copies in good condition still fetch around 50 quid, so this remastered reissue is well worth a cop. The single's iconic bassline and twitchy synth modulations very much soundtrack a generation, if not an entire youth revolution, but still enliven any dance floor many years later. What's more, the de-humanised vocals will always provide real singalong joy. On the flip is a 'The Beach', which is drenched in echo and reverb and general sonic filth.

Review: The Cowboy Bebop was an anime series that was much loved for its soundtrack albums by Japanese composer and instrumentalist Yoko Kanno and his band the Seatbelts. The sounds were weird and wonderful affairs that made odd connections between seemingly disparate worlds - jazz, rock, J-pop and electronic, often with a curious aesthetic. Just this year, Kanno has returned to soundtracking the series on Netflix so this reissue is sure to connect with fans old and new. It is largely instrumental, with big band pieces next to more ambient passages and extensive alto sax deployment. As far as cult records go, this one is right up there.

Review: The third vinyl release of the year from Blur Records sees three distinguished producers - ColorJaxx, T.Markakis and Manuel Kane - sharing duties, each delivering a track each but with the distinctive, music-centred 'deep house fusion' flavour of the Blur label very much at their heart. ColorJaxx's 'I Know You' kicks off proceedings in upbeat mood, goaded along by a skippy garage beat, some beautiful piano work and arresting male vocals. 'Ain't Like That' by T.Markakis rolls slower and deeper, clouds of warm synth giving it a reassuring, dub feel, while Manuel Kane's 'Funk' boasts a cheery, end-of-evening sparkle with its hypnotic vocal samples and gentle sirens. Quality without pretention whichever way you turn.

Review: Funk, soul and house music courses through the veins of Jamie 3:26 and he always manages to convey that into his irresistible grooves. The best of them come on his own label 326 which is where he arrives now with this new 12" Dancefloor Damage Vol 1. It's a tight affair with just one cut on each side of the wax, starting with 'Maqnifique' which is a steamy, intense disco house stomper with wiry lines and unrelenting grooves. On the flip is a very different vibe - a sunny, flute-led led and jazzy soulful house number with heart-melting chords.

Review: Producer, DJ, and revered collector Marc Davis returns to his Chi-Talo series with a much-anticipated second volume. The Chi-Talo series deals in split EPs; each entry draws on an ultra-rare Chicago house gem and an Italian disco record respectively (one for the A and one for the B), re-working both into an enduring dialectal retelling of each city's contemporaneous come-ups in the 1980s and 90s. This time around, we're met with a reconstruction of 'Bass Construction', first heard on the Italo disco album Crazy Colours by New Sound Quartet (1979). Then comes a wonky, handclapping rendition of The Saucer Planes' 'Straight To The Point', the original of which can hardly be found on the net at all, even now. Both are huge but humble versions, marking out the guidelines for yet more editors to come.