Back catalogue: All genres

Review: This is a new remix-release by Mothers Favorite Child, a soul-funk collective led by producer and multi-instrumentalist Paris Toon. With the original hearing MFC enlist the vocal lightwork of Portlandian singer Saeeda Wright, now comes a new remix of 'Purple Funk' - the first version was a cleanly produced, ecstatic track, and implictly dedicated to the legacy of one entirely unique musical stalwart and legend - Prince - as well as another friendly face, the late drummer John Blackwell. Now, however, Swedish remix darling Opolopo lends it a daring new spin, leaving much tight, airy headroom between the beats, and plenty of room for suspenseful, floorbound play.

Review: Marc Moulin's long career, establishing him as a pioneering figure in Belgium's music scene, continues its journey on this release, with tracks that weave together his signature blend of smooth jazz and downtempo rhythms. Beginning with the jazz-rock group Placebo in the 70s, Moulin later formed the electro-pop act Telex, which represented Belgium at Eurovision in 1980. As a solo artist, he merged jazz with electronic and downtempo sounds, collaborating with artists like Sparks and Lio. His production, marked by complex instrumentation and atmospheric depth, solidified his reputation as a key figure in both jazz and electronic music. Whether drawing from the cool jazz of the 60s or the laid-back grooves of 90s chillout, Moulin's music transcends genre boundaries. On this album, the music explores a subtle interplay of muted trumpets, congas, and guitars, blending sensual, smoky vocals with a deeply rhythmic pulse. There's an unmistakable touch of classic jazz, reminiscent of legends like Wes Montgomery and George Benson, while the rhythms pull you into a more contemporary space, aligning with the downtempo beats that were popular in the 90s. Tracks like 'Into The Dark' and 'What?' unfold with a breezy yet intricate sense of rhythm, offering both chilled vibes and moments of tension. 'Organ' offers a groove-heavy track, with its jazz roots merging seamlessly with a funk-infused, hypnotic backdrop. The bonus remixes serve as a fresh take on these original compositions. From the midnight mood of 'Organ (Cosmos Midnight Express Remix)' to the deeper house flavour of 'Into The Dark (Karma Fever Reminiscent Step Remix)', these remixes take the core of Moulin's vision and deepen it, offering something for both the jazz enthusiast and the dancefloor. This release crystalises a rich moment in Moulin's career as he updates the familiar jazz and downtempo idioms with the intricate, soulful grooves of funk and electronic experimentation, keeping his sound vital and relevant.

Review: Given that he's a born collaborator, as his vast discography proves, it's perhaps fitting that David Moufang's latest album as Move D is packed to the rafters with killer collaborations. Check, for example, the ultra-deep, woozy and off-kilter "Innit", a superbly dubby and opaque studio hook-up with German rave pioneer D-Man, and the shuffling, intergalactic deep house warmth of Fred P collaboration "Building Bridges". Fittingly, his renowned collaborative projects also feature. There's a wonderfully elastic and out-there dub techno/minimalist track by Reagenz (Moufang and Jonah Sharp AKA Spacetime Continuum) with German veteran Thomas Fehlmann, and a Magic Mountain High (alongside Juju and Jordash) track that takes slow-burn, softly spoken deep house/dub techno fusion and runs with it. As you'd expect, the solo tracks are impeccable, too.

Review: Any new album from deep house pioneer and all-round legend Larry Heard is good news, but especially so when it's credited to his best-known and best-loved alias, Mr Fingers. Around The Sun Pt 1 is Heard's first album under the alias for four years and, unsurprisingly, it's as musically expansive, evocative, and atmospheric as they come. Naturally, it's rooted in the warming, dreamy, subtly jazz-flecked deep house style he's been tweaking and improving over decades, with occasional forays into sun-kissed downtempo grooves ('Touch The Sky'), angular acid tracks, Heard's take on dub house (the deliciously deep, micro-house influenced 'Marrakesh') and summery Balearic house ('Shimmer'). All in all, it's another masterpiece from deep house's most significant pioneer.

Review: It could be argued that Larry Heard's first album as Mr Fingers, 1989's Amnesia, was the first full-length to show the rich musical potential of deep house. It was certainly the greatest house album of its period and remains - as this reissue proves - a timeless classic. Now pressed on three slabs of wax rather than two to make it more DJ-friendly, the set pairs stone cold Mr Fingers classics such as 'Mystery of Love (Dub)', 'Can You Feel It' (presented in its arguably superior instrumental form) and 'Washing Machine', with lesser-celebrated treats such as the breathlessly jacking and percussive 'Slam Dance', the lusciousl;y kaleidoscopic 'Stars' and the early morning delight that is 'For So Long'. It's an album every house head needs in their life.

Review: If you dig deep house - hell, electronic music full stop - then you should be rather excited by the arrival of Cerebral Hemispheres, the first Mr Fingers album for 26 years, and the first of any kind by Larry Heard since 2003. As you'd expect, the album is exceptionally good, with Heard's famous musicality and fluid keys-work coming to the fore throughout. While rooted in melodious, huggable deep house, Heard naturally uses the opportunity to veer off in the myriad of different directions, touching on jazz, dub, downtempo grooves, soul, samba, tech-soul, deep acid house and much more besides. It has the feel of a genuine future classic and could well be his strongest album to date. Given his track record, that's a bold claim, but Cerebral Hemispheres really is that good.

Review: Larry Heard once said that he stumped upon his trademark dusty deep house sound rather by mistake - he was simply trying to recreate the instrumental disco of his childhood on the limited machinery he had available at the time. Either way, he went on to explore and exploit its most spiritual and spine-tinging aspects across a faultless discography that often looks to the cosmos for inspiration. That is true of this second volume of his Around The Sun album on his own Alleviated Records. It's another fine showcase of Chicago house, deep house, jazz and r&b that is utterly timeless.

Review: During the late 1990s, Japanese producer Yuji Takanouchi produced a trio of sublime EPs, most of which went largely overlooked at the time. He surprisingly returned to action a few years ago with a handful of similarly dreamy, loved-up productions, prompting R&S offshoot Apollo Records - who famously released his peerless ambient house 12", Southern Paradise, in 1997 - to put together this superb compilation. The genius of his productions, whether dancefloor leaning or more horizontal in ethos, always lay in the hazy colourfulness of his synthesizer melodies and life-affirming chord progressions. It's those traits, coupled with his firm grasp of deep house and intelligent techno aesthetics, which shine through on Brand New Day. "Pacific Jazz", "Nite" and "Ocean In Heaven", in particular, are stunning.

Review: On Curve 1, Mura Masa takes a detour from pop-infused collaborations and returns to his roots with a record steeped in the spirit of club culture. Released on his own Pond Recordings, this fourth album is a statement of independence, reflecting both a shift in direction and a rejection of the narrative-heavy, hyper-commercialised approach that has often surrounded modern music releases. Curve 1 is enigmatic, playful, and ambiguousidesigned to resonate in both solitary listening sessions and the intensity of packed, sweat-drenched dancefloors. Mura Masa describes the album as a manifestation of a personal philosophy: to ignore the noise of the attention economy and focus on what truly matters. In this light, Curve 1 becomes more than an albumiit's an invitation for listeners to strip away preconceptions and find their own meaning within its layers. Tracks bounce between euphoric highs and introspective moments, leaving plenty of space for tension and release. With the launch of his own label and creative space in Peckham, Mura Masa continues to position himself at the heart of youth culture, pushing boundaries and fostering new talent. Curve 1 marks the beginning of this new chapter, full of possibilities and free from convention.

Review: Following their acclaimed debut album Sugar Honey Iced Tea!, NYC duo Musclecars aka Craig Handfield and Brandon Weems are back with a double pack of alternate versions and remixes featuring house legends Louie Vega and Maurice Fulton. Vega reworks 'Tonight' with orchestral flair and festival-ready dub versions including the NV South Jersey Mix and his Bronx Dub. Maurice Fulton's remix of 'Hello?' blends his signature live bass and punchy percussion to add a whimsical touch to the introspective original. The pack also includes stripped-down versions of 'Ha Ya! (Eternal Life)' and 'Water' plus a full side of Musclecars' 'I Don't Remember The Last Time I Saw Stars.'

Review: Sugar Honey Iced Tea! is the highly anticipated debut album from Musclecars, comprised of Brandon Weems and Craig Handfield, delving deep into the Afro-American experience. With 13 tracks that span themes of joy, loss, intimacy, perseverance and more, Musclecars craft a profound narrative that captures the nuances of daily life in native New York. From the exploration of Afro-dystopia to moments of self-discovery and self-preservation, the album offers a rich blend of sound that resonates with authenticity, emotion, and rhythm. It's a musical adventure to throw yourself in and get lost in the essence of the urban experience, crafted with intentionality, depth and a touch of magic.

Review: The rhythms of this new LP from Musta are so loose and jangly their likely to shake your bones free from your own skeleton. They are part disco, part house, part tribal in make-up but the results are entirely new - ritualistic dances for late night sermons. The opener might be the best of the lot as 'Tamburi Parlanti' pairs lumpy drums and rugged guitar riffs with rising synth magic a la Theo Parrish. 'Timido' is another steamy bit of body music from deep in a humid jungle and that continues with 'Where Is Juanito'. The flipside is every bit as joyful, with spiritual Afro sounds and beatdown making for a vibrant and varied EP.

Review: Theo Parrish and Maurissa Rose are Detroit musical veterans (even though Parrish was actually born in Chicago) and they have worked together on a number of superb singles in the last few years. After that fruitful start to their working relationship they finally flourish into a new full length that arrives soon in the form of Free Myself, It arrives, as you would expect, on triple vinyl on Parrish's own Sound Signature label, but also here as a CD. It is a lovely deep house exploration with smooth vocals of Rose - which come in the form of a soulful stream of consciousness - over Parrish's dusty, hypotonic beats.

Review: Hard to define, rule breaking and game-changing producer Theo Parrish is back with another of his challenging and superlative albums. This one - which naturally arrives on his own Sound Signature label - is a collaboration with Maurissa Rose that true sooth the soul. It s full of his usual deadly grooves, shamanistic percussive layers and jazz energies with plenty of his famous luscious, meditative loops. Add in the smooth vocals of Rose - which come in the form of a soulful stream of consciousness - and you have yet another unique album from this true maverick of the form.

Review: Theo Parrish is giving his new album with Maurissa Rose the full treatment - serving it up on his preferred vinyl, but also as a CD and here a cassette on his own label Sound Signature. It is a complete coming together of these two revered Detroit musical talents following a string of great singles with one another since 2019. As you can expect, the grooves are dusty, complex and rooted in house but with plenty of influences from soul, funk and jazz. The vocals from Rose are as smooth as you like and take the form of soulful streams of consciousness. Utterly vital.

Review: Truth Manifest Records release an LP by their very own head honchos here. Badriyyah Wazeerud Din and Malik Aston are the respective CEO and COO of the label, but don't let the necessary evil of corporate-speak distract you. The pair's main craft is putting a contemporary sheen on funk, combining the sound with elements of gospel, not to mention putting their back into competition-ousting vocal performances and swung harmonies. Theirs is an undeniably Detroit-endemic sound, sure to not just impress, but light soul-fires.