Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Multi-artist EPs have all been all the rage of late, though few can boast quite as strong a line-up of artists as this one from dependable French deep house label Phongramme. It begins with a gorgeous chunk of detail-heavy, sun-splashed electronic deep house brilliance courtesy of Abacus (an artist whose discography also contains outings on Prescription, Innermood and NDATL Muzik) and ends with a vibraphone-solo sporting shuffler from the effervescent Byron The Aquarius and Computer Jay ('When The Freaks Come Out'). Sandwiched in between you'll find two more must-have workouts: the bumpin', brilliant and spiritually uplifting 'States of Motion' by Fred P, and a typically dusty, jazzy and warming number by Colombian hero Felipe Gordon ('The Gordon Way').

Review: Now under new ownership (international dance music powerhouse Armada Music, fact fans), long-serving New York house imprint King Street Sounds is doing a good job in showcasing gems from its vast archives. This second label sampler contains four more genuine must-have cuts. First up, there's a chance to admire the deep, soulful house wonder that is Dennis Ferrer's 2008 hook-up with honeyed vocalist K.T. Brooks, 'How Do I Let Go'. It's followed by Masters at Work's deliciously loose, disco-influenced deep house revision of 'Give It Up' by Lil' Louis' Rain project (first released in 2000), Mood II Swing's DIY Soundsystem favourite 'Sunlight In My Eyes' (easily one of the greatest deep house jams of all time) and Lil' Louis's swinging garage-house rub of Kimra Lovelace's 'Misery'.

Review: One of Detroit's finest, Lauren Flax aligns with the Chiwax label for a debut offering of ultra-rough, juking, retrofuturistic daydreams in four tracks. Like a rose blossoming from a thorny stem, this EP starts out raw and slowly fans out into the subtler tricks of multilayering and accoutrement. 'Jack The Haus' is the tweezy, 16-bit hardware jam; then there's 'The Cheeky Whistle Song', which, compared to the first track, betrays a contrasting taste for cascading arps and subtle melodies in the surround mix. 'D-Troit' returns somewhat to the initial Detroit bounce mood, while Lis Sarroca's remix rounds things off with a softer, out-your-face breaks-house beeper.

Review: Classic Music Company welcomes a real legend to their ranks in the form of Detroit innovator Robert Hood under his Floorplan guise, which has more recently also included his daughter Lyric. The line-up may have expanded, but the sound remains the same - uplifting gospel house with a very real sense of spirit. 'Right There' has dusty hi hat ringlets and warm organ stabs over an endlessly shuffling beat that will get clubs in raptures. 'Holy Ghost' then gets a little more bouncy with lively chords and clipped vocal yelps bringing the energy.

Review: Frank and Tony's remix EP for their Ethos album on Scissor & Thread is an example of their excellent collaboration history and the depth of their musicality. The EP features a stellar lineup of artists reimagining tracks from the album, adding new dimensions to the original compositions. Charles Webster's remix brings his signature moody and atmospheric touch, revealing hidden layers in the track.Timmy Regisford's remix of 'Olympia' is a hypnotic journey, displaying his legendary status in the New York scene. His instrumental version of the track further highlights his ability to score uplifting house music. C.K's rework of 'By The End They Will' injects a raw and energetic feel, while Octo Octa's remix delves into deep, rave-inspired territory while maintaining the essence of the original. Overall, the remix EP is a diverse collection of talented producers that express their versions of the originals.

Review: No one does deep house deeper than Fred P, the New York don who manages to make some of the most immersive and humid yet always dynamic and spiritual sounds in the genre. Most of it comes on his own labels and Private Society is one of them. This new offering is another spin tingling journey into his insular and awe-inspiring world of swirling pads and bottomless drum depths, lightly sprinkled with percussion and always heavy on intersection. 'Uplifted Vibes' show this jazzier and more musical side while 'Smooth & Real' has a playful funky to it after the A-side explores his most signature styles.

Review: Fred P continues to be a prolific driving force in deep house, with his own Private Society label carrying a huge amount of his work these days. On this latest single he maintains one of his other close working relationships with Parisian institution Synchrophone, delivering three cuts of his refined, endlessly immersive music. 'Dance Of Rhythms' is a driving, sharply defined cut with a lot of action occurring in the lower register while the higher frequencies have acres of space to stretch out in, all the better to keep your head mellow while the hips sway. 'The Beauty In The Sound' is a more pattering affair and 'Vibe Science' favours a nagging drum pattern which nods towards jazz funk as much as techno. This is quintessential Fred P mastery, through and through.

Review: Fresh from delivering a fine album of drone and ambient excursions on his own Private Society imprint - the inspired Message To The Universe - Fred Peterkin returns to the dancefloor via a surprise outing on Synchrophone. As usual, what's on offer brilliantly blends deep house rhythms and textures with the kind of more spacey and dubbed-out elements more often heard in Detroit techno and hypnotic tech-house. A-side 'The Sound Exchange' is particularly potent, with Peterkin wrapping a typically tough-but-tactile groove in ghostly chords, hand percussion hits and echoing synth riffs. Over on side B, 'The Sonic Tour' is a brighter and more colourful riff on a similar sonic blueprint - albeit with deeper, heavier sub-bass and sustained synth strings - while 'The Kingdom' pairs a thickset groove with sweeping strings and twinkling pianos.

Review: After kicking off the year with the stellar MoBlack Gold Vol. 2 VA, Mimmo Falcone's label does it again with a crucial cluster of spiritually charged, Afro-rooted house jams from on-point producers. This 12" kicks off with Manoo's remix of KingSfiso, creating a delicate, melancholic trip out of 'Ilanga' with Mbuso Khoza's vocals front and centre. David Moralez gets seriously deep into the groove with his Red Zone mix of Sound's Good Inc's 'Masen'hamba'. FNX Omar offer up a brooding cut driven by organic tones on 'Ghomari', and Re You & Soheil bring a more electronic palette to bear on their own Afro-house throwdown, 'Mapawani'.

Review: It's another family affair over at New York City's Razor N Tape label. For this edition, they have tapped the ever reliable Israeli indie-dance heroes Red Axes for a euphoric rendition of Nenor's 'Do You Remember' (feat Jenny Penkin) making for proper Balearic vibes, while the one-and-only Boo Williams delivers another ultra-deep house journey in the form of 'Besty Smith'. Over on the flip, we see the return of New Zealand-based producer Frank Booker who hands in the late night mood music of 'Time Won't Tell' followed by Peter Matson with a slinky and neon-lit rework of label chief JKriv's 'Something Else'.

Review: The 4CD box set of First Choice's essential recordings for Salsoul's Gold Mind imprint is here for the disco, soul and pop fan. This collection spans 45 tracks, including expanded editions of their three full-length albums and a specially curated fourth disc with remixes and re-imaginings. Newly remastered by Nick Robbins, the set highlights key tracks such as 'Doctor Love', 'Let No Man Put Asunder', 'Double Cross', and 'Love Thang', which became seminal dancefloor anthems in the late 70s. Early hits like 'Armed And Extremely Dangerous' and 'Smarty Pants' paved the way for their influential contributions to disco, and the set captures the essence of their impact. The collection features productions from notable names including Norman Harris, Ron Kersey, and Tom Moulton, alongside mixes by prominent remixers like Frankie Knuckles and Shep Pettibone. Included is a deluxe booklet designed by Roger Williams, featuring detailed liner notes by Craig Seymour, a 2024 interview with original member Rochelle Fleming, and essays from reissue producers Tim Dillinger and Joe Marchese. This comprehensive set celebrates First Choice's legacy and their extensive influence on dance music.

Review: Here's something guaranteed to ensure a rush of excitement in deep house heads everywhere: a brand new album from much-loved U.S producer Fred P. It's the first under the previously unused F.P-Oner alias, and his first studio outing since 2013's Black Jazz Chronicles set, Codes & Metaphors. Unsurprisingly, the simply titled 5 is as inspired, sumptuous and melodious as you'd expect, with gentle dub house, jazz and - in the case of the wonderful "Infinite Love" - Detroit techno influences. While much of the album is slinky, sensual and ultra-deep (see the fabulous "Visions of You" and "Sleepless in Shibuku"), there are a couple of thrillingly percussive moments to get the pulse racing, including the African-influenced tribal workout "The Realm of Possibility".

Review: Frankie Knuckles, revered as 'The Godfather of House,' revolutionized music globally from Chicago's underground scene. His legacy, spanning almost four decades, continues through longtime collaborator Eric Kupper. Together as Director's Cut since 2011, they revived classics for modern dancefloors, honoring the 'Def Mix' sound. Their work includes reworks of Marshall Jefferson, Ashford & Simpson, and Frankie's originals, culminating in 'The Directors Cut Collection' on SoSure Music. Featuring hits like 'Your Love' and 'The Whistle Song,' the album commemorates Frankie's fifth anniversary, supported by The Frankie Knuckles Foundation. Eric Kupper's stewardship ensures Frankie's influence endures, shaping the future of house music.