BLAZE レコード& CD

Review: Given that they've been operative since the dawn on garage-house in the mid 1980s, there's plenty of material in the Blaze vaults to remix. Re-activated British label Slip 'N' Slide agrees, hence this EP featuring a quartet of revisions of catalogue cuts. To kick things off, Atjazz delivers a smooth, effortlessly soulful and lightly tech-tinged take on Black Rascals cut 'So In Love', before fellow British deep house star Jimpster drops a tactile, musically detailed and impressively soulful take on 'Wonderland'. Over on side B, DJ Spinna's version of 'How Deep Is Your Love' is a superbly summery soulful house wonder, while Natasha Diggs' version of all-time-classic 'Breathe' sounds like Earth, Wind and Fire jamming with a Latin house band in Blaze's New Jersey studio. Undeniably ace!

Review: The third installment from long serving house institution King Street Sounds offers up a stellar selection of deep house gems that shine on vinyl. Side-1 opens with Danell Dixon's 'Dance Dance' in DJ Pierre's Wild Pitch mix. Its sweeping melody and piano-driven elegance embody the quintessential house vibe, setting a high standard. Following this, Big Moses delivers 'Brighter Days' featuring Kenny Bobien. This extended mix pairs a Sylvester-inspired vocal with a mellow yet uplifting groove, carrying a timeless house message of joy and positivity. Flipping to side two, DJ Pierre's 'Dancin'' takes center stage with a filtered anthem that shows his signature Wild Pitch flair, igniting the dancefloor with energy and style. Blaze's 'Shine' closes things out in the Shelter vocal extended mix. Blending melodic piano, gospel influences and jazzy undertones, it's a laid-back yet upbeat track that exudes warmth and soul. A great taster of this label's undisputed ongoing mastery of the house genre.

Review: Last year, Kiko Navarro unveiled a regularly updated Spotify playlist, entitled TwentyFour, which he uses to showcase his favourote productions, reworks of other artists, an d remixes if his work. That playlist has now spawned the first of what we believe will be an ongoing series of EPs. The long-serving Spanish artist (and Afroterraneo Music founder) begins by showcasing his fine, pleasingly rolling re-edit of Blaze's hybrid soulful house/Earth Wind & Fire style disco classic, 'Breathe', before treating us to a superb, sample-heavy and piano-rich Tucillo remix of his own 'The First Time'. Over on side B, he serves up some bouncy disco-house action ('Jammin' All Night Long', with its female spoken word vocals, jazzy pianos and killer groove) and an authentic-sounding Afrobeat re-make of 'Isao' by DJ Fudge.