DJ AAKMAEL レコード& CD

Review: Through a wide selection of releases on his own UnXpozd Entertainment, DJ Aakmael has truly established his place within the house scene, and his own sound, too. The man deals in a very specific sort of deep house filled with jazzy elements, much like the one championed by the likes of Fred P or Patrice Scott. Here, on the People Earth imprint, we are graced by the deep and chimerical synth work of "Izza" on the A-side, while "Untitled 116" on the back of the wax contains an air of disco, but one that's been warped and messed with good and proper; "Spreadsmoluv" is a heads-down house lover with an insanely hummable vocal flex. YES.

Review: House with an extra dose of crispy high-end from DJ Aakmael, who has haunted the saucier ends of the Chicago house scene since the mid 1990s. Aakmael is a mysterious entity, and can be ghost-spotted behind any solid pair of decks on a rainy night. 'Deep Cookie' harkens after a forgotten platonic form of house, in which East Asian synths and 808 claps collide compellingly. Meanwhile, '4ever' rounds off the B-side; it's a diggers' delight with a near-UK feel and mystical vocals and sax, recalling recent tunes this side of the pond by Ben Hauke.

Review: Sloth Boogie has scored something of a coup in signing this EP from DJ Aakmael (real name Greg Stewart), whose track record of producing ultra-deep, high calibre fare makes him one of the most lauded house producers of the last decade. There's naturally plenty to savour across the EP's four tracks, from the languid, laidback shuffle of 'Hardbody' - all mazy, eyes-closed synth solos, warming riffs, dreamy chords and Theo Parrish style deep house beats - to the hazy, Omar-S-esque 'Deepshyt' and jaunty, quietly celebratory 'Strobe'. Our pick of an incredible strong bunch is 'Track 166', if only for the quality of the jazzy piano solos that sit atop Stewart's woozy chords and locked-in beats.

Review: Deep Inspiration Show Records is a label out of Bielefeld, Germany with a focus on underground house music by artists with passion and soul from all over the world. Family Things Vol.4 - The Final Chapter features four artists providing a wide selection of moods and grooves. The ever reliable DJ Aakmael serves up his trademark style of deepness on 'Lakes', Barce gets that soulful and emotive Detroit sound going on with 'Universal Sound' and the Soul Renegades get seriously slo-mo (and lo-slung!) on 'Vibrations'. Finally, Allstarr Motomusic proves you can make a dope beat deep on the sensual 'I Care' (Radio Edit).