REGGIE DOKES レコード& CD

Review: Norm Talley's Upstairs Asylum label only arrived in 2021 but is already up there with the great Motor City imprints. The boss has been busy putting together a trio of new EPs for the first half of 2023 that showcases a wealth of Mid-West talent. House hero Boo Williams kicks off this one with his typically tight drum programming and party-starting synth work on 'Tickin Clock.' Eric Johnson keeps it raw, deep and loopy on 'Melodic Gruv' then Reggie Dokes brings his signature Atlanta house sound to 'Mother's Child' with its melancholic lead sax and 'End of Time' is a broken beat bliss out.

Review: Motor City label Upstairs Asylum celebrates its roots in 313 with this new Dance Detroit EP featuring a wealth of American house innovators. First up, Reggie Dokes and Steve Crawford join forces on 'Fear Of Failure', a house track steeped in Detroit soul. Marvin Prather's 'Until' follows on with his stylish and soul-drenched grooves. Steve Crawford then goes it alone and turns up the drums on his potent 'Let You Go' (feat Tony B) and then get deeply emotional on 'Love Is Here' this time with help from featured artist Anthony Poteat. Prather and then label regular and Atlanta man Reggie Dokes closes down with his 'Not Ready.'

Review: Detroit-born Reggie Dokes brings all of his considerable skills to a new EP on the revered We Play House label out of Belgium. It's another timeless deep house exploration with sublime opener 'No Worries' bringing a contemporary r&b/neo-soul vocal that really tug at the heart over heavy drums. 'Symbiotic' again lays down vast kicks at an inviting mid-tempo and overlays them this time with more trippy vocal fragments and smeared chords. 'Salute To Fela' is a fantastic tribute to the Afro beat king with blasts of trumpet and beatdown drums to die for, then 'Moments In Blackness' grinds out some dusty deep house grooves a la Theo Parrish.