Deep House Recommendations February 2010

Review: Running Back Records chief Gerd Janson has decided to revive a piece of dance history by reissuing Heaven & Earth's classic 1995 house offering. Back then, producers Luke Solomon, Rob Mello and Zaki D teamed to form a collective known as Heaven & Earth. Paying homage to their favourite label, Prescription Records who were putting out the deep, acid house that they loved from owners Chez Damier and Ron Trent, the trio collaborated on two original tracks - the now legendary "A Space and Time" and "Prescription Every Night".

The release blew up, turning the three London producers into household names overnight. - so much so that collective pronged off into their own solo careers. Such has been the demand for each, that a remix of "Beau Mot Plage" and Red Nail's "I Think of You" are the only times that they worked together again.

Fifteen years later, Gerd Janson secured the rights to re-issue the release and even loaded the EP with a couple of note worthy additions to entice record collectors to pick up a copy even if the original sits proudly in their record box. An unreleased edit of "Space and Time", where the piano takes on a more dubby feel, is joined by the disco tinged "Prescription Every Night", immortalized in Carl Craig's infamous 1995 Essential Mix.

This re-mastered and re-shaped EP is an original slice of the disco-house sound that has become so fashionable of late. As dance culture becomes more and more reflective, it is testament to the classic early tracks that inspired a generation that they are picked up again fifteen years later and re-issued for a new generation to treasure and cherish

Review: Switzerland based label Drumpoet Community is grabbing the attention of the deep house world at the moment, following a string of impressive releases. Next up is the Zurich based duo, Azuni, whose "Here You Come EP" stands as a clear example of why the label is enjoying so much success lately.

Gianni Siravo and Sven Lacoste have both been around individually for some time. However, it is as the joined force of Azuni that they have enjoyed the most recognition. 2008's debut album, City Look, released on Agnès' Sthlmaudio imprint introduced the duo to the house world in style. Now, their debut release on Drumpoet Community is looking to propel them further into the limelight with two big, groovy tracks of Detroit influenced house that are stripped down to the max.

"Here You Come" sees simple and pumping grooves build from the ever present riff. It twists and turns in hypnotic fashion, with swirling melodies cushioned by warm synthesizer pads. The hushed vocal takes you straight back inside the warehouses of early days of Detroit, completing that authentic old school sound that resides throughout this record. "Believe's" vocal is from a similar vein. At first it stabs away in disjointed fashion, but as the track builds it develops into full lines of speech. The track is a slower, jacking number, once again built around a simple riff. The two note organ motif keeps the simplicity and the deep kick drum adds the bumping house sound that lends itself to the earlier part of the night where the dancefloor begins to build nicely.

As Drumpoet Community's reputation for quality house continues to grow, so too does Azuni's production talents. If the "Here You Come EP" is anything to go by, we can be sure that there is plenty more to come from both label and artist.

Review: Known as someone who can masterfully combine electronic styles with organic sounds, Rainer Truby has done enough in his career to ensure a legend's status. These three tracks, co-produced with Motor City Drum Ensemble, won't hurt his awesome rep one bit. "Livin In The Music" sees former 4Hero and Bugz In The Attic vocalist Vanessa Freeman add some inspiring and Gospel-touched vocals to a breathless Rhodes-anchored beauty. Latin flavour bursts out of second track "Es Lo Que Pasa", while Hirtenruf slows things down a little and goes deeper than Ron Jeremy.