Funky House Recommendations Best Of 2017

Review: Belgian producer Krewcial is one of those producers who flits in and out of activity, and has done so since the mid 90s. Lumberjacks In Hell have called upon this slippery character to lay down some righteous grooves for their latest missive, and the results are sublime. "2U" is funky house how it should be done, all stomping drums, dreamy pads and soulful licks for the party people in the place. "Heal" takes a more edited approach, holding back the bass for the ultimate dancefloor payoff. "Hit Me Off" ramps up the jazzy keys for a Detroit flavoured looped up throwdown, and then "The Session" fires off one last sumptuous rip through peak time perfection.

Review: "I Choose You" was initially featured on Foreign Land, the debut album from gospel-soul trio 3 Winans Brothers. Two years on, Louie Vega has decided to give it the remix treatment, serving up four versions across two slabs of wax. He begins with the Dance Ritual Mix, where the trio's smooth vocals - and the impassioned backing singing of Karen Clarke Sheard - ride a shuffling, Latin-influenced house groove. The Mid Tempo Mix offers a musically richer, groovier interpretation, while the Dub focuses more on Clarke Sheard's diva style vocalizing, jazzy piano solos, and Vega's tasty, floor-friendly beats. Speaking of solos, the Masters of Work man cannily brings them to the fore on the closing Axel Solo Mid Tempo Mix.

Review: It's all going on for Cervo at the moment. Having just launched the Banana Hill label with an excellent record from Majid Bekkas (that he also did an edit for), the UK-based producer has now been snapped up by Marcel Vogel's Lumberjacks In Hell label to drop more of his worldly edit science. "On Rhythm" leads the charge with confidence on the A-side, using a bubbling, Afro-infused disco-funk source and making it lean and mean for the floor. There's a distinctly Nigerian lilt to the guitars that cluck away through "Dancing Dream", but it's accompanied by bright chiming chords and a solid beat that will stand up to any contemporary house jam. "Banku" is even more explicitly modern, although still layered up with gorgeous vocals and percussion from Africa.

Review: "Heaven Knows" was first featured on Louie Vega's expansive triple album of collaborations, Louie Vega Starring... XXVIII. Here, it gets the remix treatment. On the A-side, the Masters at Work man joins forces with Hajime Yoshizawa to deliver a largely instrumental, Afrobeat inspired take full of layered hand-held percussion, undulating grooves, and the latter producer's killer organ solos. On the flip, Blaze's Josh Milan provides a honeyed, effortlessly soulful interpretation that places Anane Vega's delicious vocals at the heart of proceedings. While it lacks a little of the hustling energy of the A-side, it will no doubt go down a treat at clubs that like it soulful.

Review: Emotional Rescue's love affair with Dancefloor Records continues apace as they turn their attention to the staggeringly futuristic freestyle of Shavonne. Like much dance music of the era, Shavonne was something of a shortlived talent, but the production on "So, Tell Me, Tell Me" is next level for the original release date of 1989. On the "Clubhouse Mix" there are all kinds of classic rave samples knocking about in the mix while the "Trance Mix" pares things down to a sensual core, but it's in fact the bombast of the original "Vocal Mix" that really catches the ear. With it's pitched up vocals and nimble 808 beat programming it could easily align with Rustie and the like.

Review: BBE celebrate Ziggy Funk & Neil Pierce's unstoppable Rhemi project by stamping three of their finest to vinyl for the first time. Classic, undiluted soulful house with big juicy grooves, sparkling melodies and surging vocals, Rhemi reflect the real house spirit from the lavish bass runs of "Mask Off" the roomy hypno-sophistication of "Stepping Out (Dub)" and the emphatic sing-along feel-good sparkle session "Diamonds". If you're already aware of the Rhemi phenomenon then we don't need to tell you how great it is to see these on wax!

Review: Having previously proved his production credentials via a series of fine 12" singles fusing synth-heavy boogie sounds and tactile house grooves, Z Records regular Opolopo has decided to throw himself headfirst into the disco re-edit scene. For the first release on Version Galore, the Stockholm-based producer serves up two killer interpretations destined for peak-time plays. On the A-side you'll find "Go Get It", a brilliantly bumping and groovy re-arrangement of a punchy, horn-heavy disco funk jam that makes much of the original's winding synth solos and jazzy backing vocals. Arguably even better is heavy disco B-side "American Promise", where crunchy, Hendrix style guitar riffs and urgent female vocals ride a guttural disco-funk groove.

Review: Finn Casey and Thomas L aka Silk 86 team up with Blamma! Blamma! which coincidentally features Casey in conjunction with Brooklynite Nick DC and they all run new imprint Emotive together: this being their third release for the imprint. "Your Lovin" is a loopy disco edit sure to make them work up a sweat on the dancefloor with its funky bassline and sexy vocals. On the flip, "That Flow" follows in suit, going deeper into the night with its wild sax solo, life affirming dialogue and all round strong groove.