Review: Despite a sizable, high-quality discography that stretches back to 1994, Boo Williams has never been as hyped or celebrated as many of his Chicago deep house peers. Perhaps it's time we gave him some love because the Natural Service EP - his first solo 12" on Chiwax since 2014 - is undeniably excellent. Check first opener 'Ambushed', where twinkling electronics and sumptuous pads ride jackin' drums and a brilliant bassline, before turning your attention to 'Echoes of the Dance', an acid-flecked journey through dreamy, loved-up deep house that's as picturesque as they come. Flipside 'Zone' is even more hypnotic and trance-inducing, sitting somewhere between classic deep house and the techier end of Omar-S's output.
Review: Frankfurt's Chiwax welcomes Italian veteran Stefano Curti aka basiC realitieS to the label. A great artist who has been delivering timeless music since the early '90s under other aliases such as Bio Muse, Running Man and Moody Boyz Vibraphone Productions. Four cuts are featured on the Integrated Love Signals EP: the sublime and Balearic tinged deep house of 'Clouds 2020' and the hypnotising journey of 'Reflections' on the first side. The B-side cuts channel classic Chicago; the emotive 'Bubbly Devil' being very much reminiscent of Larry Heard while the rough and ready jack of 'Multiverse Journey' calls to mind Trax Records.
Review: D'Julz is one of those producers who you can always rely on to do the business. His sounds are made for DJs and dancers - they establish a raw groove then keep you locked without any fads or cheap drops. This latest outing on Chiwax is another gem from the Frenchman with the stripped-back and lo-fi chunky of 'Murky' kicking off before 'Ruff' brings scuffed-up and well-swung drums. 'Jackie' is an old-school sound that nods in the direction of original Chicago house and 'Raw' keeps it deep and tight with a moody bassline and plenty of eerie melodic touches.
Review: The second in D'Julz's rollicking Raw Toolz series brings four 'Out Of Place Artefact's to the contemporary deep house sphere. From 'Big Wag' to 'Lionozed', every track on this dreamatic, diatonic whorl eschews high tones and sibilants for a rigorous, plombing exercise in depth and draught. The sampled, suspended echoes of jazz and piano blues ripple through the extra space thus provided; for those DJs seeking a selection of mid-set sauces, precooked to keep the party pumping, from which to choose without faf, this is your record, courtesy of the longtime French DJ and production artisan.
Review: Black Angus Records founder DJ Soch is no stranger to ChiWax, having made his label debut in October 2023. Curiously, this is the previously prolific producer's first outing on wax since then - and it's a doozy. The four tracks on show are undoubtedly classy, fusing the far-sighted, intergalactic ethos and analogue-rich approach of Motor City dance music with the warm tactility of Italian house and the soulfulness of garage-house. He begins with the rubbery synth bass, loose machine drums and spacey pads of 'Walking To The Beat', before reaching for some vintage soulful vocal samples and oodles of sonic smoothness of the delightful 'Kiss My Baby'. The R&B vocal-sampling 'Lost On My Way' sits somewhere between the two tracks (with added synth-sax solos), while 'Soul Deep' is a breezy, sun-drenched delight.
Review: One of Detroit's finest, Lauren Flax aligns with the Chiwax label for a debut offering of ultra-rough, juking, retrofuturistic daydreams in four tracks. Like a rose blossoming from a thorny stem, this EP starts out raw and slowly fans out into the subtler tricks of multilayering and accoutrement. 'Jack The Haus' is the tweezy, 16-bit hardware jam; then there's 'The Cheeky Whistle Song', which, compared to the first track, betrays a contrasting taste for cascading arps and subtle melodies in the surround mix. 'D-Troit' returns somewhat to the initial Detroit bounce mood, while Lis Sarroca's remix rounds things off with a softer, out-your-face breaks-house beeper.
Review: There is not much more to say about Chicago's Gemini apart from the fact that he was a true house legend who, until recently, remained largely in the deep underground of the city's music, and has inspired a new generation of producers. Sadly, although he's still kicking about somewhere in the States, the man doesn't make music anymore. However, it's difficult to say whether he could have done much more these days, given how futuristic and cutting-edge his music-making was back then, and how fresh and it still sounds today. For these reasons, Germany's Chiwax have reissued a number of his EP's by now, and Shadowlust is the latest in the series. Much like the previous instalments, these four cuts are classic Gemini delivering the pure house magic - from "Log In" to "Motion", the beats are swinging, the chords heavy and pads climactic. If you've copped the other recent reissues then this is a must, if you haven't even heard of Gemini then please do yourself a favour..!
Review: For our money, Felipe Gordon is one of the most underrated house producers out there. He does way more than just club grooves, often offering up lush musical excursions with hints of jazz, soul and much more in the lavish arrangements. Here he showcases his silky skills once more on the Chiwax label with his Seasick Is Better Than Heartsick Baby EP. The title cut is a nice breezy opener with hip-swinging drums and smart chords. 'Like Father, Like Son' has a more late-night feel with a prickly synth lead that tumbles about the mix while 'Mundo Blau' (feat Bob The Egoist) is a percussive jaunt with shuffling beats and raw analogue edges. 'The Doctor' is a crowd-pleaser that is effortlessly groovy and warm.
Review: He may come from noted house stock (his dad being one of the residents at Glasgow's Sub-Club for decades), but Jasper James' continued success has been built on his undoubted qualities as a DJ and producer. The latter is clearly evident on the Glaswegian's first EP for ChiWax, which follows earlier lauded releases for the likes of Steel City Dance Discs and Optimo Trax. He goes for the jugular on opener 'Factor 50', peppering a raw, analogue bassline and sweaty acid house beats with sparkling piano riffs and occasional hands-in-the-air moments, before opting for a more Kerri Chandler-influenced sound on 'NY Fuzz'. 'Lost Trax' is a riff-sporting jack-track that sounds like it could have been made in Chicago in 1988, while 'Webster' is a gorgeous, analogue-rich deep house workout.
Review: Paul Johnson's 'In The Kitchen 95'' reissue brings back one of his most beloved works, originally crafted in 1992 and reimagined in 1995. This red vinyl 12" captures the energy of Chicago house in its purest form. The first side kicks off with 'Come On Children (Remix)', a high-energy funk-driven house track that gets the feet moving. 'Buzz Buzz (Remix)' follows with its warehouse-style house beats, perfectly capturing the raw, underground vibe of the era. 'It's House (Remix)' wraps up the side with addictive minimal techno grooves that emphasise Paul Johnson's signature sound, mixing deep house with elements of techno. The second side continues the momentum with 'Movin Baby', offering a funk-fueled techno journey, while 'I'm A Freak (& Your Girl Is Too)' adds a playful touch with its minimal grooves and vocal samples, reinforcing the sense of fun and freedom inherent to the house music culture. This reissue is a nostalgic reminder of Paul Johnson's influence, blending deep house, funk and minimal techno into a timeless dancefloor experience. Paul sadly passed away in 2021 but it's great to see and hear his legacy live on forever.
Review: The Juno dreams EP is for those smoother out chill-out house sessions on the dancefloor. The title track is a future classic, dreamy, like early 90s Italian ambient house. 'Boxin' With GOD' is melodic and nice while 'Galaxies' is more soulful but still deep. A bit more upbeat and techy you could say. 'Glow' is possibly the most underrated here, lovely track! Overall, the Juno Dreams EP is a solid EP that is sure to please fans of deep house, ambient house and Balearic styled house music. Smooth and cool is the order of the day.
Review: The long-time preservers of house heritage at Chiwax welcome Nacho Marco for more timeless sounds that arrive perfectly for sunny days. Opener 'Cherry On Top' has a nice gentle Balearic feel with vocals off in the distance and supple piano chords in the foreground next to more widescreen synth smears. 'Tequila Sunrise' brings organ lines to the fore with a 90s New York feel while more Balearic energy comes from the lead sax. 'Black Velvet' is more strident and textured for the nighttime club sessions and 'Twinkle' closes with a joyous sense of celebration, old school bass and unbridled piano happiness.
Review: Hardcore trad house devotees Chixwax keep it nostalgic once more here with a new EP from Nacho Marco that ticks all the boxes for party start house without ever getting trite. Each one makes bold use of the celebrated Roland 909 drum machine and so they all come with booming low ends and punchy drums. None more so than the chord laced and bumping opener 'File 1.' 'File 2' brings dreamy pads and soft focus xylophone melodies Roy Ayres would love and ' File 3' taps into a 90s New York sound. 'File 4' brings a low slung and more dubby rhythm topped with Detroit chords.
Review: Italian producer Nu-Cleo continues his ascent with a welcome return to Chiwax, who last put out his Total Control EP back in 2020. Since then the Bari-based Michele Lamacchia has been spotted on Aural Vision, Eat More House, Leisure Records and Pleasant Systems, always bringing a tru-skool attitude to his vision of deep house where things can get crooked and nasty, but never at the expense of the groove. 'Egotrip' is a boxy, chirpy slice of acid house from the Marshall Jefferson playbook, while 'Deep Code' locks into a smouldering garage swing with some techy synths that wouldn't sound out of place on Guidance. 'Acid Excursions' loosens up the nuts and bolts without derailing the soulful jack, and 'Clouds' is a heavy-lidded B2 joint to melt away to, stealing the show as the standout track of the whole EP.
Review: Low-key but high class UK producer Perseuss Traxx always deals in authentic analogue house jams and this outing on Chiwax is another fine entry into his discography. 'Adriatic Influences' is a dusty and mirky cut with corrugated drums and glistening hi hats all run through with a snaking and enacting lead synth thats burried in the mix. 'Aquatic Adventure' has more nimble drums and synth lines that get you on your toes while 'A Different Approach' is a controlled cacophony of raw perc, pinging drums and warped synth chords. Last but not least is 'Remembering Bari' with its swirling pads bring a more heady vibe to another stripped back and rugged groove.
Review: Shacklo doesn't appear on wax too often but when he does it is worth hearing. His latest outing comes on Chiwax and brings some fresh ideas to the world of house and tech. The title cut is a serene seven-minute worst that comes with hints of Balearic magic in the warm retro chords and shuffling drums, gentle whistles and hedonistic vibes. 'How Deep' nods to the dreamy Italo house of the 90s, and 'Summon' has some classic New York chords over stuffing drums and deep bass. This most cuddly and loved-up of EPs closes with the Be Cosmos D style lo-fi sounds of 'Dreem', another blissed-out groover.
Review: The unrelenting amount of music that comes out of the Chiwax camp is astonishing, especially as it is all high-grade stuff that does a fine job in the club. St David brings the heat this time right from the off. 'The Groove Goes On' pairs a classic thumping deep house vibe with some fresh synth sounds and sustained chords that bring the soul. 'Summer Nights Fall layers up some colourful xylophone-style melodies over more sweet cruising beats and 'Tech No Pease' taps into a signature Detroit sound with warm machine sounds and dusty drums working in perfect harmony. 'A Touch Of Jazz' is a noodling closer with exquisite piano keys delicately played next to filtered synths.
Review: Well here's something no one expected from the annals of house music history. Back in 2000 a chance link up took place when Steve Bug invited the legendary Chicago producer Spencer Kincy, aka Gemini, to his studio in Berlin. Two tracks were laid down, and now after all these years they're finally seeing the light of day as Chiwax got the blessing from all relevant parties to press them up for our grooving pleasure. They're crisp, unfussy tracks which are perhaps less wild than a lot of Gemini-related projects, which no doubts speaks to Bug's well-known style, but there's a whole lot of vibe in these cuts whichever way you look at them.
Review: Daniela La Luz is no stranger to Rawax's stable of labels - she's previously released on most of them at different points over the last decade- though Global Transformation marks the first time she's appeared on any of them as Vanilla. The Berlin-based artist sets her stall out with the raw, punchy and occasionally sparkling title track - all woozy keyboard riffs, weighty electro-meets-house beats, tipsy chords and heavy bass - before opting for a deep, druggy, acid-fired and percussively propulsive vibe on 'The Last Window of Time'. Elsewhere, 'Animal Queendom' sees her wrap echoing, dubbed-out and reverb-laden synth riffs around a tough and locked-in beat, while 'All Together' is built around the twin attractions of sturdy, slightly off-kilter machine drums and jazzy electric piano motifs.
Review: Chiwax are back this week with a more than welcome reissue of Wax Fruit's one-and-only release Whispers from 1994. This was one of many aliases sussed by Toronto-based producer Ron Allen, who some of you may know for his seminal work as one half of Psyance (with Hayden Andre Brown) who released on Plus 8, as well as his work under the names Aztech, The Apache Project and The R.A.S.E. The late night mood music of the title track is a true zeitgeist from the period in which it was released, while the looped-up disco sampling deep house of 'Just A Party' or 'Mindgames' over on the flip were equally as trendsetting as anything fellow Torontonians like Nick Holder or DJ Sneak were making at the time.
Review: Gemini's In Neutral has always been regarded as something of a second wave Chicago deep house classic; an album that was celebrated by the heads on its' initial release in 1997, but didn't have the wider impact it probably should have done. Since then, it's been tricky to find on vinyl - unless you're willing to pay inflated online prices, of course - so this licensed reissue from ChiWax is a welcome surprise. In Neutral remains arguably Gemini's best work, and mixes thumping, hypnotic, Detroit techno influenced deep house jams with a smattering of deeper, jazz-flecked downtempo excursions (see "Ahi"). The album also features a sterling chunk of early Chicago boompty in the shape of the superb "?".
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