Back catalogue: Deep House

Review: After spending the majority of his 20-plus-year career flitting between the Kompakt and Coneme labels, Matias Aguayo makes a rare outing on another label - a delayed debut for Matt 'Radio Slave' Edwards' REKIDS imprint. In its' original form (side A), 'El Internet' is a typically off-kilter affair in which his own poetic, spoken word vocals (in Chilean, of course) and fuzzy, elongated synth sounds ride a beefy but wonky bassline and the long-serving producer's usual South American-tinged, hand percussion-enhanced hybrid house/techno grooves. It comes accompanied by a vocal-free instrumental mix, where the full breadth and depth of Aguayo's production can be heard, and a useful acapella DJ tool.

Review: Sean Johnston's releases have been relatively few and far between in recent years, with one EP a year appearing on average. His first missive of 2024 may or may not be his last of the year, but it's well worth your attention. Appearing on Matt Edwards' admirable Rekids imprint and featuring lead vocals by Beth Cassidy, 'Murky' expertly blurs the boundary between dark disco, moody mid-tempo house and melody-rich nu-disco - all growling bass guitar, sparkling synth sounds, nostalgic piano solos and loose-limbed beats. Richard Norris and Erol Alkan provide a typically impressive Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve 're-animation', channelling the spirit of their classic Franz Ferdinand rework of the 2000s, before Coral Way delivers a deliciously dark, moody and tactile dancefloor dub.

Review: Matt Edwards's label Rekids continues to do a brilliant job of curating innovative and interesting techno sounds that work in the club but never lack character. This time it looks to Hilit Kolet who kicks off with 'Snap Talk' (feat Kameelah Waheed) - it's a buoyant and bass-heavy bit of bouncing techno with chattery claps and Afro rhythms. On the flip side, 'Gate 33' is another bold club sound with great vocals worked into the busy broken beats as a peppering of percussion up top adds further layers of rhythm. Both of these will make a real mark in any set.

Review: Moodena and Charles Levine join forces on Rekids with their track 'Badman', all set to blow up your spot this winter. The vocal mix kicks off with high-energy big room drums, classic house strings, an infectious bassline, and playful telephone samples while Cratebug's remix transforms it into a hypnotic after-hours cut that emphasises dub echoes while retaining the original's essence. On the B-side, Radio Slave reimagines 'Badman' with a low-slung vibe that blends trippy sounds and vocal traces. The EP also includes a dub version that forgoes the original vocals but keeps the classy house heat.

Review: Two Balearic musicians with no relation beyond chemistry, Kiko Navarro and Pere Navarro debut as a duo with three tracks that stitch together house and jazz with an intuitive ease. Kiko's Mallorca-honed sense of deep, groove-led house is given new colour by Pere's nimble trumpet work, rooted in his training and practice across Ibiza's jazz and club scenes. 'Byrd's Groove' opens with dusty swing, its crisp drum programming softened by Pere's sunny phrasing and melodic asides. 'Keepn On Loving Me' is the standout, built on a chunky low-end and looped vocal that moves like classic New Jersey house, with trumpet lines that smoulder and lift. 'Blown Flow' closes on a dubbier, more headsy tip i less peak-time, more sunrise session i giving a stylish finish to an impressively coherent first outing.

Review: For his first outing of 2025, Matt Edwards AKA Radio Slave has joined forces with vocalist Kameelah Waheed, a singer who has previously appeared on a number of singles on the long-serving producer's popular REKIDS imprint. In its' original 'Extended Mix' form, 'All Rize' is prime Radio Slave - think long, elongated, dark, mesmerising and mind-altering with all manner of raw, razor-sharp electronic noises and doom-laden motifs rising above a booming bassline and snappy drums. Edwards has included a fine alternative take in the shape of the 'Revolution Mix', a warmer, dreamier and jazzier interpretation that's looser and more akin to classic house of the 90s and early 200s, and a trio of DJ tools (a 'Beats' cut, a short suite of effects, and an acapella of Waheed's fine vocal).

Review: House music legend Harry Romero, a man who's soundtracked countless late nights and sweaty dancefloors, makes his Rekids debut with a two-track EP that's as timeless as it is energetic. 'Nice To Meet You' is a masterclass in classic New York house, its hypnotic groove and raw low-end providing the perfect foundation for Romero's signature blend of infectious rhythms and soulful melodies. The title track is a standout, its bold kazoo melody and hypnotic breakdowns a testament to Romero's ability to craft tracks that are both instantly recognizable and utterly unique. But the EP doesn't stop there; 'Danny's Groove' is a high-energy affair, its layered rhythms and catchy whistle melody creating a sense of joyous abandon that's impossible to resist. This is house music at its finest, a reminder that sometimes all you need is a killer groove and a touch of soulful magic to ignite the dancefloor.

Review: After two decades of label-hopping, Mickael Nordgren AKA Tiger Stripes appears to have found a new home on Radio Slave's REKIDS imprint. Dance For Peace is the Swedish house producer's third 12" for the Berlin-based label in less than 12 months, following the excellent 'I Heard It Through The Bassline' and 'All Night Long'. As you'd expect, there's plenty of playable, peak-time ready material on show, starting with the low-slung, non-stop sweatiness of 'Time For Peace', where hooky electric piano licks and echoing spoken word snippets ride a heavy bassline and energy-packed drums. He opts for a sort of DJ Sneak-goes-darkroom flex on driving loop jam 'Rockin', before channelling the spirit of mid-90s early morning garage-house on 'The Street'. To round things off, Norgren offers up the swinging, soul-flecked warmth of 'A Dance'.

Review: Tiger Stripes makes his debut on Matt Edwards' Rekids label with the I Heard It Through The Bassline EP, a two-track release that highlights his refined production skills. The title song has a deeply infectious bassline that drives the rhythm, blending seamlessly with tight house grooves and sophisticated gospel vocals. This track sets a compelling tone with its irresistible energy. On the flip side, 'Everybody's Doing It' offers a more subdued vibe, characterised by its stylish, low-slung groove. The track evokes the atmosphere of a dim-lit club or a contemplative late-night drive through the city, making it perfect for those introspective moments on the dancefloor. As the founder of the Strange Idols label, Tiger Stripes has been a significant force in the underground music scene since the early 2000s. With collaborations alongside artists like Kerri Chandler and Jerome Sydenham, and releases on labels like Hot Creations and Get Physical, his latest EP on Rekids further shows his talents.

Review: After recently singing to Ministry of Sound, Wh0 - Robert Chetcuti, formerly of Rhythm Masters- continues his ascension in the dance music world with a 12" for esteemed label, Rekids. The original mix is a polished club weapon that blends sensual grooves with deeper house textures. Wh0's ability to layer catchy vocal hooks with finely tuned production helps the overall sound and the intricate changes. With over 30 singles to his credit in less than a decade, he keep the volume up as well as the quality. Adding firepower to the release is the remix from Catz 'n Dogz, who take the original into more intense techno territory. Their rework simmers with suspense before breaking into a charged, kinetic drop. Where Wh0's version leans into flirtation and bounce, Catz 'n Dogz opt for a tougher, warehouse edge. Together, these two versions provide a versatile one-two punch for DJs.