Back catalogue: Deep House

Review: Deep Bulgarian bass delivered on Kelpe's Drut, Migration Pads takes us on a sonic sojourn through some of the dreamier pastures of modern day electronic music. Working neatly as a consistent whole and as a collection of dancefloor ticklers, 1000 Names have maintained a great balance throughout as we're treated to gems like the slo-mo juke joint "Another Beaten Sunday", the cosmic eyelash flutters of downtempo disco cut "Enter Jules Verne", the sludgy, far-out two-step of "Hand-Me-Down-Brain" and the life-affirming rusty-synth chord blasts on "Streets".

Review: Tadd Mullinix's Michigan-based label Bopside returns with its most ambitious project yet, a debut album from his and D'Marc Cantu's brilliant 2AMFM project. This eponymous album has been a long time coming with 2AM FM responsible for some crucial 12" cuts on labels like Creme, Spectral Sound, M>O>S Recordings and Nation dating back a decade! It feels like Bopside is the right platform for Mullinix and Cantu to fully express themselves as 2AM FM and this album is deep, but there is also a real warmth to their productions. Highlights include the melted mechanical acid of "Midnight Social", the lo-fi electro-pop of "Excuse Me Miss" and the soothing ecstasy pads of retro houser "What We Live For".

Review: 2fox do a fine job here of serving up their signature soulful, Afro house inspired sound. Their debut ling player The Inner Drum is a thing of rousing joy and upbeat beauty and features a host of talent3d guests who add their own distinctive vocal flavours. The title track is an airy, loose limed jam to get your warmed up, then 'Bailar' dials in to a more dance groove with fantastically organic bass playing. There are Afro workouts like 'Problem' that brim with big horns and Afro melodies and even a remix of 'Tomorrow' from Rudimental that is sure to become a breakout hit.

Review: Under his other alias, D.K, French producer 45 ACP has produced some of the most blindingly joyous electronic music of recent times - colourful, vibrant, synthesizer-heavy fare capable of bringing brightness to even the most depressing of days. While some of that mood enhancing melodiousness can be heard on Change of Tone, his first full-length for L.I.E.S, for the most it's a much more melancholic affair. While the chords are beautiful and the subtle rhythms pleasingly evocative, there's a sadness at the heart of the album that's not present on his other work. It is, though, a sublime set, delivering a range of tracks that quietly tug at the heartstrings in the most enjoyable of ways.

Review: Delusions Of Grandeur make a stylish entrance into the album game with a sumptuous triple vinyl edition of the 6th Borough Project long player. One Night In The Borough sees Graeme and Craig drop a heady thirteen track selection that covers the sort of warm, low slung, expertly executed multi tempo music which sits between house and disco that the duo have received so much praise for. Stand out tracks include "BURT (The Journey)", a lovely slice of mid-tempo niceness that bumps and shakes in all the right places - the vocal is a killer! Matching this is the twilight house jam "Changin" with Deep Burnt style percussion backed by a killer modulated loop.

Review: With summer gone, this album is the perfect soundtrack to remind you of the warmer season. It's a lush blend of tropical disco grooves, deep house, Balearic vibes, smooth jazz and Mediterranean cool for sipping cocktails and dreaming of a blissful escape. Each track features dreamy textures, fresh rhythms, shimmering chords and rich melodies enhanced by delightful percussive details. It's a majestic work by A Vision Of Panorama with a carefree atmosphere.

Review: The summer is almost here which means this is exactly the sort of record we want to be reaching for. It's a lush and tropical work of idealised disco grooves, deepest house, Balearic, smooth jazz and Mediterranean cool that cries out to be played loud while you sip on cocktails and dream of being somewhere utterly blissful and classy. Dreamy textures define each cut with nice fresh rhythms, glistening chords and lush melodies all sprinkled with delightful percussive detail. Big up to A Vision Of Panorama for serving up a beautiful album that is sure to soundtrack the warmest months of the year for many.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


The summer is almost here which means this is exactly the sort of record we want to be reaching for. It's a lush and tropical work of idealised disco grooves, deepest house, Balearic, smooth jazz and Mediterranean cool that cries out to be played loud while you sip on cocktails and dream of being somewhere utterly blissful and classy. Dreamy textures define each cut with nice fresh rhythms, glistening chords and lush melodies all sprinkled with delightful percussive detail. Big up to A Vision Of Panorama for serving up a beautiful album that is sure to soundtrack the warmest months of the year for many.

Review: A Vision Of Panorama have the kind of quintessentially inviting sound that by rights should find him soundtracking every sojourn from the swanky lounge bar to the sunkissed terrace, no matter the crowd. After the blissful sounds of the Sentimental Coast EP and Follow The Melody last year, Mikhail Khvasko returns with his third full-length, this time on Mellophonia. If you already dig the Panorama sound, you know what to expect. Plush, symphonic synth tapestries dripping with good vibes and accomplished musicality. You might get the odd dash of sultry sax, as on album highlight 'The Light', but primarily this is a place to revel in Khvasko's illustrious, feel-good keys.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record sleeve damaged, product in working order***


A Vision Of Panorama have the kind of quintessentially inviting sound that by rights should find him soundtracking every sojourn from the swanky lounge bar to the sunkissed terrace, no matter the crowd. After the blissful sounds of the Sentimental Coast EP and Follow The Melody last year, Mikhail Khvasko returns with his third full-length, this time on Mellophonia. If you already dig the Panorama sound, you know what to expect. Plush, symphonic synth tapestries dripping with good vibes and accomplished musicality. You might get the odd dash of sultry sax, as on album highlight 'The Light', but primarily this is a place to revel in Khvasko's illustrious, feel-good keys.

Review: Fusion Sequence is a new offshoot from the Mellophonia label that kicks off with a heavyweight release both literally - its 180g vinyl - and metaphorically. It features seven different artists offering up one track each on what is a widescreen exploration of fresh deep house. They are A Vision of Panorama, Eternal Love, Pool Boy, Wolfey, Laseech, Larry Quest and Jay Sound and between them everything from cuddly depths to more moody late-night deepness is covered on an EP that brings plenty of new perspectives. A fine inaugural 12", then.

Review: A2L were active between 1988 and 1990 and released two albums and several EPs on labels like 1st Bass, Big One and Force Inc. Their sound blended British psychedelic house with elements of new beat, industrial, EBM and early acid house and in doing so captured the raw energy of the UK rave scene. Notably different from typical acid house acts of the time, A2L's music took in machine funk, samplers and turntable techniques to create trippy, infectious grooves. This collection compiles rare underground gems from them from 1989 and features standout tracks like 'Even Though It's Make Believe' and 'Come On.' It's a great look back to the experimental spirit of the late 80s.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***

Review: Sama' Abdulhadi is a DJ who very proudly represents her Palestinian roots and is the first artist from her homeland to break out onto the international stage. She has a passion for sound design and has famously been arrested and jailed for eight days for desecrating a religious site when she played a set, with permission, at Nabi Musa. Her entry into the legendary fabric series is a doozy with emotive techno and cavernous deep house from the likes of Michael Klein, Carbon & Peter Groskreutz and Acid Arab as well as her own cut 'Well Fee' (feat Walaa Sbait).

Review: The Abstract Eye often works live and crafts tunes in one take, and that MO is the idea behind this new collection. It features plenty of hard-to-define sounds from over the last ten years, many of them with a cosmic synth outlook and raw analogue drums. 'Skyfather' is a real eye opener with its sense of mystic cosmic wonder, 'Real Myths' fizzes bring as burning phosphorus and 'A Yearning Feeling' is more paired back and introspective with jittery drums and electro rhythms all soothed by the melancholic synth work.

Review: The first of two vinyl editions for house/disco megastar Dave latest album 'Metamorphosis'. Beginning with the heartstring-tugging, cello-led 'Windy City Theme' and touching familiar ground on the original, fill-laden, sunshade-touting version of 'Six Billion Dollar Man' - the 'Playout Edit' of which was already released in October - the pressing is loud enough to be playable-out, yet intricate enough to sate Lee's fans with the biggest, most meticulous, experience-honed ears.

Review: Disco mined straight from artisanal-analogue, rather than digital-mechanised, sources, this second part of the vinyl edition - like the first - is produced in collaboration with a 20-piece orchestra. An "album of pure indulgence" - as he calls it - it begins with huge, brass-and-string dominated 'The Philly Avengers' and covers a huge stylistic range, the LP inspired by Lee's memories of the golden era of TV as well as the soundtracks of his favourite childhood TV shows - in which a distinctly analogue sound abounded.

Review: Given the quality of their output to date, its little surprise to find that Africaine 808's debut album, Basar, is rather special. Built around their now famous polyrhythmic, Afro and Latin-influenced drum machine programming, it begins with a touch of snaking jazz, and climaxes with a dense, uplifting Afro-gospel workout. In between, you'll find 21st century bruk, delicious downtempo torch songs, Juke-influenced Cajun blues, and hard-to-define - but thoroughly engaging - wig-outs. This limited edition vinyl version is also bundled with a bonus 10" containing remixes of the previously unheard "Tummy Tummy" by Highlife types Auntie Flo and Esa; the latter's cosmic, synth-heavy version, featuring a range of additional vocalists and musicians, is particularly potent.

Review: In the mid-90s, Lee Rodriguez, known as Mr. Onester, produced some of New York's most iconic, gritty house tracks. Collaborating closely with Steven John Craden, Rodriguez's music embodied a raw, Afro-Latine essence that reflected the culture and vibrancy of working-class New York, yet managed to strike chords far beyond. His sound, from hypnotic organ basslines to jazzy synths, stood out amid the polished vocals and pop appeal dominating dance floors at the time. The duo's prolific output spanned numerous aliases, genres and labels, carving a unique space in house music's golden era. After the release of his masterpiece, however, Rodriguez vanished, leaving only his legacy and a tantalizing mystery behind. Now reissued once again to meet the demand, this album continues to get noticed and find itself into the hearts of all who hear it.

Review: This is a killer afro disco re-issue of hard-to-find self-titled "African Suite" album from 1980. It's clear from the get-go why this LP is so sought after by deep house and loft style DJ's around the world. This is excellent, unforgettable music.

Review: Some five years after it was released digitally, Aybee's Deepblak label revisit the wonderful Afrikan Sciences LP Means &Ways to grant it a double LP vinyl edition. For those unfamiliar with the album, the 11-track set showed Eric Porter refusing to stand still, variously touching on polyrhythmic IDM, dusty jazz-hop, dense post-techno wonkiness, hard-to-pigeonhole madness (see "Alpha Male Syndrum"), sparkling aural experiments ("Ways & Means"), and pleasingly off-kilter dancefloor fare. Amongst this category you'll find deliberately out-of-time deepness, slipped broken beat, and dense drum workouts ("NanoRock Skank"). As usual, Porter's tunes are bizarre but brilliant.

Review: Parisian house music producer and artist Agoria (Sebastien Devaud) channels his delight at the 20th Century so far into a new album, theming it after illumination and individual self-becoming. In a rare case of an artist penning a short LP-accompanying manifesto - doubling up as a thankful testament to the opportunity to travel the world for the past 30 years, and to experience the richness of diversity in sound and culture - Agoria is quick to wax spiritual: "the metamorphosis is coming", "the light that chases away the shadow". Building on the now towering Detroit-influenced house and techno discography amassed since 1999, Unshadow is a feature-packed compendium, bringing a newfound, downtempo, graceful serenity to the artist's already varied discography.

Review: There's a lot to be said for artists that take their time. In a career that reaches back to 2003, Marc Barrite has issued just a handful of EPs and one album under his Dave Aju moniker. Roosting in his preferred home of Circus Company has provided Barrite with ample space in which to develop his wayward sound. Unlike some who find a style and stick to it, each passing year finds a different kind of Dave Aju gracing our ears. Where the concept on his last album Open Wide was using just a mouth as a sound source, on Heirlooms all sounds have been sampled from instruments passed on to Barrite by his late father. However the starting concept is but a springboard from which he crafts his own vision for house music, and as with his previous output it's a loose, free-flowing version of what the music normally entails. What makes Aju so wonderful is that his music transcends any genre trappings; people who detest house music would still have a good chance of finding pleasure in his craft. Perhaps it's in the sunny Californian demeanour that seems to inform everything he does. Perhaps it's in his refusal to play by the rules. Whatever the case, Heirlooms represents yet another leap forward for a constantly shifting artist.

Review: It's getting increasingly difficult to easily pigeonhole the work of Dave Aju. Since first making his name with the minimal techno-influenced Open Wide album in 2008, the San Francisco producer has variously turned his attention to fuzzy, touchy-feely deep house, jazz-flecked beats and stargazing, techno-influenced pop. Black Frames, his third album, is even harder to pin down. Blessed with his own hazy, atmospheric vocals, it variously touches on deep house, skewed pop, starburst electronica, Outkast style pop-funk (the growling "Bee's Birth") and Bullion-ish cut-up downtempo beats ("When We Drift"), all whilst retaining the producer's trademark laidback warmth.

Review: Dimensions Recordings' fifth release is an LP by Turkey's most soulful: Kerem Akdag. His self titled debut album sees the Istanbul native deliver a mature piece of work that is bright and timeless - equally effective in the club as it is at home and brimming with the same ideas that have earned him releases on Apparel Music, Petra Digital and Darker Than Wax. Across eight tracks, Akdag demonstrates an extraordinary breadth of skills for such a young producer. From deep-down soul jams on the urban tip like "When I Think Of You" or "Isolated", through to straight -up, soulful and emotive UK inspired numbers like "Unite" or "Find Yourself" which are reminiscent of greats like 4hero or Bugz In The Attic. A great collection of tracks and highly recommended listening.

Review: After having released their debut EP last year, Munich's Public Possession are proud to present Stockholm duo Aksel & Aino's first full length titled Lullabies for Submarines. Described as a 'grand tale of companionship', the combination of Aksel's instrumentation and Aino's poetry remains upbeat and looks to a bright future. From the glassy-eyed, bittersweet and Krafterk-y 'Dancing Grass', the slo-mo disco of 'Fewiopia', Italo influenced flavour of 'Spallanzani' plus some Metro Area influenced melancholia on the cover of Roxette's pop classic 'Fading Like A Flower'. Forever enjoying memories of long nights, brief encounters, bright moments and extreme euphoria.

Review: AKSK is the collaborative project consisting of Adda Kaleh and Diego Herrera aka Suzanne Kraft. They present their debut LP on Running Back entitled 'Things We Do' which was recorded over the last several years between Kaleh's hometown of Bucharest, as well Los Angeles and Amsterdam - where Herrera divides his residence. His neon-lit and mysterious mood music that's typically awash in FM synthesis creates the perfect backdrop for Kaleh's captivating vocals on tracks like "Breaking", the sensual slow burner "Work" or the low slung and balmy balearica of "Special Times & Places". Coober Pedy University Band (Tornado Wallace and William Paxton) also provide remixes of the tracks "Four Lonely Words" and "Strong Like Nature".

Review: German mainstay Johannes Albert returns after a six-year hiatus with his third club album, Private Dancer, and it's worth the wait. As expected, it is a deep dive into refined house music full of maturing production, warm textures, subtle grooves and emotive undertones. The standout title track features longtime collaborator Iron Curtis, and together they craft a hypnotic blend of classic deep house with modern minimalism. Highlights include the gentle grooves and percussion of 'L'Chaim', the steamy nocturnal soul of 'The Night (Moves On' and 'Follow The Strings', which is a more punchy heater. It's the sound of a seasoned producer delivering understated dancefloor gold.

Review: French illustrator, producer and owner of Astral Soda Records Albino offers up his second full-length album, Bamboo Night, following up his self-released 2016 album Santa Barbara. Returning to WRWTFWW for the second time now, Bamboo Night reflects something of a more dance-centric revolution in Albino's sound, but still brings his penchant for patented tape hues and ghostly exotics to the fore as ever. These tracks are just as suited for floor play as they are for home eso-chillaxing, fusing whispery dancehall flavours with dark jazz, Chicago deep house, and trembly international flavours.

Review: Previously spotted on Parisian label Antinote with two volumes of their Ritual House series, Albinos are back on their own Astral Soda to deliver four cuts of warm and sun-soaked analogue house that are perfect for drifting. Prepare yourself for a luscious, washed out journey of bedroom tape jams that are soothing, beautifully crafted and atmospheric. This album transports you to a cosmic holiday you've never been on! Thirteen tracks spread over two LPs. Mastering by Blanka. Artwork by Antonin Des Sables on silkscreen printed front and back covers.

Review: Alex Albrecht returns to Analogue Attic Recordings for the label's inaugural release of 2024. An immersive exploration spanning house, downtempo, and ambient genres, Albrecht guides listeners through a ephemeral sonic journey. Characterised by trademark field recordings and enchanting piano motifs, Allambie also integrates new hardware and synth sounds to Alex's palette. Featuring electro-acoustic ventures such as 'Railbridge', warm pads breathing in and out, setting a dynamic tone, and then transitioning to the deeper sounds of 'Green Shade'. Sub-bass breaks and a more minor feel that adds complexity to the sonic landscape, Allambie takes you on a journey from the boundary of the forest to its more mysterious, overgrown centre, a sonic narrative that captivates and intrigues.

Review: With previous releases on Blind Jack's Journey and Tessellate, London via Istanbul's Aleksandir returns with this great new six tracker courtesy of Seb Wildblood's Church imprint. Shades of jazz, soul, broken beat and house linger throughout these lush and dusty downbeat selections. Take for instance the smooth opener "Before, After" with its seductive leads, airy pads and reduced polyrhythms, the late night deepness of "Gone Swimming" (which is so sensual) or the simply evocative mood lighting of "Between Summers" which respectfully recreates the vibe of UK greats such as 4hero or At jazz's classic nu-jazz antics.

Review: Malmo based Chicagoan Amir Alexander presents his second full length, following up 2015's Love & Fear - which appeared on his own esteemed Anunnaki Cartel. This will also be his second appearance on Bristol based Just Jack, and follows up some great releases by Dana Ruh and John Barera. Be prepared for lots of gritty and lo-fi analogue soul throughout the duration of Dusk 'Til Dawn. From the unadulterated grunt of opener "Lemmings Off A Cliff!", the tunneling acid vision of "Deep Blue Sea!" to the tribute to Larry Heard's Alleviated sound on the emotive title track and, indeed, the glory days of Traxx Records on the completely mental "Genesis 6!". Here Alexander proves yet again that he is still one of the most dynamic producers in house music today.

Review: Thus far, Anunnaki Cartel have only been releasing EP's, most of which have been collaborative efforts by Amir Alexander, Joey Anderson and Chris Mitchell, among others. This is their first LP and it's by Alexander himself, a man who is no mood to beat around the bush and gets his sound across right from the start of "Tight Situations". However, it's the album's slower and stranger pieces such as "A Virtuous Woman", "Love & Fear" or "A Child Is Born" which caught our attention! We'd never heard Alexander making more experimental pieces so it's refreshing to hear an artist so capable of making both hard-hitting floor music but also more docile and abstract sounds.

Review: Much has changed for Ali Love since the release of his Love Harder in 2010. For starters, he's fallen in with the Hot Creations camp, scored a massive chart hit ("Benediction", with Hot Natured) and seen his reputation soar. This latest full length - the belated follow-up to Love Harder - shows how far he's come. While the bright electrofunk synths, '80s soul vocals and Italo-influenced rhythms of old remain, P.U.M.P contains far more tactile, wide-eyed deep house moments than we've come to expect. It's a subtle evolution - there are still plenty of near Balearic synth-pop moments - but a successful one. The result is an effortlessly sweet and accessible album that blends throbbing dancefloor moments with baggier, more laidback fare.

Review: Second time around for eccentric Sheffield trio The All Seeing I's sole full-length excursion, 1999's Pickled Eggs & Sherbert, which here lands on vinyl for the first time.The album, a celebration of Steel City creativity featuring cameos from Cocker, Tony Christie, Babybird and the Human League's Phil Oakey, is best remembered for hit singles 'The Beat Goes On', 'Walk Like a Panther' - lyrics reportedly penned by Jarvis Cocker - and 'The First Man in Space', but there are plenty more highlights amongst the unique blends of fractured dancehall rhythms, redlined electronica, oddball easy listening references, experimental d&b rhythms and genuine leftfield pop nous. For proof, check out blissful acapella number 'No Return' (where Lisa Millett plays a starring role), the breathless, bass-heavy house of 'Sweet Music', the weighty madness of 'I Walk' and the exotica-goes-big beat flex of 'Happy Birthday Nicola'.

Review: Malik Alston presents Painted Pictures: Air is a collection of long lost tracks. They were all crafted by Malik and his band Painted Pictures and take in jazz, soul and gospel as well as classic Motor City house sounds. There are tunes that dance on nimble keys, are accented with funky sax playing, riddled with lush keys and topped off with jazz vocalists that ooze style. Malik himself describes the album as "a combination of freedom, self awareness, and doing something different and new." He's not wrong, because these tunes are thrilling inventive and rewarding. To hear something as special as 'Almost On The One' on a dance floor can only be an unforgettable experience.

Review: To date, the defining characteristic of Uncanny Valley has been their strong focus and support for local Dresden artists, musicians, and producers. The fact their latest album project comes from Joel Alter, the Swedish producer best known for his long running role in the Jonsson / Alter project, should not be understated. However you shouldn't see this as Uncanny Valley forgetting their roots, it's more a statement of their current cachet in the underground. Back to the music; Heart is Alter's debut solo LP and is apparently an album he has been meaning to commit to for some time. Featuring the odd vocal track, it's filled with deep, warm and enveloping house music and feels like one of those classic electronic albums German labels seem to be so good at after you've spent some time with it.

Review: Repeat continue their exploration of Mark Ambrose's imperious tech house legacy with another double pack that will delight diggers and dismay sharks in equal measure. 'Harmony (Sun Mix)' is a truly dreamy cut that will go down a treat as we head towards sunnier dancefloor moments across the Northern Hemisphere. 'My Soul Your Soul' has a deadly broken beat edge to the drum programming, while 'Destiny Angel' creates a starry-eyed disco-house fusion that has to be heard to be believed. The quality and ingenuity spilling out of every one of these tracks is a marvel, and as a collection this release helps cement Ambrose's position as one of the finest artists to emerge from the mid 90s UK scene.

Review: The success story of the two guys from Karlsruhe Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann (aka Ame) is showing no signs of waning. Having led the annual charts of Groove and De:Bug magazines, provided Pete Tong with a single of the month and even making a DJ mix for said DJ's BBC show, the Essential Selection. Their hit "Rej" has been christened by Louie Vega and Danny Krivit (Masters At Work) as the "Plastic Dreams" of the new millennium. So here is their first official mix-compilation! Their DJ sets are currently being celebrated everywhere from Miami to Paris and Helsinki, so it was only a matter of time until they immortalized one of their kicking mixes for home use on an official mix album. Sonar Kollektiv label bosses Jazzanova delivered the first in this "...Mixing" series and in so doing earned worldwide thanks for making one of their eclectic DJ sets available in digital format for the first time. The duo from Karlsruhe selection is no less varied as they switch from old to new, through house, disco, minimal and techno. Synth pioneer Laurie Spiegel, who already presented a prototype of the Detroit techno sound in the 70s, sets things off with her "Appalachian Grove 1" which was written in Fortran (an old computer programme, long before Basic or C). The unusual track "24 Hours From Culture II" from 80s Dutch wave band New Musik is to this day a favourite of DJs like Daniele Baldelli and DJ Harvey. He later also used the classic "Woman Of The World" by Swiss group Formation Double on his legendary "Sarkastic Disco" mix. "Stand Up" from Nexus could easily be mistaken for a Metro Area number. Besides Ame another name that is often being mentioned with regards to the deephouse renaissance is Henrik Schwarz. His most striking remix to date is also his most timeless. The way he accentuates the voice of Robert Owens with opulent strings on Coldcut's "Walk A Mile" means it'll still give you goose bumps in ten years. Ben Westbeech is the star of Gilles Petersons new label Brownswood Records. His track "So Good Today" unites the typical Yoruba style with analogue Chicago sounds. God of remixers, Carl Craig's version of Jonny L's This "Time" was previously only available as a promo so for some the search for this jazz, house and techno hybrid ends with this release. The latest addition to the Innervisions label which Âme started with Dixon is Gilb'R & I:Cube (aka Chateau Flight). Their wide tune "Baroque" makes the perfect bridge to Luciano's "Stone Age" which has been a central part of the Ame DJ set for over two years so could not have been left out of this collection. "Flashback 86" sounds, as the title suggest, as though it might have been made in the late 80s, however actually it is produced by Jonathan Burnip who can otherwise be found behind the counter of London's Soul Jazz record store. Derrick May's Funtopia featuring Jimi Polo remix was also previously only available as a promo. It was given to Ame by Dominic Capello, manager of Glasgow's Sub Club. Of course Ame's own breakthrough track, "Nia", must be celebrated once more before it gets slightly quieter, although no less exciting, with Jump Cutz "Deep Introspection #5". This track is another true classic and favourite of Needs Crew that has long been almost impossible to get. And as true Manuel Gottsching fans Ame of course had to include an Ashra number in the mix. Their track "Sunrain" has been a big influence on the club music of today. As a whole, Ame's "...Mixing" is not just a bridge between old and new, club and home stereo. It also serves as an interesting connection between various musical genres which are currently dominating the good metropolitan clubs.

Review: According to their online profile, Amorf is a "live experimental techno project". Quite how much improvisation went into this debut album is unclear, though we can confirm that it's really rather good. The Romanian trio begins by smothering a glitchy, minimal techno groove with tumbling piano lines on "Ouverture", before offering a warmer, richer and more musically expansive variation on the same theme ("Marquis of Dust"). There's a pleasingly deep and breezy feel to "Haze" (all smooth bass, electro-influenced beats, acid-style electronics and jazzy flourishes), while "Curiosity Step" sees them make merry with fuzzy electric piano solos and hypnotic, locked-in beats. Arguably best of all, though, is "Blending Light", an immaculate fusion of deep house and tech-house that's as dreamy and picturesque as they come.

Review: On its initial release on Black Riot five years ago, Amp Fiddler's long-delated comeback album - produced in cahoots with London scene mainstay Andy Williams AKA Yam Who-- Motor City Booty was rightly praised for showcasing the Detroiter's P-funk, boogie and deep house roots. This fifth anniversary reissue on South Street, pressed on blue and yellow vinyl, serves as a reminder of the album's undoubted quality. Fiddler's soulful vocals and dusty keys provide the sonic glue that holds everything together, with the plentiful highlights including the two-part, Dames Brown-sporting Motown soul tribute 'Soul Fly', the squelchy, gospel-tinged P-funk house brilliance of '1960 What?' (featuring the London House Cats Choir) and the hazy, head-nodding electronic soul brilliance of 'Send a Message To Me').

Review: Before finally establishing himself as a neo-soul star in the mid-2000s (he'd been going for decades before that, of course), Joseph 'Amp' Fiddler recorded a couple of 12" singles for fellow Detroiter Moodymann's Mahogani Music imprint as Amp Dog Knight. It's perhaps fitting, then, that his new album for the label is named in honour of that alias. Interestingly, while those EPs saw him turning his hand to deep, organic and soulful house, this album is packed with superior quality "proper" soul. Of course, you'll find a range of influences dotted throughout - fuzzy soul-rock, R&B, hip-hop, dub, jazz-funk and even a dash of Detroit deep house (see the Moodymann-ish "I'm Feeling You") - but by and large these are incorporated into Fiddler's trademark slinky and soulful audio soup.

Review: An 2's "On Air" is a beautiful and innovative blend of electronic deep house and techno. This little treat is out on Was Kids.

Review: Analogue Coppers Lucretio and Marieu present Heavy Hands, a weighty eight track slalom through their singular brand of militant, raw, hardware-only house and techno. It's an approach the Berlin based pair have been fine-tuning since 2007, steadily drawing new members both highly regarded and unknown into their network of producers and comes rather swiftly after the debut LP from Third Side, the project The Analogue Cops maintain with Steffi. She features here along with the duo's Parassela cohort Blawan and veteran German producer Stanley Anscrom. From the pounding, concrete thud of opening track "Steffi's Disco Crime" this feels like a definitive statement, with some nightmarish moments along the way!

Review: ANAN is a project by DJs Roberto Agosta and Massimo Napoli and it takes its name from their surnames, repeated twice. Their new album is inspired by jazz, 70s psychedelia, Afrobeat, cumbia and soul and was recorded in a space in Catania, Sicily, where they melded those inspirations into a versatile and innovative sound. The session musicians manage to really lay down some deep melodies to give the album a live session feel. Tracks like 'Eden' and 'Naif' combine cinematic jazz with African influences, while 'Eros' blends Ethiopian and Indian cultures. 'Mind' offers a hypnotic cumbia and 'Etna' evokes spiritual psychedelia. The album includes also collaborations with The Invisible Session which take things to even higher spiritual planes.

Review: Anane's 'Take A Ride' EP was produced by Two Soul Fusion, aka. Louie Vega and Josh Milan, all with live string arrangements courtesy of the Apple Hill String Quartet and conducted by Leroy Burgess. The recording dives from the effortless heights of punk disco ('Let Me Be Your Fantasy', 'High') into the swirling eddies of jazz-funk ('Coffy Is The Color') before climbing back out into the languorous arms of Italo-disco ('Tutto Previsto'). The EP is held together in its entirety by the dreamy, sumptuous vocal of its creator Anane, who considers her top line one vital part of the instrumental whole. "I am art," Anane reflects carefully, "for I am the music as much as I am the singer. Creation means to crawl into the unseen of my own dreams and becoming the beast of my vision, singing to the world as I go by." Opening singles 'Let Me Be Your Fantasy' and 'High' both tap into this lifeblood of classic punk disco - when rock, punk and disco merged in the early 80s to create the seminal NYC sound - chugging bass lines and tempestuous high hats providing the DNA for both cuts.

Review: As the Dekmantel brand expands to incorporate the Selectors festival in Croatia, the Amsterdam collective still remain focused on delivering quality house and techno singles and albums. Another fine year for Dekmantel ends with the welcome arrival of Invisible Switch, a second album from US techno artist Joey Anderson. His is a unique and at times alien take on the artform, crafting percussive textures and oddly intoxicating synth lines that sound unmistakably like Joey Anderson and no others. This is very much the case with Invisible Switch, with tracks like "Reset" and "Tell Us Where" instantly gripping your attention and not letting go, whilst "Amarna" is the most bludgeoningly intense production yet from Anderson. The EOY list compilers will be kicking themselves they missed out on this one.

Review: Cafe Romantica sees rising Melbourne producer Andras Fox team up with Oscar S. Thorn again for a richly deserved follow up to last year's Embassy Cafe LP for Dopeness Galore. Fox's star is definitely on the rise at the moment, with a recent 12" for Mexican Summer and Overworld, a highly regarded solo LP of smudged new age as A.R.T. Wilson. It was Embassy Cafe that arguably put Fox on the map, his raw and deep productions the perfect backing for Thorn's distinct vocal delivery and fans of that set will be pleased to hear the pair's chemistry is just as evident on Cafe Romantica. Some eight tracks deep, there's a real pleasant vibe throughout evoking that classic Dream 2 Science feel and will find equal favour amongst the home listeners and the club selectors.

Review: Andres, or DJ Dez, is a beat-maker extraordinaire. His Cuban heritage and background as a hip-hop DJ for Slum Village mean that he comes at house music from a slightly different perspective than most. Couple that with a vast record collection and next-level ear for samples and he rarely turns out a dud tune. Enter Address V, his latest album on Moodymann's Mahogany label and another masterful one that straddles moods and grooves with effortless ease and rare style. There are crisp house kickers like 'Cybermate,' heavyweight funk beatdowns like 'Funky 2Step' and slouchy and low-slung joints like 'Detoxfromtheworld' amongst dirty hip-hop jams and so much more. Another timeless album from a Motor City great.