Back catalogue: Deep House

Review: This three-track release from a legendary Toronto house producer is a cream example in deep house sophistication. 'Kickstarter (Mainpass)' opens with jazzy, melodic elegance, its slick, clean production exuding class and warmth. The track's deep grooves and epic progression make it very appealing for DJ's. 'Music For Table Tennis' shifts gears with an electro-tinged beat, enveloping listeners in a lush, deep soundscape that radiates beauty and warmth. Closing the EP, 'Now Is Your Time (A Lost Story)' featuring Jenifa Mayanja, blends deep house and techno into an atmospheric masterpiece. The production here is next level, with intricate textures and a hypnotic flow. Rooted in the spirit of New York house but imbued with a contemporary finesse, this is a refined and essential deep house release.

Review: French label D3 - which when pronounced in French sounds like their word for Detroit - is a decade old and celebrates the milestone with a special three-part EP series. As has always been the case over that 10 year period, the sounds it serves up are deep and housey. This various artists affair kicks off with AsTreJinkins' slow and propulsive 'Terror' before some nice airy and live sounding broken beats from New Digital Fidelity. Moroka picks up the pace with some hi-tek soul that sounds straight from the Motor City and Byron The Aquarius shows off his mastery of the keys again with a dreamy deep cut 'Tua Su Ra'. Nico Lahs shuts down with a heavyweight beatdown in the form of 'It's Spelled BARI.'

Review: Bruno E has plenty of history in the field of future jazz and downtempo, and now he's been snapped up by D3 to deliver some of that cold-chilling lounge business with some interesting remixers on board. Pat Van Dyke is up first, creating a blissful version of "Ventos De Outono" that feels as cosy as a warm fire and a glass of whisky on an autumn evening. The original version of the track is actually a peppier affair with a broken beat lilt that wouldn't sound out of place alongside the Dego and Kaidi Tatham crew. Kirk Degiorgio is a natural fit for another remix given his jazzy roots, and his swirling techno treatment is the perfection lotion to pour over Bruno E's excellent original ingredients.

Review: D3 Recordings offshoot D3 Elements is only three releases deep, but already their releases are reaching "must check" status. Following their recent release of a superb EP from US deep house veteran Brian Harden, the Paris-based imprint offers up something a little different - an EP of gorgeously deep and melodic flavours that joins the dots between head-nodding instrumental hip-hop and floor-friendly 4/4 fare. There are plenty of surprises, too, including techno stalwart Terrence Parker delivering a flute-heavy downtempo head-nodder, some gorgeous beatdown from Detroiter Mike Clark, and a thrillingly string-laden chunk of deep house bliss from the aforementioned Harden. Recommended.

Review: Keeping up their regular and on point release schedule, French outlet D3 Elements now looks to a DJ and producer from the southside of Chicago. Ellery Cowles has been making unique house sounds since the mid 1990s as well as being a respected DJ who is revered across the States. His music has come solo as well as in collaboration with the legendary likes of Ron Maney, Roy Davis Jr and Brian Harden and Cowles has released on labels like DaFunk, Hybrid and Hizou Deep Rooted Music.

Up first is Inner Force, a widescreen house tune that exists on the outer edges of our galaxy. Lush pads bring a 90s feel as twinkling keys and cosmic melodies expand out in all directions. The mid tempo drums are groovy and warm and the result is truly spiritual. Shell then flips the script and is a slick acid tune where a lone 303 rips away above a rubbery drum and crisp clap. It's zoned out and hypnotic and will lock in any floor. On the flipside, Crook-Ed gets back to a cerebral headspace with gorgeous and golden pads and sonorous, rich chords that are soft yet urgent. Distant acid adds texture to what is otherwise a super smooth and serene deep house cut direct from the heart of Chicago.

Review: A second edition of the Various Artists Backpack EP, from French house label D3 Elements pulls together some key producers; Detroit soulful house star Terrence Parker is back once again, and joined by D-Knox, Dan Curtin and TechElectro. Curtin gets the ball rolling with "House Spirits," a summery, feel good house roller with trilling keys and organic chords all making for a jazzy vibe. Then comes a more synthetic and abstract cut, "Stars That Never Die", from TechElectro aka the fearsome American techno duo of Solid Gold Playaz, who also release as Dark Matrix. On the flip side, D-Knox aka Groove Man offers "Summer Beach Time," a cool as you like track with breezy chords, radiant pads and wooden sounding percussion flapping along next to the drums. Then it is down to Terrence Parker to close with the laid back, deep and soothing "So Beautiful," a sweet as you like house jam with magic chords and plenty of heart warming grooves.

Review: Brian Harden is back on D3 Elements with a new three track EP that once again explores richly musical deep house with a difference. Harden is a criminally overlooked Chicago producer who had big success in the 90s thanks to releases on Moods & Grooves, Nite Life Collective and Undaground Therapy Muzik. He then took a break away from music, but the D3 label boss coaxed him out of retirement in 2014 with a top debut EP for the label. Since then he has also released on Sistrum and Soul Print, and is now properly back in business. First cut 'Paradox' is a mid tempo house roller with scale-riding chords and emotive, late night tinkles on the keys that really speak to your soul. Golden pads stream in the background and it's a hugely classy affair all round. 'Nostalgic Pieces' is then a deeper cut with a warped baseline and starry night sky melodies up top. Again, lush, musical chords shimmer and simmer deep in the track, lending it a real sense of artistry and separating Harden from the legions of modern deep house imposters. Finally, 'Chicago Homage' is an elastic, spacious cut with rubbery kicks, soft hi hats and a tumbling bas riff that once again come coated in gorgeous pads. This is music that makes you feel good as you dance your every day woes away.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: After kicking off with a delightfully classy deep house EP from Chicago's Strong Souls, D3 Elements presents its second EP from Brian Harden. This long anticipated EP is reminiscent of his upbeat, melodic style that is his trademark after releases on Relief Records, Underground Therapy, NiteLife Collective, Moods And Groove and House 4 Life records.The Black 3 EP opens with "Qunu", a rhythmic homage to South Africa's Nelson Mandela. A complex piece filled with tribal percussions and vibrant melodic sounds that will keep you dancing. "Qunu" creates an addictive rhythm of warmth and color. "Days of Days" is a euphoric affair with lush chords, enticing percussions with a rising bass line. Light and airy with a compelling groove, it's a masterful example of genuine house. "Chicago To Detroit" closes out the release and lives up to it's title, touching on what makes house music from the two Mid West cities so very compelling.

Review: From Moods & Grooves to Sistrum, Brian Harden has served up more than enough soulful, synth-led house and techno in his time. It's just the kind of style that suits the mood on D3, and so the label has picked up his essential "Chicago To Detroit" jam and called upon a fine selection of remixers to rework the track. First up is Byron The Aquarius, who drops some expressive broken beat drums into the mix to spar with the illustrious melodic tones to great effect. Meanwhile the label boss Brian gets busy with a classic, straight-up adaptation on his "Chicago Sur Seine Mix" before Patrice Scott opts for an energised variation with poignant new Rhodes-esque keys floating on top.

Review: Considered French label D3 Elements continues is carefully curated run with a new EP from Berlin based Italians, Hinode. Featuring four cuts of tough deep house, this sixth EP is another high grade affair that follows on from great efforts by Strong Souls and Brian Harden.

Hinode are Matteo Chisari & Mario Resta, a pair of accomplished DJs and producers that release on and run their own Science Fiction Recordings as well as 0Helena0. They have been active since 2013 and their robust sound has found favour with real heads and underground DJs alike.

Opener 'State to State' is a raw, punchy house track with jazzy chords injecting some real soul into the physical beats. Rasping synths and rainy melodies have a hint of the old school about them and ensure that dance floors will be in raptures. 'Endless World' is more spacious, with a drunken acid sounding bassline roaming beneath a nicely mechanical groove. It's one to make you stomp, and so is b-side opener 'Shades of Grey' with its bombastic, kicking drums, twinkling melodies and lazy chords. Despite being a sweat inducing house banger, plenty of warmth and musicality remains. Lastly, 'Memory Alpha' hurries along with muddled voices, icy hi hats and a flurry of rubbery kicks and squelchy acid stabs. It's beautifully authentic house music that takes subtle cues from the best of Chicago and Detroit and puts a unique Hinode spin on things.

Review: The third and final EP from the ten year anniversary series by French label D3 Elements is another one that offers a wide range of excellent grooves. To kick off, Jason Hogans takes us into woozy late night territory with muffled leads and lazy breaks, then Zopelar heads for the cosmos on his radiant synth laced house offering 'Resolution.' Malik Hendricks keeps it low key and slow with his intimate basement sounds on 'Green Mango' then Meftah rebuilds on a dusty Theo Parrish tip with 'Maha Shatki.' Damar Davis offers pure cosmic deep house lushness on closer 'Kiss In The Dark.'

Review: Demarkus Lewis is a relentless ambassador for the true soulful roots of house music, boasting a two decades deep discography that would make a completist shudder. Here he is on a label that fits him perfectly - D3 Elements. On "Without Pause" he lays out a sturdy bedrock of bubbling synth bass and rich, interwoven layers of keys and chords that charge forth with urgency, while "Lady In Pink" shows his more immersive side with intricate rhythmic trysts and jazzed out keys that would sound at home in an Osunlade set. "Behind Closed Doors (Afro Main Mix)" has pride of place across the whole B side, making the most of the space to build up a subtly broken beatdown with an infectious vocal turn from the man himself.

Review: D3 Elements is an always cultured deep house label and so it is no surprise to find the great US producer Alton Miller has been recruited for a new EP. He has a richly musical sound and roots that go back decades, and it shows: 'Clone' is the sort of stylish backroom house that layers diffuse chords with dusty drums and cannot fail to warm the heart. 'All Of It' explores more broken and Afro-tinged drum patterns with golden Rhodes chords and astral leads. This top trio is completed with the funky kick patterns and perfect soulful vocals of 'Waitin 4 You'. Detroit mainstay Kevin Reynolds remixes it into a hypnotic Motor City roller.

Review: D3 Elements continues to serve up delicious house music with its next EP, which this time comes from the Detroit native MoReese. He serves up three cuts of rich, musical club sounds that continue in the Motor City's fine tradition.

MoReese marries the history of his hometown, and influences such as Derrick May and Kevin Sanderson, with his own taste for jazz, funk and soul and the results are always magical. He has been touring the world for more than two decades now, playing all over the radio, events like WMC and special four decks set at Movement festival. This new release is sure to introduce him to European crowds who will no doubt immediately fall in love with his fully formed hose sound.

Opener Jupiter Heat marries a nice smooth groove, churning percussion and blistered bass with some simple but effective sax stabs that really elevate the track to the next level. It's the sort of roller, complete with a monologue about modern life, that will really get crowds shifting shapes. 'Linear' is a more direct and hard hitting deep house cut with solid rubber kicks, slick hi hats and lush chords, keys and frazzled synth lines all adding colour, heat and a sense of joy. Lastly, feel good bouncer The Mist is stuffed with the sort of soulful vibes Terrence Parker us famous for, and as a result immediately finds a place in your affections. This is another pure house EP that exactly hits the mark.

Review: French label D3 Elements returns to Chicago for its next EP, this time looking to the assured house talents of Hakim Murphy for three tracks of raw, dense grooves right from the heart of the Windy City. Opener 'Boxbeat' is a curious, freaky jam with bobbing percussive hits, wonky, pixel thin synth lines and free roaming pads that wrap the whole thing in a nice sense of spaced-out serenity. 'Taste o'Rainbow' has a much more firmly planted kick drum that pounds away uninterrupted below a free flowing brew of modulate synth sounds. It's expertly reduced and masterfully reserved and is sure to send dance floors wild as a result. The flipside cut 'Freshness' has pinging drums and a big, frazzled bass line as slithering chords rain down the face. Musical yet jacking, cosmic yet propulsive, it is a perfectly contemporary Chicago house sound that rounds out a fine EP from one of the best in the game.

Review: Naquil's produced a record that confidently straddles the line between chill-out grooves and driving, danceable rhythms. The opening track, 'Melod For Tre' (Jazz mix), teases with subtle jazz elements that are quickly swallowed up by a bubbling, deep house groove, before the 'Meltdown dub' shifts things into a darker, more atmospheric territory. 'State of Mind' arrives with a punch, its intricate percussion and bassline carrying the track with effortless cool. The final track, 'From Venus With Love,' brings everything full circle, with its ethereal synths and spacey feel, leaving you with a sense of calm satisfaction. It's a heady, immersive listen that balances complexity with accessibility.

Review: Classy French deep house label D3 Elements (D3, pronounced day-trois, is French for Detroit, which is a big inspiration on its sound) returns with more of that lush and timeless backroom tackle, this time from Neuronphase. 'Outside' is a dusty jam with atmospheric vocal samples and sustained chords, 'Information Society' has a more playful piano lead and ramshackle drums and 'Shadows' then brings some acid madness. 'Soru' comes as a skipping, percussion-laden original and as a hi-tek soul remix with cosmic leads from Hugo LX rework. Plenty to love here, as always from this label.

Review: As the label continues to serve up mouthwatering house and hip hop, D3 Elements now dips its toes into more techno leaning territory with a series entitled Technologie. The first release comes from American D'Marc Cantu under his lesser known Rival alias and features three tracks of hypnotic and widescreen grooves.

Cantu has put out plenty of EPs and LPs on labels like Creme, New York Haunted and MOS over the last decade, and also runs his own Run Out Run label. As well as working solo he has teamed up with the likes of JTC to great effect, and here he proves he cooks up unusual atmospheres and freaky sounds that really permeate the mind and body.

Session 020 is first and is a woozy, spaced out number with trippy melodies and squelchy synths unfolding above a rolling and rubbery drum line. Acid prickles add texture to this serene bit of soul and pained vocals add a human feel, making it a truly intoxicating number. Session 026 is much busier, with frazzled textures, metal synths and hurried melodies making for an urgent tech cut that cannot help but make you dance. Lately, Session 006 is a gorgeous mid tempo number with smeared pads adding depth and soul, distant acid, glowing melodies and well treated vocals panning left and right. It is emotive electronic music with a real heart and heat to it, and it rounds out a classy and elegant

Review: A second release on D3 Elements for Raymond "RayDilla" Funnye aka Strong Souls, the man who kicked off the Detroit & Chicago focused label last year. Opener "In The Groove" has a loose and louche late night jazz vibe to its glowing chords and jumbled beats, whilst "Deep Sensation" is a sumptuous go slow delight with kick drums miles apart and golden chords and meandering synths draped over the top. On the flip, "From The Pyramids To The Stars" is an insular affair that pulls you right in; drums tumble with a tiny tribal tinge, pads are long tailed and the percussion is well defined, metallic and gently caresses your ears. Closer "Industrial Life" is the most dancefloor of the lot, with firm house kicks, a rugged bassline and beautifully designed little hooks dangling in mid air above.

Review: After recently launching the D3 recordings label to a great reception, the man behind Vibes And Pepper is ready to launch his second new label, D3 Elements. The artist behind the three track EP is Raymond Funnye aka Strong Souls, who back in the mid-nineties released on still much mythologised Chicago label Dance Mania as well as the UK's Black Market, which also saw him work with the legendary Larry Heard. The music he offers here is of a high pedigree from start to finish. "The Beast" opens the EP with a stripped out percussive hook running right up its core as widescreen pads extended out around it in all directions. When the humming bassline and pronounced kick drums drop into the mix result is pure and propulsive house heaven. Following this, "Remember When" goes a little deeper and less direct, with well swung drums stretched beneath golden chords and delightfully rough percussion. Simple yet effective, it's both classic and relevant at the same time. Finally, "Don't You Know" is the most intimate and romantic, with delicate and subtle keys, far off percussion jacking ever so slightly and spiralling pads adding a sense that you are constantly in free fall. It's gimmick free deep house of the highest order and closes out a classy EP.

Review: Trinidadian Deep is an artist you can count on for the kind of inventive, well-travelled deep house that reaches beyond the conventional to deliver something truly spiritual. Coming to light on D3 Elements, this latest joint from the Ron Trent family member is everything you look for in higher plain house music. "NorthernLi" has a sprightly feel to it, all pattering percussion and synth stabs that could almost come from Carl Craig in the More Songs About Food... era. "In The Beginning" has a heavier feel to it, letting thick pads and keys swirl in the mix without losing that soulful, uplifting quality that makes Trinidadian Deep jams so infectious.

Review: The French deep house label D3 Elements is now a decade old and to mark the occasion it has assembled a superb three part EP series featuring plenty of talents both new and old. The second EP kick off with some Japanese stylings from Koizumi Yukiko and his piano laced bongo workout '526'. Taelue sets off on a deep and heavy bassline pulse that will make floors march and Nemanja Krstic's 'Aquae Sulis' brings some jazzy chord work and bubbling funk bass for a nice heartfelt vibe. Gnork shuts down with a skittish, stripped back broken beat that makes this another diverse offering.

Review: Brian Harden is one of the many talented Chicago house producers out there who sit just below the top talent in terms of global reputation. But he shouldn't - his sound is as musical and timeless as any from the Windy City. He's been grafting since the 90s and now taps into that long career with a new collection of rare cuts and unreleased gems on this Instinctive Meditation album for French label D3 Elements. There is textbook heavy drum work and spaced-out synths on 'Zion' before warmer, deeper basement cuts like 'Nomadic Jazz'. 'Yeah' is a party starter with clattering percussion softened by more jazzy chord work and 'Motionless' allows you a moment to catch your breath on some cosmic ambiance. The rest of the record takes in deeper techno, samba-tinged deep house shufflers and star-gazing beauties for 4AM. Proof if you needed it that Harden is a boss.

Review: D3 Elements continues to mine the fertile soil of Midwest inspired house, techno and electro with this fantastic new album from Michael Dykehouse (sometimes found turning out experimental fare on Planet Mu and Ghostly). Here the grooves are immediate and engaging across nine tracks, from the bubbly "Meltdown Morning" to the spooked-out "Clock Division", touching on a range of styles all bound together by a commitment to classic drum machine beats and synthesiser tones. This is far from a throwback record though, instead celebrating Dykehouse's innate musicality through all manner of tempos and moods and coming out as a well-rounded long player in the process.