Review: London scene veteran Alex Arnout has released on labels diverse as Dogmatik, S.A.S.H. and La Vie En Rose and now he is back with the second release on his very own Modern Explorer. There's four tracks on his new Mind Control EP: the deep retro techno of the title track features an array of early 90s dance music tropes for a proper throwback, being treated to a remix by Laidlaw (Beeyou/Infuse) up next, who injects the track with a nice sense of swing for more of a tech house sound. Over on the flip, Arnout goes all the way back to Detroit circa 1988 on the high tech funk of 'Complex' followed by one more old school blowout on 'Hype Over'.
Review: Hard Times taps Alex Arnout's Black Logic for a release that feels like a natural extension of the label's deep house legacy. Having spent his formative years on Hard Times the club's dancefloor, Arnout channels that history into four tracks that blend jazz-flecked grooves with rich, soulful textures. The opener is a crisp, funk-laced roller, its bassline locked into a groove that nods to the genre's 90s heyday. 'Back 2 Where We Were' takes a more introspective turn, its warm melodies and fluid percussion creating a late-night haze. 'Blackman' sees Beckford deliver a stirring vocal, weaving conscious lyricism into intricate instrumentation, while 'Jazz Mess' closes the set with free-flowing drums and improvisational energy.
Review: CASSIMM knows how to make rock-solid house designed to get floors bumping and that's just what he serves up here for the Rekids label. 'Body & Soul' is a tune that appeals to both with its charming bassline and raw drums all topped with some sultry vocal swirls. 'I Hear You' then brings some hands-in-the-air house with vamping chords and a well-swung groove while 'What Ya Looking At' shuts down with a funky low end and some soulful old school house grooves complete with a sleazy vocal.
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