Review: Nu Groove will always be synonymies with a distinctive take on deep house - the label rose to prominance in the late 80s and early 90s in its native New Jersey and put out definitive releases from The Burell Brothers, mostly, but also a selection of other dons of the day. Some of them now come together for the first time on vinyl as Chicago legend Ron Carroll offers up a pair of tunes from his House Of Love EP. On the reverse, Trilogy Inc. come back strong with a couple of newbies in the bouncy house of 'Awakening', and 'Hi Cycle', which comes on more energetically with strong percussive patterns and classic drums. Serious heat, this.
Review: Leron Carson may not be the best-known Midwest producer, but he has history. Carson's first release came way back in 2001, with Theo Parrish putting out a track he'd recorded way back in 1987 and has appeared on Sound Signature intermittently over the years. This new 12" from Carson for Theo's label is HEAVY! "Lemonline" is a deliciously breezy concoction, with Carson's jazzy piano riffs working in perfect unison with bouncy, Latin-influenced drum rhythms. Flipside "Sofnthik", on the other hand, sounds like a previously unheard 1980s Chicago deep house concoction, with warm, loved-up chords swirling around a clattering drum machine groove. Whether it was recorded 30 years ago is unknown, but it certainly boasts a similar lo-fi, analogue feel.
Review: For the latest volume in their Foundations series on BBE, Kai Alce and DJ Spinna have decided to reissue one of the finest records from the earliest days of Chicago house, Chip-E's spellbinding 1985 anthem "Like This". This seven-inch edition features a fresh edit of Chip-E's original cub mix on the A-side. This version is essential largely because of the quality of K-Joy's impeccable vocal, though the re-mastered sound also makes Chip-E's crunchy Roland drum machine hits, bold synth-bass and spacey lead lines sound better than ever. Turn to the flip for the heavy and stripped-back "DDD Dub" version, which makes more use of the short "Like This" vocal, which was originally provided by the Godfather of House himself, Frankie Knuckles.
Tribute To Miles Davis (Pablo Minuto & Guillermo De Caminos remix) (7:07)
Electronic Funk (Jorge Savoretti remix) (6:50)
Review: For the quarter-century release from Savor Music 025, a stellar lineup of remixers rework Franco Cinelli's Tracks from the Vault Part 2. DJ Jes delivers a trippy house reinterpretation of 'Tribute to Miles Davis' and blends jazz elements with a loose, groove-heavy vibe while preserving the original's spirit. Pablo Minuto & Guillermo de Caminos take a minimalistic approach and turn the track into a hypnotic journey focusing on rhythm and atmosphere. Jorge Savoretti's remix of 'Electronic Funk' enhances the original's pulsing bassline and crisp percussion with added synth layers to create a deeper, more textured version that is great in its own right.
James Curd & Jonasclean - "Mullen It Over" (Fred P Reinterpretation) (8:43)
James Curd & Jonasclean - "Mullen It Over" (Marcel Vogal remix) (7:08)
James Curd - "Mullen It Over" (3:38)
James Curd - "Tried For Love" (feat Robert Owens) (3:39)
Review: The Pronto (house) label races onward and upwards with a sixth release that is here to get the floor bumping. It's a collaborative affair from James Curd & Jonasclean who race out of the blocks with the fat and heavy stomper 'Mullen It Over' which has snaking leads and rushy-feels. Would it surprise you to learn that the Fred P Reinterpretation is deep, heady and spiritual? Marcel Vogal remixes too, though with a more upbeat feel and lush summery chords. Curd also provides a solo prison of the same track that piles up the chords and a 'Tried For Love' (feat Robert Owens) is classic vocal Chicago house.
Review: Detroit legend Marcellus Pittman, a member of the iconic Three Chairs collective, teams up with renowned producer James Curd for the AtNosphere EP, marking his debut on Shall Not Fade. This 10" brings all the classic Detroit deep house elements togetherilush synths, smooth vocals, and rolling drum patternsicrafting a track that feels timeless. Curd, known for his work on the GTA soundtracks and various films, adds his production expertise to this collaboration, making the EP a must-have for fans of both Detroit house and masterful production. Two heavyweights on one record, delivering deep house at its finest.
Review: Following on from his recent collaborative outing with Jonasclean, James Curd now finds himself working with the deep house legend and Yoruba master Osunlade on a new track for Get Physical. 'Chocolate Puddin'' is a joyous and organic cut with life-affirming vocals that borrow heavily from gospel while Afro-house synths and drums unfold below. Three remixes take it into different territory with Kai Alce offering his signature smoothness, a Yoruba Soul mix going big on the lush chords and FNX Omar getting tribal. All in all, it adds up to a varied package and another great outing for Curd.
Review: Having graced the likes of Razor N Tape, Classic and Shall Not Fade, in recent years Cody Currie has bedded himself in deep on Toy Tonics - just check the London-based producer's Lucas LP from last year if you need further proof. The label have taken a peep back at that album to serve up this feel-good remix package with some serious talent on re-fix duties. First up Dan Shake serves up a tough-bumpin' version of Cash before Sam Ruffillo and Kapote have fun amping up the funky elements of the track. On the flip, the mighty Kaidi Thatham lays down a typically soul-charged version of 'Money' before Jamie 3:26 takes the track deeper, riding on a sweet Moog bassline that will pull in the stiffest of crowds until everyone's feeling good and loose.
Gettoblaster & Terry Mullan - "Armando's Ghost" (5:09)
Gettoblaster - "Is's Bangin'" (feat Joe Smooth) (5:03)
Gettoblaster & Chip E - "Time To Jack" (edit) (5:15)
Review: This new 12" on Aliens On Wax declares that Chicago Jack Is Back and we are fine with that. The raw, early, street wise sounds of the Windy City are still some of the best house has ever given rise to and that is encapsulated across four new cuts from Gettoblaster and two collaborators. First it's Baggi on 'Throwin' Down' (feat Chip E) then it's Terry Mullan on 'Armando's Ghost'. The flipside has the solo cuts though both feature house legends Chip E and Joe Smooth making this the most authentic package of jack you will have heard in some time.
Review: That man Glenn Underground is back with more of his masterful melodic house workouts as GU aka CVO. 'Jack & The Madman' goes super deep with moody drums wired up with burrowing, melancholic synths and time-keeping hi-hats. 'Nutso Jack' lands with some tribal drum heft and a melange of percussive details and wispy synths while 'Acid Disco (Supadisco)' is a woozy ste night exploration of jazzy keys and solar pads with soft cid lines weaving their way in and out of the beats. It's timeless and fresh once again from this Chicago mainstay.
Review: Less so an 'artist' and more the recorded memory of a late night radio show, the Collective Rhythm Network was the late 1990s brainchild of Geoff Adamson and Marc-Andrew Bird, hijacking the 103.7 FM airwave in St. Catherines, Canada. After gaining some local traction, Adamson and Bird did indeed continue the name as their own production and DJ alias, going on to play at many a party - and recently, to establish an eponymous record label. The 'Monday Night' series charts some of their favourite cuts to play on the radio and deploy behind the booth on a monday; this incarnation hears swelling, airy numbers from DJ Slugo, Chris Shivers and Infiltrate. Don't sleep.
Review: West Yorkshire's finest house label Hudd Trax - named after Huddersfield, of course - kicks out more essential and timeless jams here with Eddie Leader at the helm. Kids in The Streets feature on this package which includes a single and several different versions. The original form of 'Pressure' is a lovely deep house groove with warming chord vamps and smoky vocals. There's a subtle skip to the drums that really locks you in, then comes an Instrumental Mix that makes more of the starry synth work. The dub has fatter, heavier low ends and a 90s New York vibe, then a Dubstrumental closes out another tidy package.
Review: Robert Owens is absolutely one of the voices of his generation. He has lent his tender tones to more classic tracks than you could possibly mention and he continues to do so nowadays with a wholeness generation of producer who want a touch go his authenticity. He has recently achieved another career milestone with a superbly poignant new single that comes with sublime remixes. DJ Spinna's re-flip adds his usual sense of soul and Adeen Records label head Camille then brings some South African Amapiano vibes. Nico Lahs takes it on with a heavy house groove and Scott Hess brings some classic acid jack to his version.
Pete Moss & Colette - "Higher" (Saison remix) (5:32)
DirtyTwo - "Rymden" (5:12)
Review: There is a wealth of No Fuss releases all dropping this year and number 12 is a tasteful house four-tracker from various quality artists. Saison's 'Suffer' is up first as a remix from Fouk, and it is a lovely, jazzy, laidback and heartfelt sound with an infectious skip in the drums. The original is just as infused with dusty soul and warming chords and on the flip Saison remixes Pete Moss & Colette's 'Higher' 'into carefree grooves with more noodling melodies and DirtyTwo then keeps the grooves flowing with 'Rymden,' which exudes summery excellence.
Review: The staff at Paris record shop Yoyaku have scored something of a coup for their curated YYK No Label imprint, snaffling a collaborative cut from French house stalwart Ben Vedren and legendary Chicago producer Chez Damier. In its original A-side form, 'Majestic' is bold and beautiful, with heady synth stabs, melodic motifs and electronic flourishes riding a driving deep house groove and Ron Trent style Latin percussion. Over on the flip, they opt for a darker and more marauding, tech-tinged vibe on the similarly outstanding 'Club Mix', before rounding things off with the colourful, immersive and more light touch 'Dub Feel Mix'.
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