Harry Romero - "Revolution" (House Masters edit) (5:13)
Prunk & Rona Ray - "Keep It Simple" (6:41)
Review: The mighty Defeated has got a fun package on its hands here with some fat disco and house anthems primed and ready for big room summer fun. A'Studio's 'SOS' (feat Polina - Skylark remix - Nic Fanciulli edit) is chunky house with a hooky vocal and rolling groove designed to sweep you up and away. Chloe Caillet then remixes Tensnake's classic 'Coma Cat' into a hands-in-the-air house stomper with epic strings. Harry Romero's sweaty 'Revolution' gets its drums buffed up and well swung by a House Master's Edit and Prunk & Rona Ray steal the EP at the last with their lush vocal house cut 'Keep It Simple.'
Toby Tobias - "Streets of Gold" (Alphonse remix) (5:12)
Pyramids Of Space - "Quantis" (5:20)
Dance - "Amber" (4:25)
Review: Voice Notes is a new imprint run by London underground veteran Toby Tobias with Alphonse. A five track various artist EP, Voice Notes 002 is a time-honoured memorial for its sister label London Housing Trust, that they shut down a few years ago after 10 releases. Featuring tracks by label boss Tobias who delivers some emotive electro on 'Streets Of Gold', his evil twin Alphonse on the UK flava of 'Rujac', plus introducing Dance with the dub techno deconstruction of 'Amber', Rodney Bennett with the classic Stateside deep house of 'Palm Sunday' and Pyramids of Space with the downbeat IDM journey 'Quantis'.
Nathan Haines - "U See That" (feat Vanessa Freeman & Marcus Begg - Atjazz Love Soul mix) (5:12)
The Realm x Atjazz x Kelli Sae - "On The Road" (vocal mix) (7:58)
Review: Back ion 2021, the relaunched Foliage Records imprint offered up a killer mix from NYC house legends Mood II Swing, the must-check Deep Rooted. Soon, the revitalised label will release a sequel, with long-serving British deep house don Atjazz at the helm. This sampler EP boasts six of the highlights from that set - all remixed and reworked by Atjazz himself. There's much to enjoy throughout, from the tense, slowly building deep-tech shuffle of Halo''s 'Glorty (Atjazz Galaxy Art Remix)'and the sun-splashed 6am bounce of Atjazz's remix of Dominique Fils-Aime's gorgeous 'Sun Rise', to the dreamy dancefloor wooziness of Ralf GUM's 'AWA' (re-imagined by Atjazz as an Osunlade-esque spiritual house workout) and the jazzy, bass-guitar-propelled broken house excellence of 'On The Road (Vocal Mix)', a three-way collab between Atjazz, Kelli Sae and The Realm.
Raphael Scemama & Tournissoux - "Like This Girl" (edit) (8:02)
Review: Untold Stories finally tells their first story in Various Artists form, reaching their hands deep into a forgotten folk corpus to retranslate each tale to we, who only speak house and techno. Described heartily as a ripple-maker, Lebanese producer Nesta devises his own folk fairytale with 'Bouchees A La Reine', with Axel S leading on with a nostalgic and groovy jazzy infused minimal track to counterpoint the A's meaty copra. On the B, Sonus takes the help with a surreal electro-dance burbler on which a winsome voice repeats the word "dreaming". And closing out comes the flat beat knockout 'Like This Girl', an instructive melody for future storytellers.
A Soft Mist Production - "Upside Down Rainbows" (5:01)
Dr Sud - "Zaffiro" (Jazz cut) (3:59)
DatSIM - "Influx" (4:40)
The Rabbit Hole - "Tail Groove" (4:27)
Review: No matter your particular preference in the deep house world, this various artists' outing from Q1E2 Recordings is sure to have something for you. Mike Riveria & Marco Ohboy, for example, tap into an early sound on 'Euphoria' with its big, brash piano stabs and whistles, while A Soft Mist Production keeps it all cuddly and deep with languid chords draped over gentle drums on 'Upside Down Rainbows.' DatSIM brings in some space-tech vibes for a deft rhythm and neon infused sound on 'Influx' and The Rabbit Hole's 'Tail Groove' has a mad double bass sound jumping about beneath frantic jungle breaks.
Review: Cult Edits are specialists in pushing a certain kind of heater, working in a mode landing something between edit and original. Six producers - Mario Bianco, Tomoo Hata, Roe Deers, Radial Gaze, A Tweed and Oltrefuturo - lay down a blend of sampledelic, ecstatic, multi-tempo'd tribal moods. Channelling everything from chic Tulum rituals to the brutalism of Eastern-European underground clubs, and rounded off by doses of Italian rasta and Japanese re-imagining of Hungarian folk song, all come to the label's exquisite brand of mandala-esque vinyl.
Review: Pleasure Zone continues to be an inspiring force in the European minimal tech house scene, and they've really pulled the stops out with this essential new release from Boutiq.808 and Tom Marvin. We're not hip to who these cats are, but their music says it all as they skip through snappy rhythms and bold synth forms with the kind of flair you might find on a Spacetravel record. If you appreciate your quirky minimal played out with a live immediacy and some of that Perlon-esque sauce, this record will be well up your street.
Brooklyn Baby & Ten Fingerz - "Back To Acid" (5:54)
James Curd & Ten Fingerz - "Stash & Ride" (feat Mr Flip) (5:52)
S3A & Ten Fingerz - "We Are Acid Friendz" (6:28)
Tomasi Brothers & Ten Fingerz - "After Hours Club" (5:43)
Review: This new one from Frappe Records is all about the joy of collaboration and crafting banging acid cuts that tap into the genre's great traditions. As an all-time acid afficionado, Ten Fingerz features on them all starting with his 'Back to Acid' jam with Brooklyn Baby which is a brilliant throwback. With James Curd he gets more heady with the soft acid lines of 'Stash & Ride' and with S3A things get deep and slinky with 'We are Acid Friends' perfect for 5 am sessions. Last of all, Tomasi Brothers & Ten Fingerz craft 'After Hours Club' which is a timeless acid house workout.
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: Oh yes, we love it when Theo represses some of his most sought after tracks and this one is particularly well-timed. Leron Carson is still an unknown figure, a kid who used to make viciously raw and futuristic techno tracks in the late 1980's! "China Trax", alongside the rest of his tracks on a different Sound Signature double 12", is totally ahead of its time and if it was truly made in 1987 then it is nothing short of amazing. Of course, it's not just the year it was made in that's interesting but also the fact that it's music without an age, able to be appreciated by any generation of techno freaks. Theo's own "Insane Asylum" on the flipside is also pretty monumental; rigged beats, off-kilter grooves and that familiar spontaneity so heavily associated to the label.
Centric House - "Alright Alright" (Micky More & Andy Tee remix) (6:20)
Micky More & Andy Tee, Don Carlos - "The Music Of Your Mind" (feat Taka Boom) (7:36)
Review: Groove Culture taps into an effortlessly timeless house sound with this new remix 12". It sees the in house production team step up on the B-side to remix Micky More & Andy Tee, Don Carlos, Taka Boom's 'The Music Of Your Mind' and the result is a super smooth, soulful roller with passionate vocals and disco sprinkled percussion. Ahead of that, Centric House's 'Alright Alright" (Micky More & Andy Tee remix) is a piano-laced and joyous house bumper with elastic bass and hands in the air energy.
Deeper Purpose, Jalja & Lazy Joe - "One By One" (5:38)
Tony Romera & Crusy - "The Unknown" (5:37)
Review: This sampler offers four main floor house tracks with each bringing a unique flavour to the dancefloor. On Side-1, Chaney's 'I Choose You' blends soulful house with rhythm and blues elements, featuring a pop-infused vocal that's both catchy and uplifting. Gene Farris and Basura Boyz's 'In My Heart' is a powerful house track, designed to keep the energy high. On Side-2, Deeper Purpose's 'One By One' continues the momentum with a deep, driving groove, while Tony Romera and Crusy's 'The Unknown' delivers a big, peak-time anthem perfect for the height of any set. This collection is great for house music fans seeking diverse, impactful and popular sounding versions.
Michele Chiavarini - "Let Me See You Clap Your Hands" (8:05)
Emmaculate - "Konga Madness" (5:24)
Terry Hunter, DJ Spen & Reelsoul - "Warning" (feat Rona Ray) (8:06)
Reelsoul, Tasha LaRae & DJ Spen - "Rock With You" (unreleased vocal mix) (6:17)
Review: Quantize's second offering is another irresistibly lovely house EP with funky and soulful vibes to spare. It's a varied bag of artists at the controls with Michele Chiavarini going first with the throwback vocals and piano-laced house grooves of 'Let Me See You Clap Your Hands'. Emmaculate's 'Konga Madness' has stomping Afro vibes and big horn energy making for a big carnival vibe and then things get impossibly smooth and seductive on the flip with Terry Hunter, DJ Spen & Reelsoul combining to great effect on 'Warning' (feat Rona Ray. Last of all is a sunny take on Michael Jackson's 'Rock With You' that has been all re-sung and reworked by Reelsoul, Tasha LaRae & DJ Spen.
Joaquin Joe Claussell - "Erratic Telepathy (The Cosmic Arts Interpretation)" (7:02)
The Ricky Corey Collective - "Who Do You Love" (Josh Honeycomb extended Basement dub) (8:50)
Review: Spiritual endurance tester Joaquin "Joe" Claussell returns for another topup for the Yellow Jackets series. Volume Eight is yet another heliotropic hummer, with the two ingenious progressive, naturalisti-house cuts found thereon (two new versions of 'Erratic Telepathy' and 'Who Do You Love', the latter by Josh Honeycomb) bringing much tweezy and brain-furthering motif to the two-side mix form. The first track is especially impressive for the counterpoint set up between the right-panned marimba and the left-panned filter-synth, the latter of which dances like a magic firefly against the former's lemni-spatial mallet-bed. The B-sider is much more soulful, bringing interspersive vocals and subtle hat layering to a an all-out funky freakout.
Third Son & Baldo - "This Is Your Brain On Music" (5:12)
Review: 'Selected Label Works 11' from Permanent Vacation offers a top-tier selection of deep house gems that span Balearic, leftfield and nostalgic 90s influences. Clint's 'Bliss Science' opens with a classic piano house sound, boosted by a heavy 90s-style techno break, capturing a warm, nostalgic vibe. Aldonna's 'Pisa 97' takes a more melodic techno route, showing off crisp production and a dreamy progression that feels perfectly suited for deep listening. Sam Goku's 'Walking Drums' is tribal and atmospheric, punctuated by a wicked drop that infuses energy into its hypnotic rhythm. Rosa Red's 'Rhapsody', reworked by Known Artist, delivers a futuristic, epic trance sound reminiscent of early 90s rave euphoria. Rounding out the compilation, Third Son & Baldo's 'This Is Your Brain On Music' leans into late-night acid trance and techno, creating a deep, pulsing vibe for darker hours. This compilation is a deep house journey brimming with genre-spanning textures and rich grooves.
The Mechanical Man - "Uncle Swing" (feat Bob Vito) (4:31)
DJ Rocca - "The Box Above" (6:03)
Lex & Locke - "Soul Escape" (6:56)
Review: Musica Solida sampler 1 marks a thrilling celebration of 40 years of Flexi, the venerable record emporium that has stood the test of time in the ever-evolving music industry landscape. As the label weathered storms and celebrated triumphs, it has remained a beacon for vinyl enthusiasts, and this compilation embodies its enduring spirit. Curated by Flexi Cuts, Musica Solida promises a series of carefully selected singles spread across multiple 12-inch samplers, showcasing the talents of cherished Flexi-affiliated artists and producers. With a vision to cultivate a movement of sublime tunes, the compilation aims to uphold the commitment to quality that Flexi has exemplified within the Italian music scene and beyond. Musica Solida sampler one sets the stage with an eclectic lineup of artists, each bringing their unique flair to the table. DJ Rocca stands as a stalwart of the clubbing scene, while Club Soda delivers live electronic ensembles brimming with house-flavored jams. Lex & Locke bring a touch of Greek sophistication to the mix, showcasing their groovy sound destined for future acclaim. Hiroyuki Kato emerges as a Japan-based multi-instrumentalist with a punchy debut track, and The Mechanical Man (feat. Bob Vito) adds a raw, gritty energy to the compilation. For those that are adventurous in finding unique music, you will want to check out this great release.
Review: Stefano De Santis kicks off Ten Lovers' new 'Best Of Various' release with 'Murk'; as the name suggests, this is indeed a dark workout from Rome's finest. The tone is set thereout for a thoroughly varied V/A, blending every curious hallmark from jazzdance, G-funk, Chicago house and progressive. The opener is a muted but no less expansive start, establishing the broken, one-beat-eliding, live-drummy mood that is then heard throughout. Batavia Collective's 'Rearview' thematically harks after an unconscious joy, considering what can only be implied, not stated, by way of a gorgeous, what sounds to be largely live, modal synth squeezer on which the slowdown is the real highlight. Future Jazz Ensemble's 'Over The Rainbow' is by far the most challenging, blurring any woulda-been established lines popularly splitting 'live' and 'electronic' with a reverb-drenched generative fill workout, while closer 'Outer Heaven' from Takahiro Fuchigami, hailing from Fukuoka, rounds things off on a note of Hancockian jive.
Review: The renowned Disco Dandies have made a triumphant return, emerging from their creative haven at the Old Course of the St. Andrews Golf Club. Following the success of their previous chart-topping hit, 'Inside Your Love' (2 People), they present their latest offering, a rework of the Miami T.K. Disco classic by Tamiko Jones, 'Let It Flow.' Theirs is a weightier disco retake, sterilizing the original's untamed swing with a phat 4x4 undertow. Both the A and the B offer different-length versions of the new edit, for both the long and short DJs out there.
Ralph Lawson, Chez Damier & Carl Finlow - "I Remember Dance" (6:43)
Ron Trent, Chez Damier - "Foot Therapy" (6:35)
Ron Trent, Chez Damier - "Now Is The Time" (5:53)
Review: The incorrigible Master Jams has just gone and reissued four of the hottest Chez Damier cuts, originally out on the timeless - and much coveted - Prescription Records out of Chi-Town. The first cut "I Wouldn't" sees Damier team up with Dpac and T FM to produce a bright and sparkly house groove for the Saturday evening crew, followed by the deeper, jazzier, more disco-centric beats and bass banging of "I Remember Dance" featuring Ralph Lawson and Carl Finlow. The magic comes on the flip, however, where Damier teams up with like-minded legend Ron Trent on the glorious "Foot Therapy", and the rolling punch of drums and bass that is "Now Is The Time". Don't even think twice - cop on sight!
Dee Gorgeous - "Better Than Sex" (Dirty Channels edit) (4:22)
NY House’n Authority - "Ravenswood House" (Honey Dijon & Luke Solomon edit) (5:42)
Review: Four tracks of peerless Nu Groove jack attack, rejigged by a stellar roster of producers including Honey Dijon and the late Soulphiction, whose mardy remix of Rheji Burrell's classic stompa 'Come 'N Get It' opens proceedings in sleazy style. The Acid Jerks dub of Tech Trax Inc's eponymous 1990 banger is also a highlight, with driving, introspective organ basses underpinning snappy piano action and whispered proto-producer tags. These two are followed by a rushy, beefa-ready remix of Dee Gorgeous' 'Better Than Sex' by Dirty Channels, and an excellent spartan percussive acid flip of Ny House'n Authority (Burrell at it again)'s Ravenswood House by Honey Dijon and Luke Solomon.
Coal In My Chest (Frankey & Sandrino remix) (5:36)
Review: Frankey & Sandrino go together like tea and cake, like clubbing and expensive water, or like DC10 and v-neck t-shirts. They are an accomplished pair who know exactly what they are doing in the studio and how to get the biggest reactions on the dance floor. For this new outing, they find themselves on Sum Over Histories with three more tech house cuts full of tension. 'Der Sprung' is cold and steely, the abstract sounds making for an austere listen while 'Libelula' has a more empowering feel on chunky marching drums overlaid with confident synths. 'Coal In My Chest' is a cinematic ambient piece.
Review: We don't know much about the freshly minted Worm Records, but we can tell you that proceeds from the imprint's debut release will be donated to the Livetolove campaign, which raises funds for food banks. The EP itself is a corker, with a mix of rising stars and established heads providing genuine dancefloor goodness. Bristol-based Gallegos kicks things off with 'Rockin', a deliciously dreamy fusion of Balearic deep house loveliness and snappy, Chicago house-influenced machine drums, before long-serving producer The Mole goes deeper, smoother and jazzier and the wonderfully tactile 'Festern'. Over on side B, Tartan Records chief drops the extra-percussive, off-kilter drum workout 'Booster', while Ruf Dug drops a previously unheard rework of his Italo-disco inspired fave 'Manctalo Beach'. Top stuff!
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: Reel People Music's vinyl sampler series is back with a third offering, this time once again bringing together a fine crew of artists on lovely turquoise vinyl. Up first is a wonderful remix by Opolopo of Adina Howard that brings jazzy keys and heavy deep house drums, then Rocco Rodamaal keeps it deep with a low slung groove topped with diva vocals full of soul. The Reel People vocal mix of Zo! is another heart-swelling and soul-drenched deep house roller with lavish synth work and last of all, Michael Gray closes out with a slinky number defined by funky bass licks and classy vocals.
Review: Toolroom share the seventh instalment of their label Sampler series, bringing together four new ones from six artists in their roster; Martin Ikin, Raumakustik & Tony Romera, Low Steppa & Crusy, and Eden Prince. These are huge, ravey, deep techy numbers for the big-room-inclined; we're rhythmically and vocal-samply implored to oscillate at a nigh-militant frequency, though the impulse to dance doesn't come without its shuffles and wonks. Our highlight here is the beatless breakdown in 'BFG', on which that delicious chord stab truncates all expectations thereafter.
Review: Ruvenzori makes the move to vinyl with four artists breaking new ground in the field of organic, spiritual house music. There's a Balearic tint to these harmonious jams, which melt into each other like one extended blend for the terraza of your dreams. 'Uluwatu' features Stan Tone and Izhevski collaborating on a swirling masterpiece with the steady tick of minimal tech house as an undercurrent for ascendant chimes, fluttering guitar licks and vocal murmurations. On 'Ayomi' Talemates joins the pair as they match emotive piano chords with sampled vocal loops, capturing an endearing, eyes-closed vibe in the process.
Review: Telomere Plastic asks you to Remember Your Days with a new six-track various artists EP full of delightfully designed club sounds. The melodies on Hiroyuki Kato are impossibly pure and delicate as they rain down the face of the shuffling drums of 'Black' while Six Dreams offers a complete vibe flip - the crisp and kinetic electro of 'Static Es.' Ty Senrna gets into a twitchy mutant tech house groove on 'Going Out Of Business' and Sherman C's 'Once U Pop' is an acid-laced breakbeat gem with a brilliantly tongue-in-cheek vocal sample that runs right through it, and Konerytmi shuts down with the silky drum breaks and sci-fi piste of 'Aikapiste'.
Review: This cracking new 12" already boasts DJ support from David Penn, Kevin McKay and Art Of Tones, and for good reason. Side A opens with Chicago's Stacy Kidd delivering the soulful, energetic 'Music For You - MF Mix,' updated for 2024. Next, Fouk's 'Cobalt' blends deep house and disco, inspired by 90s garage house. Michele Chiavarini closes Side A with a deep house track featuring modern soulful vocals. Side B kicks off with Angelo Ferreri's 'All Time Disco,' a jackin house anthem to make you sweat, then Marc Cotterell's 'Paris By Night' follows with more soulful garage house vibes. Finally, Teuteu wraps up with 'Kong,' a jazz-infused track with deep chords and broken patterns to round out a nicely varied EP.
The Mechanical Man - "Fire Ground Survival" (feat Melloghetto - dub) (4:39)
MAN DA - "Pressure Jazz" (6:14)
LDF - "Basic Groove
" (4:44)
Review: Tales is back with its third musical story and this time it is various artists who take care of the authorship. Marsupials kicks off with the whimsical cosmic pads of 'Lately I Think Of You' which bumps on rubbery beats with nice analogue claps. The Mechanical Man's 'Fire Ground Survival' (feat Melloghetto - dub) is a Chicago referencing deep house delight with naive melodies captivating the mind. MAN DA's 'Pressure Jazz' brings more synth energy with pixelated smears and amped-up stabs while LDF's 'Basic Groove' is indeed but still has a unique energy from the zippy leads and dusty drums.
Asylum - "Guitarz" (Honey Dijon & Luke Solomon edit) (5:32)
Review: You will of course know if you are reading this that Nu Groove was a seminal New York house label that lay a blueprint for deep stuff back in the 80s and 90s. This fresh 12" serves up a third volume of label edits from various artists from across the spectrum. Metro's 'Turnstyle Turbulance' is tackled first by NiCe7 who brings bumpy drums, then Mark Broom's Vox Flanger Mixx of an N.Y. House'n Authority classic is a steamy jacker with lovely old-school vibes. Our favourite though is Asylum's 'Guitarz' (Honey Dijon & Luke Solomon edit) which is a nice mid-tempo workout with seductive claps and excellent hi hats.
The Deepshakerz & Turntables Night Fever - "Oh Phunk!" (6:32)
Richard Earnshaw - "Touch Me" (6:21)
Sebb Jumor - "Makes Me Feel" (5:47)
Review: Toolroom's house imprint keeps the party pumping with another diverse selection of floor-filling weapons. Grant Nelson & Mark Knight lead the charge with 'Do It Y'all', a track that's been tearing up charts and dancefloors with its raw energy and irresistible rhythm for a while now. But this sampler doesn't simply rest on its laurels; it takes us on a winding path through the multifaceted sounds of house music. The Deepshakerz & Turntables Night Fever follow up with 'Oh Phunk!', a high-energy stomper fueled by a relentless rhythm section and soulful vocal samples that hark back to the golden age of house music. Richard Earnshaw, however, opts for a different approach, reimagining Fonda Rae's classic 'Touch Me' with a touch of soulful depth and emotion. Sebb Junior closes out the sampler with 'Makes Me Feel', a track brimming with bright melodies and feel-good vibes, showcasing the playful side of house music. This sampler is a showcase for the label's dedication to quality house music that offers listeners a diverse range of beats that are both good for the dancefloor and any discerning DJs.
House Of Peace - "Such A Feeling" (Dennis Quin edit) (5:20)
The Barnyard Orchestra - "Tasmanian Blues (C'mon Women)" (Honey Dijon & Luke Solomon edit) (5:03)
Review: If you're looking for raw, ruff and retro, this is probably the best you'll get. New York label Nu Groove continues to spotlight the artists that made the label what it is today: a firm favourite of crate diggers then and now. With this being the fifth in the series to reissue their select most vital tracks, which here come re-edited and remastered, 'Nu Groove Edits Vol. 5' opens with Ny House'n Authority's 'Fort Green House' after its re-edit by Arms & Legs' Daniel Steinberg, which sets the tone for a janky and roomy pandora's box of groovers. Also of note is the sweet, washy piano house arkenstone that is Underground Kids' 'Get Up', trumping a B-side that is, while still great, has nothing on the A2.
Review: This compilation is a sonic tapestry woven from the threads of diverse electronic soundscapes, each track carefully crafted to evoke the liminal space between dreams and reality. It's an invitation to immerse oneself in a world of intricate textures, hypnotic rhythms, and evocative melodies, where the boundaries between genres blur and the music takes on a life of its own. Jonny Rock's 'Legenda' sets the tone with its purposeful groove, its driving energy balanced by a sense of introspective depth. Thanksmate's 'Take A Chance' adds a meditative touch, its gentle melodies and atmospheric textures inviting contemplation and reflection. Dobao's 'Oceano' plunges into a deep, liquid dimension, its swirling synths and hypnotic rhythms creating a sense of weightless immersion. Giammarco Orsini's 'Whirlwind' picks up the pace, its pulsating energy and infectious groove propelling the listener forward. Hiver's 'The Frontier' explores the tension and release of electronic landscapes, its dynamic shifts and evolving textures keeping the listener on the edge of their seat. Sam Goku's 'Lucid Oscillation' closes the compilation with a sense of ethereal beauty, its airy melodies and floating notes leaving a lingering sense of wonder.
Robert Owens & Nolan - "I'll Be Your Friend" (club mix) (7:29)
Hilit Kolet - "POV Siren" (extended mix) (6:20)
Roach Motel - "The Night" (Philippa extended remix) (6:35)
Terry Farley, Wade Teo & Kameelah Waheed - "Dancing After Dark" (TDK 90 Dope mix) (6:08)
Review: A follow-up to last year's successful compilation 'Faith Presents: Ain't That A Groove', is given to us by the London-based label Faith ran by DJs Terry Farley, Stuart Patterson and Dave Jarvis. The high energy house party sound kicks off with Nolan who features the legendary house voice of Sir. Robert Owens. Hilit Kolet isn't shy with the extended remix of 'POV Siren'. This sound is synonymous with Feller and Heller DJ sets of the mid 90s. Philippa's extended remix of 'The Night' by Roach Motel backs that one up with another prime floor filler with hardly any let up. Lastly, Terry Farley, Wade Teo & Kameelah Waheed brings he deep groover "Dancing After Dark" to the party. These tracks will have you and the nightclub crowd out dancing all night.
Review: Mark Knight's mighty Toolroom has ascended from being an underground label into a globally recognised brand with a world-wide following. Its sampler series is always a good indication of where it is at during any given season and now the tenth installment brings more party ready fun. Piero Pirupa kicks off with some big disco-fried loops and cooing vocals, Tini Gessler gets more gritty with a bumping tech house cut in the form of 'Do What You Want', CASSIMM and Bruno Blanc combine for the florid strong loops and edgy house beats of 'House Affair' and Tony Romera's 'House Y'a' is a sleazy throwback with real attitude.
Review: After a three-year break, DJ Sneak and Tripmastaz renew their partnership as Raretwo Inc, in the process making their bow on the latter Respect The Graft imprint. As you'd expect from two masters of their craft, the 33 Chambers EP is packed to the rafters with chunky, bass-heavy and sample-rich deep house workouts. Check first the jazzy, sub-heavy bounce of 'Trac 4 Kenny', before getting your ears around the muscular chunkiness of 'Aaw Lawwd', where rasping blues-man vocal snippets and tight loops ride a bustling beat and booming bassline. Elsewhere, 'Trac 4 Rick' is a lightly druggy, disco-speckled slab of locked-in deep house science, while 'XTC' is a trippy, tech-tinged late-night roller with effects aplenty and lashings of dubbed-out synth sounds.
Review: The Robinson and Takahiro Fuchigami take a side each on this compelling exploration of house music infused with diverse jazz influences. This release effortlessly blends genres, creating a rich and textured soundscape that bridges lounge, disco and blues. Side-1 opens with 'Passion Is The Key', a track that leans into lounge jazz vibes, pairing smooth melodies with a laid-back house groove. Following this, 'A Satisfying Day' injects disco elements into the mix, creating an uplifting fusion of rhythm and melody. Side-2 deepens the jazz-house connection. 'Jazzing Bird' delivers an intricate, jazz-forward interpretation of house, balancing vibrant improvisation with danceable beats. 'How's That Sound?' captures the essence of a smoky jazz club, blending sultry brass lines with a steady house pulse. Closing the release, 'In Motion' incorporates bluesy undertones into a chilled-out vibe, offering a soulful, reflective end to the journey.
Eddie Logix - "2nd Choice (It's Still Not Over)" (6:13)
Blair French - "Whispers Of You" (11:40)
Topher Horn - "Gratiot" (dub) (5:46)
Review: Many happy returns to Detroit's Rocksteady Disco, an undeniably consistent label that has reached the ripe old age of ten years old. To celebrate, they're releasing a series of anniversary EPs containing fresh jams from the label's roster of artists. Mainstays Sol Power All Stars get things going with off-kilter Afro-house scorcher 'Solsibisa' - all heavy horns, hot-stepping drum machine beats, squelchy synth-bass and heady vocal snippets - before Eddie Logix combines lightly pitched-down First Choice vocal samples with Balearic guitar bursts and plenty of deep house nous on '2nd Choice (It's Still Not Over)'. Over on the reverse, Blair French gets summery on the Latin-tinged deep house joy of 'Whispers of You', while Topher Horn reaches for dense drums (acoustic and electronic), sparse melodic motifs and heavy bass on 'Gratiot Dub'.
Review: The genius of Nu Groove's ongoing 'Edits' series lies in the quality of its subtle 21st century tweaks of classic cuts from house music's golden age. You'll find plenty of fine examples of this on the latest instalment, volume four. Check first Nice7's bumpin', bass-heavy and organ-rich take on The Sound Vandal's 1991 gem 'Tonight's The Night', which the producer has successfully stripped-back and subtly beefed up, before admiring Hugo Massien's bleeping, tech-tinged remake of the Burrell Brothers' N.Y Housin' Authority classic 'Apt 2A'. You'll find tweaks of two more Burrell projects on the flip: a pleasingly driving Mak & Pasteman edit of the techno, acid and bleep inspired Utopia Project cut 'File #3', and a blissed-out, chugging and saucer-eyed Honey Dijon and Luke Solomon rub of A.B.T's Donna Summer sampling 'Luv 2 Luv U'.
Saturday Night (Dr Packer dubstrumental mix) (6:34)
Review: After they relocated to Miami, Florida, in the early 1970s, Bahamas band T Connection recorded a string of disco and disco-funk anthems for local label T.K. Amongst their most admired and played releases - the peerless and extra-percussion 'At Midnight' excepted - is 'Saturday Night', which here gets the remix treatment courtesy of popular Aussie disco/house fusionist Dr Packer. He provides two peak-time-ready rubs: a jaunty, rolling, full-vocal A-side remix that lightly straightens and tools-up the groove while retaining the horns, strings, guitar and bass from the band's superb original mix, and a flip-side 'Dubstrumental'. Almost entirely free of singing besides some whispered and yelped backing vocals, it allows the original disco instrumentation more room to breathe while rolling out the band's killer groove.
Review: Phonogramme Recordings compere five sweet but breathy jam-house bits from producer Taelue, overseeing the highly anticipated new EP that is 'Dark Worlds'. From the opening, downcast kicks and singing wine glasses of 'Wistful' - full of wist - to the nominal sequel 'Wistful (An Abacus Story)', a much trickier, more swung version of the prior track, to which only more considered listens reveal a relation, we find ourselves already in for a moody yet relaxing treat. The B-side ekes a jam-packed marrow from the A-sides otherwise fleshy bone, erring more on lo-fi; 'Deviancy' and 'Scythe' echo Delroy Edwards with their twin skittish, muted movements, whilst the B3 reprise of 'Wistful' homes in on the lone backing for the establishing number.
Review: Recently Norm Talley launched a new label, Upstairs Asylum, and delivered a much-needed sequel to his superb 2011 EP on Mixmode, Tracks From The Asylum. A decade on from the record's original release, he's finally got around to producing a sequel. The native Detroiter predictably starts in fine fashion via 'Gonna Luv U', a chunky and locked-in house number rich in groovy bass, bold piano motifs, ear-cathing sax riffs and colourful P-funk samples, before heading ultra-deep via the beatdown-influenced haziness of 'Detroit Dubz'. 'In Your Soulz' sees him add energy-packed hand percussion and chiming lead lines to a bustling deep house beat, while 'Digital XTC (Detroit Mix)' is a spacey, hypnotic workout that sounds like it was tailor-made for dark warehouses in the hours approaching dawn.
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