Review: London's 1-800 Girls brings cleanly garage and bright breaks to his All My Thoughts label, riffing on the combo of infectious aural hooks and brutalist sonics fashionable among the present chart doyens of UK dance music and techno. 'How I Feel' sounds like an innocent admission of affection in techno-garage form, pairing the flunky inter-jabs of 2-step garage with the cute-aggressive seethes of a repetitious sampled vox; the track centres on a nostalgic, airtight sequence of parapractic phonemes, onto which the listener may project their longings and amours. 'Signal' embraces both big beats and biomech squeaks verging on sports-whistles, while 'Like You Do' returns for a comparatively brooding burbler. Finally, 'Guy's Salmon' rounds things off on a dense sequence of yeahs and ohs, as ever building up a slow-burn of cool wonderment and openness.
Review: The diffuse hues and retro-feeling colours of the artwork on this new 45rpm from Star Creature perfectly embody the downtempo and Balearic sounds within. They come from A Vision Of Panorama who seems to ever more have the dance floor in sights over his last few releases. That's not to say these are banging tunes - but they do have lovely grooves. 'Piano Sunset' is a real spine tingler with 80s keys and mid tempo drums that come alive with crisp hits and a fresh bassline. 'Lost In Palms' then has a shuffling and low slung groove with nice wet hits. Add in some more lush chords and you have a real pearler.
Review: Prescription and Guidance mainstay Abacus has already done enough to assure his eternal legacy in the story of deep house. But thankfully he is still turning out superbly deep sounds that are as profound and emotive as they are heady and escapist. Here he is back on Phonogramme with 'Analogue Stories Vol. 2' which comes on a unique semi-transparent 12'' vinyl. The beats are warm and humid, thickly coated with a diffuse synth hue as the rooted drums roll on smoothly. 'How U Do It' is out pick - a musical odyssey with layers of instrumentation, piano and percussion all topped off with a Moodyman vocal sample.
Review: 'Disco Tape', which launched via a must-check 12" back in August 2023, os Sound Exhibitions' multi-artist EP series. This second volume is a similarly action-packed affair that gleefully blurs the boundaries between reworks, re-edits and sample-heavy original productions. Alexny kicks things off with two sun-soaked treats - the percussive and warming tropical disco tribute 'Caribbean Breeze' and the sax solo-sporting dancefloor shuffle of 'Bada Boom' - before Paride Pavone rounds off side A with the jazzy disco-house celebration of 'In Key'. Phil Disco impresses on side B with two killer cuts (the funky bass-propelled disco heaviness of 'Never Gonna Leave You' and the swirling jazz-funk-house bump of 'Disco Ipno', while disco-funk specialist C Da Afro rounds things off in fine style via the insatiable grooves and fluttering flute solos of 'The Choice'.
Review: 'Follow Me' is the name of a stone cold house classic from Aly-us that you will likely know, but it is also the title of this superb cut from Alchemy. A sure 90s gem that has been wrongly slept on, it now gets a reissue from the MBG International Records archives and sounds superb. The drums are smooth and soft around the edges, the pads ripple through the mix to soulful effect and some subtle vocals coos provide the perfect finish. On the flipside is 'The Trap' which is a breezy, blissed out house gem with nice analogue drums that again take you right back to the 90s.
Review: Detroit mainstay Andres returns to MotorCity Wine Recordings with an anthemic 4 tracker entitled Sunday Kinda Love. For those that know, MotorCity Wine is the spot for Sunday parties, so we only thought it appropriate to have one of Detroit's most seminal producers highlight the vibe with this EP. On the A side is Andres's dusty house sound that we've all come to love, complete with bouncing basslines, slick vocal chops, and drums to turn out any dance floor. On the flip side Andres slows the tempo just a touch to highlight his chunky midtempo beatdown sounds, with "Rubin Samba" bringing a Latin flair and "Sunday Kinda Love" driving it all home. Essential Detroit music manufactured in Detroit and housed in a gorgeous vinyl package, TIP!
Review: Irish producer Balmr lands on Selections after nice outings on the likes of Sofa Movement Records, Kolour Detroit and Expanded Records which have all established him as a fresh deep house artist. His love for the Motor City shines through again here with the warm, dubby drums and swirling pads of 'In Search Of' bring to mind the Midwest's best. Jon Dixon remixes with a little extra bite in the percussion and 'Forager' then layers up more dusty drums and wooden hits with diffuse synth curlicues. It's a sound that works on both head and heel and lastly, Glenn Davis remixes with a touch of jazzy cosmic class to his synth work.
Review: There is a great combination of the classic and the contemporary on this new Disco Disco 12". 'Paradise' is both deep yet moving, a warm tune with cuddly drums but retro chords that bring the energy. 'Latino' has shimmering hand claps and sensuous vocals with hulking great kicks that are full of promise. 'It Was Just A Dream' pairs vocoder vocals with glistening synth details and another enthralling and heavyweight house groove and 'RUFF Menace' then taps into 80s synth sounds with its stomping beats and deadpan vocals brought to life with celebratory synth chords.
Review: Nicholas Bicycle aka Nick Bike hops on some fine rhythms once more here for the Chosen Spokes label. As always he deals only in pure gold and this time he reworks a classic 80s gem into two different versions. Already well road-tested by the likes of DJ Marky in Brazil to great results, this 7" is pure bait for summer sessions. 'Ain't Shocka' is the first version with chattery claps and plenty of the original vocals and melodies left in place over funk drums. 'Shocka King' gives it a much brighter make over with melodies shipped in from another 80s disco gem by Evelyn "Champagne" King to make it even more irresistible.
Review: Atlanta's Chris Brann has always been most readily associated with his trailblazing work in Wamdue Kids, but he's always done much more besides. As a solo artist he first struck out in the mid-late 90s on the likes of Peacefrog, Acacia and Guidance, which tells you plenty about the quality of deep house he's responsible for. Studies In Form originally hails from that period, out in 1997 on Woody McBride's Sensuist label. These tracks sound evergreen, steeped in the warm musicality of the era, with plenty of oomph to get a floor moving but ultimately loungey in their demeanour. This is grade A classic US deep house from a seasoned pro, now lovingly reissued for your pleasure.
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: Adrien Calvet returns to Stay At Home for yet another four-track outing in the realm of buzzy 4x4 electro and minimal. Compared to his earlier releases, this one marks a curveball, with rhythmical raps and monotone vocal determinations laid out ecstatically across each mix. The tracks otherwise range from wacky to funky to surreal, capturing the apparent essence of Adrien's recent Central America tour. The atmosphere was said to be vibrant, with "gringos" mingling and locals warmly calling out, "iEste es mi gringo!" from afar...
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.
B-STOCK: Sleeve torn but otherwise in excellent working condition
Never Thought (feat Sunchilde - 623 Again vocal)
Never Thought (feat Sunchilde - 623 Again instrumental)
You Get Lost In It (feat Lady Linn - Full vocal main mix)
You Get Lost In It (feat Lady Linn - instrumental)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve torn but otherwise in excellent working condition***
Kerri Chandler has been described quite correctly as "the Stevie Wonder of house music." What he brought to the world of deep house was real musicality, as well as hefty, signature kicks that have a seemingly impossible amount of weight and bounce, but also funk. He is back with a first album in years later on in 2022 but first he is teasing us all with plenty of samplers from it. We get two more tunes here - the first 'Never Thought' with those trademark kicks, a nice vocal and some peak time tech energy. 'Get Lost In It' is a more soulful tune with big diva vocals and raw, stripped back beats.
Review: The Rangi Club EP by Chasse offers four genuine house tracks that showcase the essence side of deeper dance music. Side-1 opens with 'It's Alright,' a track that lays down a solid house groove. With its deeper vibe and strong vocal delivery, it sets the perfect mood for a night on the dancefloor. 'Purple Street' follows, bringing smooth deep house sounds and a rhythm that's instantly catchy, making it hard not to move along. On Side-2, the title track 'Rangi Club' takes inspiration from Chicago house with its distinctive drum grooves. It's a workout for the dancefloor, designed to keep the energy high. The EP closes with 'Welcome,' a piano-led builder that gradually intensifies, offering a satisfying conclusion to this well-rounded collection. The Rangi Club EP provides four strong examples of tracks that will elevate any set.
Review: JIN09 marks a significant step forward for Cosmo, one of Seoul's most dynamic DJs and producers. Since her debut in 2017, she's become a fixture in the city's vibrant club scene, holding residencies at BBCB: Beton Brut + Concrete Bar. On her first solo EP for the Jin Records label, Cosmo weaves a dreamy, ethereal sound that taps into the traditions of house and balearic music. The A-side opens with lush, flowing melodies that gently chug along, creating an atmosphere that feels both expansive and intimate. These tracks, with their atmospheric textures and hypnotic rhythms, encapsulate a sense of cosmic journeying. On the flip, Cosmo delves into grittier, more tech-focused territory. Here, the beats take on a harder edge, with driving rhythms and a rawness that pushes the energy forward. While maintaining the ethereal quality that runs throughout the EP, the B-side brings a sense of tension and release that's sure to resonate on dancefloors. With this release, Cosmo demonstrates her versatility, effortlessly blending contrasting styles while retaining a cohesive, signature sound. It's a confident, forward-thinking EP from a rising star, and one that signals even more exciting things to come from this talented producer.
O Ceu E Preto (Dimitri From Paris & DJ Deep remix) (6:13)
O Ceu E Preto (DJ Deep & Romain Poncet remix) (5:22)
Review: Cotonete are a genuinely unique proposition: an eight-piece French jazz-funk outfit who performed live for a decade before recording their first single in 2016. They've delivered a couple of great albums since, including this year's brilliant Victoire De La Musique. 'O Ceu E Preto', a Brazilian flavoured number, was one of the highlights of that album and here gets reworked for house dancefloors by French veteran DJ Deep and pals. On side A, he joins forces with fellow local legend Dimitri From Paris to deliver a chunky, bass-heavy vocal version that sits somewhere between Masters At Work's more Afro-house-infuenced efforts and Deep's own late-night dancefloor hypnotism. He explores the latter side of his musical personality further, alongside Romain Parcet, on a flipside dub that exquisitely deep, trippy and delay laden. It's a genuine triumph!
Review: The Tribut label is dedicated to the "legend", of whom there are many, and we must say that Tribut themselves are at first deliberately obscure about who they're referring to. It's only further listens that reveal their references: the first edition in their eponymous series hears four hazy minimal recollections of pop, disco and rock classics laid to half-forgotten wax. As if to suggest that the stars of yore have been obscured in a miasma of danceable drives and industrial process, producer Marcelo Cura lays down two tributes on the A, 'Bowie's Dance Tribute' for David Bowie and 'Senor Break'; he then teams up with Ja Kub for two more labile knockers/movers, 'Prince's Future Tribute' for Prince and 'Nina's Blackbird Tribute' for Nina Simone.
Review: Toy Tonics is a real favourite here at Juno - their house is always fresh, never cheap and often with an authentic link to the past. Next up they have London's Cody Currie serving up his debut long player. Lucas is a nice broad work that opens with some of the broken beat the UK capital is so well known for before progressing through loose house funk on 'Money,' percussive and soulful vibes like 'Red Hot' and steamy slow jams in the form of 'That Stick.' And that's just the first side of the first record with three more to come that are just as good.
Review: The third installment of the Split EP series brings together the talents of Dutchman Michel De Hey and DJ Steaw, offering four dynamic tracks ready to ignite the dancefloor. The A-side kicks off with 'Hot Like That,' delivering thumping warehouse house music infused with serious 90s house sounds. 'Pressure You' follows with a more upbeat vibe, blending high-energy house elements with deepness and a tracky vibe, ensuring a fun experience. Flipping over to the B-side, 'Northern Line' introduces deep bass, fun house music, and a hypnotic groove, accentuated by chords of beauty that mesmerise the senses. 'Don't Care' rounds off the EP with deeper house vibes, boasting addictive smoothness that keeps listeners hooked. Together, De Hey and DJ Steaw masterfully fuse nostalgic elements with vibrant synths and buoyant house rhythms, crafting four musings that are primed for the clubs. Four groove-inducing tracks that will undoubtedly captivate audiences on any dancefloor.
Deepstar - "Sugar" (feat Donna Allen - Richard Earnshaw remix) (6:33)
Deepstar - "Sugar" (feat Donna Allen) (7:51)
Melba Moore - "My Heart Belongs To You" (Groove Assassin remix) (6:15)
Melba Moore - "My Heart Belongs To You" (Ron Carroll's BMC vocal Classical) (8:08)
Review: Soulfuric Recordings, a pillar of house music history founded by Brian Tappert and Marc Pomeroy, continues to deliver with the reissue of Donna Allen's 'Sugar.' Originally released in 2002, this track showcases Allen's r&b vocals alongside Pomeroy's signature groove-driven production. The package features two versions of 'Sugar,' including Richard Earnshaw extended mix, which highlights and the original version. On Side-2 remixes are complemented by two standout versions of Melba Moore's 'My Heart Belongs To You,' with a Groove Assassin extended mix and a Ron Carroll BMC vocal mix. Despite being over two decades old, 'Sugar' retains its vibrant energy and classic appeal, embodying Soulfuric's legacy of influential house music. This reissue celebrates the timeless quality of the track today.
Review: Ou la la, here comes DJ Merci with another EP for which we should be thankful because it's a joyful one packed with feel-good house and disco sounds. 'Shake It' gets things underway with warm chords and cosmic synth work over 90s house beats. 'Sound Of One' offers lung-busting diva vocals and great piano work and 'Step Into My Life' then sinks into a more late night and seductive sound with a jazzy melodic overtone and laid-back beats. 'Rosemary' is the closer and one with another organic percussive sound and louche drums for smooth grooving.
Burning Up (feat Oliver Night - extended edit) (4:34)
Review: MotorCity Wine out of Detroit looks to the other side of the planet for its next release as Sydney, Australia-based artist Edseven steps up with his Burnin Up EP. It's that title track featuring Oliver Night that opens up with a smooth and seductive sound, leggy drums and warming chords. 'Soul Takes Flight' is another cuddly, deep and late-night lounge sound full of emotive vibes and another amazing vocal from Oliver Night. Things get even more chill on the flip with the mid-tempo sounds of 'If I Let You' featuring vocals from Cinta, all pressed up in a limited picture sleeve 12".
Review: Time to Play's latest release, "Midnight Love," marks a significant addition to their catalog, courtesy of Japan's DJ Dreamboy. The EP's title track is a masterclass in Japanese deep house, capturing a sound that's minimal yet intense, balanced yet dreamy. The choice of Brazilian producer Zopelar for a tough remix only underscores the track's impact and versatility. On the flip side, "Vibe" kicks off with a minute of atmospheric build-up, gradually exploding into a whirlwind of kicks and acid arpeggios. It's a journey from suspense to euphoria that's bound to ignite any dancefloor. Following suit is "Dream Town," which retains a softer, more contemplative edge, echoing the vibe of the title track while adding a layer of subtle sophistication. The EP wraps up with "My House Style," a high-octane trip through Tokyo's nocturnal landscape. It's a relentless romp featuring deep basslines, ethereal atmospheres and a rhythm that demands you keep moving. If you've ever dreamt of a non-stop dance odyssey, this track's your ticket. DJ Dreamboy's "Midnight Love" not only showcases their signature sound but also sets a new standard for modern deep house.
Review: James Priestley has always been known as one half of Secretsundaze but is now the sole artist working under that moniker after parting ways with Giles Smith. Here he branches out with a new label 9FINITY which takes its name from his young daughter's mispronunciation of 'infinity'. He says the name aims to capture the label's MO, which is to offer up "no-nonsense, discerning dance records from artists at the vanguard of modern club music." The first outing is a fine various artists collection with Eoin DJ's 'Red Rubber Roses' going deep yet driving, DJ Life twists melons with his cyborg house stomper, Luca Attanasio explores a futuristic tech house sound with a killer bassline, Coffintexts lays down filthy bass and Latinx club sounds and E-Talking cruises through the cosmos with some turbocharged prog-techno. Superb.
Review: Four Tet is back with a new album of shimmering wonderment on his own Text label. As ever, it's the way that Kieran Hebden tugs at the heart strings so artfully that makes him so well-loved, and he's not holding back one iota as "Sixteen Oceans" opens up with the ineffably pretty "School". There's some advanced garage ruminations on "Baby", classic ambience on "Harpsichord", and so the eclectic and extremely soul-cleansing vibes continue across three sides of wax. In addition to this wonderful new album, Hebden has also held back the fourth side for a bunch of locked grooves so satisfying you could get lost in them all day.
Review: If you were judging Kieran Hebden's 11th Four Tet studio album merely on the way it's presented, you'd immediately think he'd spent the last two years immersed in early '90s ambient house albums. While it's unlikely he's done that, it's fair to say that New Energy does owe a debt to classic electronica sets from that period. For all the exotic instrumentation and subtle nods to post-dubstep "aquacrunk" experimentalism and chiming, head-in-the-clouds sunrise house, the album feels like a relic of a lost era. That's not meant as a criticism - New Energy is superb - but it is true that his choice of neo-classical strings, gentle new age melodies, sweeping synthesizer chords and disconnected vocal samples would not sound out of place on a Global Communication album.
Review: Fred Again seems to be one of the most talked about artists of the year. Part of that centers around the astonishing Boiler Room set he served up, but also plenty of credit is due for the music he makes. A lot of that is summed up here on Actual Life 3, the third installment of his series after the previous two back in 2021 and recent collabs with the likes of Swedish House Mafia and Future. It shows off his mastery of a range of different sounds and scenes across 13 fun and fresh tunes that are backed with emotive beats and catchy hooks as well as some standout vocals.
Review: You can always rely on Optimo Music to serve up the leftfield goodies. And that's exactly what we have here with this new EP from Gaeg entitled Anarcho Disco Vol 1. It is a trio of innovative tracks starting with 'Merpa' which is a jumble of rhythms, the sounds of spacecraft taking off, ghoulish laughter, dubby bass and wire electronics that will lead to madness in any set. 'Hi-Land' is another richly layered with twanging bass guitar, sci-fi signifiers and vocals that ramp up the pressure. As the title suggests, this really is an outing of anarchic disco.
Review: Hardt Antoine is back on Reculture with a second superb EP that has been rather delayed due to the pandemic. He opens up with a tune that reflects the nature of the year of lockdowns - deep and rolling, tinged with sadness, not in a hurry to go anywhere and stuffed with a sense of self longing for something, anything. 'Are You There' picks up with a more propulsive track that has elements of cold wave's chilly synths, metallic percussion and a motorik kick that never lets up. It's the sort of elevating, tense, trance-including tune that will take any set from one level to the next.
Review: The second in the HouseHeadz00 Series, The Black Edition, is "a masterful exploration of house music's rich and varied landscape." The EP take in four tracks that combine seamlessly blend different subgenres into one complete listening experience. 'Recuerdo' goes for classic house with its vibrant pianos and uplifting melodies, 'Desire' heads deeper with hypnotic beats and lush textures. On the flip, 'Dream' does what it says on the tin, enveloping you in a woozy, dreamlike state with intricate layers and ethereal sounds, before 'Ever' introduces a soulful dimension with smooth vocals and emotive harmonies. Something for everyone, pretty much.
Review: Sushitech excels at preserving and spotlighting the roots of house and techno and now it is offering up this superb compilation on coloured vinyl alongside the standard black. The second volume of "A Sillybration" continues this tradition by compiling sought-after tracks and essential classics from UK legends Terry Francis, the late Nathan Coles, Laurant Webb, Dave Coker, and Justin Bailey, also known as Housey Doingz. This 16-track collection includes many tunes that were previously released only once and are now rare, alongside some that have never been pressed on vinyl. Re-mastered from the original DATs, these tracks form a vital collection of timeless dance floor anthems.
Review: Terry Francis and the late Nathan Coles (who were the men behind seminal UK party Wiggle) as well as Laurant Webb, Dave Coker and Justin Bailey were Housey Doingz, a vital production outfit that lay the foundations of early tech house. Now some of their best work has been pulled together for a two-part collection called A Sillybration. All the cuts have been remastered from the original DATs, many have never been reissued since the original release, and some have never been on wax at all. They are all timeless and effective tracks that you simply cannot pass up owning.
Review: Here's a genuine slice of history: a rare recording of a live jam from ambient techno explorers The Irresistible Force (AKA legendary chill-out room DJ and shiny space suit enthusiast Mixmaster Morris) and Ramjac Corporation (AKA Paul Chivers), which took place at gallery, shop and intimate acid house venue The Brain in Soho, way back in September 1990. It's a brilliant time capsule of a time when the template of ambient techno was yet to be fully fleshed out and sees the two performers take it in turns to combine immersive ambient synth sounds and hallucinatory electronics with oddball samples and, more significantly, basslines and drum machine rhythms inspired by the Chicago House and UK mutations of Detroit techno. An important and entertaining musical time capsule.
Review: Reece Johnson brings the party across this limited new and hand-stamped 12" on the fledgling Disco Disco label. 'San Sal' is a lovely rough and ready party with nice loose, raw drums and freewheeling synth lines full of big energy. 'HTT' follows the same path and keeps the vibes pumping then 'Dance To My Beat' brings in some mad funky slap bass and plenty of tambourines and shakers to make the floor get down in even more unhindered fashion. 'Wanna Be Loved' closes down with a more stripped-back and deep sound for late-night seduction.
Review: Six releases in and Michigander label head Brian Kage teams up with the legendary French Techno producer, Taho, aka David Jacopin. The electronic music world knows to put respect on the Motor City, but the "Detroit EP" represents a fusion, emphasizing l'accent aigu - not a typo or spec on your screen that needs cleaning. Between Kage and Taho, their production pedigree includes releases for labels like FXHE, Planet-E, Delsin, F.Comm, and more, so it's no surprise the pairing makes for a masterfully produced EP covering the spectrum of Detroit house and techno sounds, with an added deft touch from its French connection.
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