Back catalogue: Funky/Club House

Review: The Plastik People label has been going along nicely for its first few releases, with label head Marc Cotterell stepping up and coming correct last time out. Now he calls upon various artists with Dave Charlesworth taking care of the a-side of Nice Ripe Cuts. He offers two super slick garage cuts that cannot fail to make their mark on the club and it's no different on the flipside except D Lux & Y No combine first for '25 Miles' and then S R offers the irresistible 'Pressure.' An essential 12" for anyone looking to bring some fresh garage flavours.

Review: Record Store Day Black Friday edition gifts us this unlikely pairing of artists as Different offers up some Pet Shop Boys remixes of Claptone's 'Queen of Ice.' The extended mix goes first with a nice pop-tinged and subtly Balearic rework with warming electronic drums and the original emotive vocals. Their Moody mix then breaks up the beast a little into tumbling affairs that are perfect for summer festival deployment. On the flip is the heart-wrenching dance pop nugget that is the original of 'Queen Of Ice' (feat Dizzy) before the best of the lot - a nice and breezy 7" mix that is clean and catchy.

Review: The fast-rising Purveyor Underground Ltd kicks on again here with a sizzling seventh EP that is as rude as they come - in both meanings of the word - from Die Familia. It is his own East Side Gangster remix of 'U Dat Bitch' that kicks off with hard-hitting house kicks and sleazy vocals over a rugged bassline. 'House Music' (part 1 - Late Night edit) is just as raw but more deep and hypnotic with its ascending synth lines and steamy vocal coos. 'Organic (Like Weird)' might be the best of the lot - a quick and urgent house thumper with silky hi-hats and rolling bass getting you up on your toes amidst swirling pads and a melange of vocals.

Review: Swirl People have decided to launch a new label LITS (which stands for Lost In The Swirls) with new music from their reactivated Different Noodles alias. Wise move if you ask us because these tunes are top. 'Banana Resort' has an early West Coast tech house feel as well as hints of Chicago greats like Boo Williams and Glenn Underground. It's a super smooth and cool, breezy and balmy groove then 'Mr Boogie' gets more playful with bobbling drums and bright chord stabs under jazz leads. 'Flame' closes out a super strong EP with a more paired back sound built on fat drums and prying bass.

Review: Brooklyn's toucan sounds has snapped up the signature of Dee Diggs for her long-awaited debut single and it does not disappoint. 'Toss It' is, like the artist herself, inspired by the Black, queer roots of house music and it come with lashings of disco energy, smoky vocals and glossy chords as well as a catchy pop riff that emplores you to set yourself free. A fine remix comes from Detroit's Ladymonix who makes things dark, sweaty and steamy and last of all is a Matt FX Glitz N Glam mix to make this a brilliant package.

Review: Looks like we have another Digwah white label in this week. The label first appeared on our radar several years ago with its second release 'Something Else' by an anonymous artist who threw down a sublime vocal by Cuba Gooding over a pumping acid tech house groove. Fast forward to DIGWAH 07, the formula remains the same and is still rather effective. In this case, the vocals are taken from a rather legendary early '90s pop collaboration over a hypnotic, bass-driven minimal house groove aimed squarely at the afterhours dancefloor.

Review: JKriv & Co. at Razor N Tape serve up possibly their biggest release yet, if this one is anything to go by. The first edition in the label's brand spanking new Family Affair series features the pairing of legends Dimitri From Paris & DJ Rocca on 'Days Of A Better Paradise' kicking off the A side, before Saucy Lady's late night boogie-down biz on 'Passport To My Love'. Flip over and you're treated to a seriously lo-slung cosmic disco dub on Misiu's 'Love Me Do' and finally Clive From Accounts tells it straight up on the acid jazz joint 'It's Not That I Don't Care'.

Review: Legofunk serves up a 10th does of its futurist and floor funk here with Dirty Elements and Drunk Drivers at the helm. It's a De Gama Re-Groove to kick things off with super smooth house grooves and florid Latin influences over heft kick drums. It's a carnival waiting to happen, frankly. The original is a more stringy and percussive, but the weighty drums still establish a killer groove. Last of all is 'Cuica Groove' which is sunny and has a weird and wonderful vocal floating up top.

Review: Dave Lee is of course the given name of Joey Negro, the tireless UK music head, disco lover, record label owner, DJ, producer and archivist. 'Hey Uh-What You Say Come On' (Dave Lee Revibe) is first and is a big percussive workout with man Roy Ayers bells and xylophones over a steaming groove. 'Steal Your Heart' (Dave Lee Showtime mix) reaches for the big Philly strings and sets them free over a more chunky and funky groove that gets right under your skin. Lovely stuff.

Review: Moiss Music released a hot pair of EPs in February and repeat the same trick in May with another quality double drop. It is a various artists offering as always with DJ Delivery's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' a sure-fire floor-filling anthem to start things off. It's got loopy drums and string samples as well as sumptuous vocal harmony then Borka & The Gang keep the feel-good vibes alive with 'Kidding Feelings and Even Funkier's' Dance With Your Feet' is another smile-inducing bit of disco warmth with withering sic-fi synths and hip swinging claps. Jordan Reece's 'Prayer' has hints of gospel in the vocal while noodling keys and tight kicks all get looped to perfection.

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.

Review: Producer and DJ MES (aka Jason Sutton) is the man behind the Guesthouse label out of California and has overseen it serving up more than 100 releases. His own music is never far away from influential charts and record bags and now he serves up a funky number packed with soul samples. 'Soul Glow' kicks off with playful drum loops and filters, a neat bassline and infectious claps. 'Party People' has a more edgy feel with silvery drums and tumbling congas while 'Homage' is the most raw and direct and possibly the best of the lot with its chunky drums and razor-sharp hi-hats.

Review: Baltimore-based DJ Oji has been in the house music game for a long time now, starting out with his own Poji label alongside DJ Pope around 1994 and steady trucking since then with his warm, approachable brand of deep house. Known for his collaborations with strong female vocalists, on this latest release for Foundation Music he teams up with Tracy Hamlin for 'Cranes In The Sky', a sentimental piece steeped in soulful composition. Pope steps up for a remix which strips the tune back without losing the message, while on the flip Joe Goddard brings his brand of bumpin', off-kilter floor-filling magic to bear, and then Star One drops the 'KDA Meltdown Dub' in a tougher, techier style which has plenty of fun dicing up Hamlin's vocal for a fresh and fruity version.

Review: Funkhut Records is proud to bring to you the anticipated release by DjPope & The Funkhut All Stars Feat. Kenny Wesley "Listen Love". With all the live instrumentation along side Kenny's extraordinary interpretation of the great Jon Lucien's original, "Listen Love' makes this release a must have for any music connoisseur. Produced, Mixed and Arranged by DjPope. Additional Mixing by David Sussman, Mastered by Joey Hernandez, Bass : Irv Madden Guitar: Karlos Brickhouse Drums: PJ Spraggins Congas: Kevin Pinder Keyboards: Charles Dockins.

Review: Classic do a fine job here of enlisting various remixers to tackle key tracks from German house maestro Oliver Dollar's latest album. Label boss Luke Solomun goes first in cahoots with Chicago originator Honey Dijon, and the pair cook up a steamy, raw and right on remix of the gospel house original. Riva Starr goes for a slamming house take on "Crusader" and the 90s superstar Mousse T brings plenty of disco dazzle. Kelly G might steal the show with a low slung, warm and feel good dub mix to close things out in style.

Review: Rebirth is thrilled to announce the release of three bonus parts of the 'Ciao Italia. Generazioni Underground' album in 2023, available on limited edition vinyl. 'Ciao Italia' Bonus Quattro, Cinque and Sei continue to connect two generations - the trailblazers of the early 90s and those continuing the legacy today, with a futuristic perspective and renewed energy. Bonus Sei includes classic tracks from legends like Doni & Leo Young, Pastaboys, G.P.M., Steve Mantovani, Dan-E-Mc, Daniele Mad, along with unreleased material from newer Italian artists such as Hiver and Feel Fly.

Review: We still don't know who DSO is even though he, she, they or it have been turning out tasty, party starting house edits for a couple of years. This is the sixth offering from the DSO label and it opens with a pure bit of funk-laced house bait. Classic bass riff prop up the hip house vocals and the whole thing rolls on in catchy fashion. ON the flip, Snoop's classic 'Aint Cuttin But A G Thang' gets a hip house rework that is just as effective and enticing with that trademark low riding Cali-style synth line.

Review: Brand new this week, 'double trouble dub business' that's been burning up club systems all over the world. For a time only a select few DJs had this in their record bags, but these much anticipated bangers are now getting a full vinyl release. On the first side is a rip roaring edit of one of the greatest hits by the Queen Of Pop that's optimised for modern dancefloors. Over on the flip, things move into the after hours in minimal/tech house fashion with 'You Don't Dub Me' which samples a certain funky house anthem from the turn of the millennium.

Review: Toronto label Selections has become a firm favourite with house heads and now starts a nice sideline with its Special Edition 2023 series. This one welcomes Lea Lisa with her track 'Conversation Between Us' (Heide Club Mix) which is straight up underground house for the heads. Then comes an unreleased Javonntte remix of Evenn's 'One For Love' that pairs things back to raw dub essentials. Dan Only's 'Love Saturates' then gets a fine and formerly unreleased remix by Italy's Black Loops that has pristine drum programming and a fine bassline. Add in Sean Roman's jazzy dancer 'Sir William' and Jamn Ensemble's 'Convection' and you have a timeless house EP.

Review: Episode 8 of Cruise Music Vinyl Jams includes a mix of old and new releases so we start the A side with Mirko & Meex and their huge track Praise You, which is followed by Mark & Danny's Down Down Down.
On the B Side we have one of our biggest artist, Peter Brown and another great track, Hang On.
Last but not least we have James Ingram - Can You Dig It which is peaktime superfunky jackin track from a few years back.

Review: St Petersberg's Dobro label is noted not just for the quality and playability of its funky house and disco re-edits, but also for its value for money. This, their seventh release, is another great example, with no less than six floorfillers included on one 12", each bringing their own individual mood to the table. 'Flowers Festival' from Sun Rhythms has throbbing organs and fruity keys, topped off by a gorgeous Russian vocal. DJ Merci's 'Timetable' goes for chunky rave pianos and Fairlight stabs, lending it an 80s Italo-disco feel, before Ground Plane Aerial's 'Transition SP' closes the side with slap bass and stripped down house vibe that echoes some of Roule Records' more accessible moments. Side two VIGI's 'I Am You', is the most memorable of the whole package, with its idiosyncratic female vocal weaving a magical spell around the listener, before we finish off with a double whammy of Monny Me's swirling stringfest 'The Name Of The Game' and the parping horns and strutting groove of Ugly Frankie's 'Free Alcohol Shit', the latter including a bewitching and unexpected piano solo. Great work all round.

Review: Californian pair KG Superstar & B.Valentine join forces to bring plenty of island influences to some steamy and funky house music here. 'Get Up' features KG's expressive Jamaican style vocals with lots of B.Valentine ad libs which are designed to get those asses shaking and hands in the air. It's a perfect party time cut that comes in the form of FRZVL's Massive main mix and then a more clipped and funky dubstyle version. DJ Spinna then shows his class with his Galactic dub Vox which is all percussive energy and broken beat loops.

Review: Following the success of the Ciao Italia. Generazioni Underground album, Rebirth is excited to release three additional 'Bonus' parts this year, on a limited edition vinyl press. Bonus Quattro continues connecting two distant yet neighbouring generations: the seminal early '90s, and the modern day from a futuristic perspective. On side A, there's some early classics by the likes of Nikita Warren on the emotive old school feelings of 'I Need You' (Flute Mix) and Lorenzo Morresi on the downbeat swagger of 'Tento Brass'. On the flip, Alex Neri & Marco Baroni serve up the proper uplifting house of 'Lamar' while Spinapsys appears with the life-affirming 'Whenever' (Asha) that's a true zeitgeist of a golden era.