Review: San Francisco's Dirtybird label has been kicking out big-ass party jams and wonky house and tech for a full two decades now. After 20 years of keeping clubs bumping the label now launches its first-ever commemorative vinyl box set. Dirtybird Hand Picked Box Set, Volume 1 features fan favourites from label founder Claude VonStroke, Aussie sensation FISHER, house vocalist John Summit, the legendary Sacha Robotti and mainstay Nikki Nair amongst many more. The set spans iconic tracks that have defined the label's legacy across the years and each one is big, bold and colourful, much like this set which includes one of a selection of exclusive items
Folamour - "Ya Just Need 2 Believe In Yaself" (7:00)
Jean Tonique - "Beach Break" (3:56)
Salome De Bahia - "Outro Lugar" (Synapson remix) (3:40)
Kiko - "World Cup" (4:38)
Bob Sinclar - "Gym Tonic" (3:01)
Bob Sinclar, David Guetta, Joachim Garraud, & Tim Deluxe - "Summer Moon" (feat Ben Onono) (3:12)
Lake Soul - "Autour De Toi" (feat Mathilde) (5:26)
DJ Gregory - "Tourment D'Amour" (feat Salomé De Bahia) (4:00)
St Germain - "What's New" (7:45)
Tour-Maubourg - "Amicalement Votre" (5:30)
De Pompidou - "Can't Be With You" (5:08)
Soha - "Les Enfants Du Bled" (4:28)
Leo Pol - "Chantal" (7:02)
Lifelike - "Night Patrol" (3:51)
DJ Deep - "Learn 2 Love" (6:39)
Aleem - "Filtri Organi" (6:14)
Kazy Lambist - "Doing Yoga" (4:48)
Review: Wagram's always comprehensive compilation series is back with another deep dive into a specific sound, and this time it is French touch aka the Gallic take on early house that is in the spotlight. Plenty of the early pioneers feature like Bob Sinclar, DJ Gregory, Saint Germain and Tour-Maubourg, but so do some more recent explorers of that sound, namely Folamour whose gorgeously sampled and gospel-tinged opener 'Ya Just Need 2 Believe In Yaself' is an early highlight here. Add in some other favourites like DJ Deep's 'Learn 2 Love' and De Pompidou's 'Can't Be With You' and you have a great overview of this popular house sub-genre.
The Bucketheads - "The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind)" (14:51)
Armand Van Helden - "The Funk Phenomena" (6:59)
Jonnick - "Play The World" (7:56)
Tronco Traxx - "Walk 4 Me!" (9:19)
Jeremias Santiago - "Femonette" (5:33)
95 North - "Ill Street Theme" (7:14)
DJ Kwest - "Love To Ecstacy" (5:43)
Review: Henry Street Music is one of house music's foundational labels. From the mid-nighties onwards it has been behind some of the genre's most enduring hits and now on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, it celebrates all that rich history with a superb double vinyl album, Henry Street Music 1994-2024 (30th Anniversary Edition). It kicks off with an age old staple from The Bucketheads that is one of the most mis-sung tunes of all time (it's 'these sounds', not 'pizza') and then comes a loopy filter gem from Armand Van Helden. 'Ill Street Theme' from 95 North is a nice old school bumper and Jonnick's 'Play The World' is another good time delight
Sunshine In Atalaya (feat Emma Sehested Hoeg) (4:20)
Atlantic Fever (feat Dawda Jobarteh & William Winding) (7:06)
100 Ways To Drink A Glass Of Wine (feat Oilly Wallage) (1:29)
Under The Mango Tree (feat Dawda Jobarteh & William Winding) (4:18)
Ogum (feat Vanja Santos) (5:29)
Astral Journey (feat William Winding) (4:18)
Hotel Sicilia (feat Dawda Jobarteh & William Winding) (6:00)
100 Ways To Wake Up (feat Oilly Wallage) (1:21)
Fly Away (feat Emma Sehested Hoeg & William Winding) (3:12)
Review: Jonas Visti introduces a new project, Visti's Vinyl Collective, blending diversities of Afrobeat, soul, house, jazz, boogie and pop, crafted with a motley crew from Denmark's jazz scene and international guests. Along with William Winding, Visti infuses electronic elements with instrumental Balearic-esque contributions from fellow musicians Emma Sehested Hoeg, Dawda Jobarteh and Markus Artved, whom all add their voices and instruments. Visti's vision is to create a freeform, genre-defying project, tracking experiences alongside other artists and a connoisseur's intel, built up as he's developed his Visti's Vinyl radio show.
Review: Leon Vynehall long again made the transition from decent tune maker to revered and unpredictable electronic artist. Now he proves why he holds that status one again with a follow up to his critically acclaimed debut long player Nothing Is Still. This time out he distils everything he has done so far in to a record with few comparisons. It is ready for dance floor deployment but never just functional. There are cavernous ambient pieces next to grainy, heavy, dubby rhythms with grand but lo-fi synth architecture as well as moments of intriguing experimentalism.
Review: Charles Webster's 2020 album Decision Time, his first for decades, was widely praised for the depth, soulfulness and densely atmospheric of its hazy and tactile sound. Those with long memories pointed out that Webster has form in this regard, with the legendary British deep house producer taking a similar approach with his 2001 solo debut album, Born on the 24th July. That album was overlooked at the time, so it's fabulous to see it finally get reissued on vinyl. Shot through with woozy, soft-focus, ultra-deep soul, trip-hop and gorgeous downtempo beats, the set is not only immaculately produced and full of inventive instrumentation, but also boasts some seriously inspired guest vocals. It's genuinely an overlooked classic that deserves any belated attention it finally receives.
Review: Freaky, playful synthwork from Sao Paolo's Zopelar on the ever-reliable Tartelet imprint. Over eight immensely juiced, irreverent meditations on synth funk, boogie, deep house, Italo disco and acid, Zope showcases a mastery of foregrounding unconventional musical forces, cheeky and envelope-pushing analogue synth programming and genre-mangling at its very best. Highlights include the heart-in-mouth sway of 'Distraction', which at times sounds like a lovechild of Marcellus Pittman and Genesis-era Larry Heard, the eerie, questing squelch of seductive B-side opener 'Safe In The Dark' and the queasy, euphoric alarmism of lost freestyle hit 'Free Your Spirit (Ritmo II). Very addictive.
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