Back catalogue: House

Review: The Manchester producer, already known for his work with Hot Creations and Cuttin' Headz, channels a refined, magnetic energy here that solidifies his rising-star status. Back for his eighth EP since breaking on to the scene, AJ Christou makes a triumphant full EP debut on Crosstown Rebels with Desire, a sleek two-tracker that feels both sharply contemporary and deeply rooted in classic house vibes. The title track is a smouldering cut built around a throbbing bassline, crisp, polished percussion and a teasing, seductive vocal that coils through the mix. It's a slow, deliberate burn that feels primed for those moments deep into a set when the dancefloor is locked in and the lights are low. Flipping over to 'Patience', Christou leans into a more textured, intricate sound. The drums are playful yet tight, driving a track that's equally effective but more subtle in its progression, with layered synths and understated melodies gliding beneath. Both tracks show Christou's talent for crafting grooves that are as detailed as they are danceable.

Review: Bari's Deepshakerz return to key UK label Crosstown Rebels with a tight, percussive three-tracker rooted in the crossover between Afro-tinged house and punchy, early Chicago rhythms. Opener 'Give It 2 U' throws down a sinewy blend of filtered vocal chops and tumbling drums, straddling jacking minimalism and maximal groove with characteristic flair. On the B-side, 'The Beginning Groove' slows the rush slightly, working a heady, looping motif into a more restrained late-night hypnotiser. Closer 'Green Light' features a crisp vocal from Dennis Wonder, building up a more melodic high with bright chords and bouncy swingiless brooding, more pure release. It's the Italian duo's second release for Damian Lazarus' label, and a strong showcase of their versatility within a signature sound.

Review: Having set out his stall via an EP for Crosstown Rebels' Rebellion sub-label, Puerto Rican producer Cali Lanauze graduates to Damian Lazarus's main imprint. His love of South American and Caribbean percussion sounds comes to the fore on opener (and title track) 'Borderline', where Cari Golden's atmospheric lead vocals rise above a booming bassline, raw analogue electronics and punchy house beats. Lanauze once again doffs a cap to Latin rhythms and drum sounds on the deeper, creepier and even weightier 'Temple of My Confessions', before adding sinewy strings, deep space chords and trippy spoken word snippets to a sub-heavy tech-house groove on the gargantuan 'Talk To My People'.

Review: Crosstown Rebels compere Damian Lazarus teams up with fellow musician and singer-songwriter Jem Cooke, with new track 'Searchin'': a primeval precognition of the big bad boss man's upcoming fifth album on the label, Magickal. Though it's been released digitally with a focus on Bullet Tooth's remix on the B-side, this blue-innered vinyl edition compiles all three of the track's versions, also clocking a sure-to-be much-spun Radio Slave remix on the B. The original is an FM-led brooder with posterities of bleep techno and darkside fidget house. Cooke's vocals belt searchingly against burbling synthwork, while Bullet Tooth's remix takes a tempting dark garage turn, risking briar-shod paths of bass as Cooke's refrain is made gothic. Slave's version is, as ever, hardly slavish, preferring a more tensile daytime vibe of subtle piano and muted vox.

Review: Damian Lazarus and JOJO ABOT's work here is a powerful collaboration that pushes the boundaries of what we expect from the Crosstown Rebels label. On the surface, it's a pulsating dancefloor track, but there's so much more lurking beneath the surface. Built on a foundation of driving rhythms and intricate textures, the track weaves JOJO ABOT's bewitching vocals with hypnotic grooves and subtle amapiano influences, creating something that's both immersive and unpredictable. The Major League Djz remix elevates the energy, turning up the intensity with a deep, groovy progression that feels like it could keep the party going for hours. Meanwhile, Raxon's rework introduces a darker, more atmospheric edge with his signature off-kilter bassline and sharp, rolling percussioniadding depth while still maintaining the track's core essence. Warrior Dance shows Lazarus' unerring ear for talent and his ability to curate soundscapes that speak to both the mind and the feet.

Review: Eight further sonic spirits are conjured on the seventh edition in Damian Lazarus' annual compilation series. Emphasising deep house and techno grooves with a hypnotic flavour, the procurement here is exemplarily brooding; Dino Lenny's 'I Have Sampled Father' marks a sure turn away from the openers' cleaner-cut mesmerisms with a smoky, funk-inflected haze, bringing rhythm guitar and paternal murmurations to a surreal montage. The monologuing mood continues on the equal highlight that is Upercent's 'Where Are You', whilst Enamour's 'Jackpot' rounds out the show with the record's only brightly-lit minimal triller. The record is marked by sensuous, distant, familiar voices throughout.

Review: Mita Gami and EREZ unite for 'Where's My Voice?', connecting thrilling Tel Aviv, nighttime NYC and lit LA. Their debut on Damian Lazarus' Crosstown Rebels follows earlier releases on Borders of Light, and also introduces EREZ to the fold. Mainstay Gami, a fixture on the Tel Aviv scene, also here returns a lauded remix of Parallelle & Nicolas Masseyeff's recent single 'Renegade'. EREZ too reiterates his productive intricacies, rejoining after standout releases on Get Physical Music and Discotexas. 'Where's My Voice?' blends EREZ's entrances with rhythmic infections, scaffolding organic percs about a vocal formwork. Samer Soltan's remix deepens the mood, lengthening the three-word motif across a brooding extension.

Review: Secret Echoes, the Mexican trio of Estefani Brolo, Diego Cevallos and Marco Balcazar, are back with 'Particles', a release that builds on their promising 'Bring My Beat Back' debut with Crosstown Rebels. The first track is a deep, groovy journey, led by Brolo's ethereal vocals which blend seamlessly with wonky synths and a rolling rhythm. It's a track that effortlessly flows from introspective moments to dancefloor-ready energy. On the B-side, Greek DJ and producer Angelos gives the track a fresh spin. Known for his Grammy-winning work with Black Coffee, his remix brings a new level of drive and emotion, layering pulsating beats with rich melodies, making it perfect for the late-night crowd. Particles is a great follow-up, offering a glimpse into the trio's upcoming LP. With their unique sound and growing presence, Secret Echoes are showing they're ones to watch in the electronic scene.

Review: Boston pair Soul Clap land on UK staple Crosstown rebels and bring their signature E-funk sound across a quarter of tunes that also draw on garage and deep house. 'Gone Stumblin' is effortlessly breezy with swirling, aloof vocals up top, a knotted bassline and dusty drums and percussion making a nice late-night vibe. The dub version is bigger, with twisted stabs and frazzled leads rewiring the energy and 'Unifying Force' is a swirling, gooey sound with an old school FM bassline and classic vocal sample bringing the heat. 'Gone Stumblin (bonus version)' is a second take on the original with some fun drum patterns and big raw snares to amp up the vibes.

Review: Damian Lazarus's fifth studio album is another left-of-centre exploration of house and tech, often with a spiritual twist and hints of voodoo magic. It is heavy on collaborations and finds the Crosstown Rebels boss hooking up with the likes of Hem Cooke for the spine-tingling downtempo opener 'Searchin' while 'R U Dreaming? (feat Mathew Jonson)' is a more deep and bubbly late-night tech sound. 'La Hija De Juan Simon (feat Mestiza)' is laden with percussion and warped bass, and 'Sunrise Generation (feat Fink)' is a deft and progressive melodic roller that is sure to be huge this summer and beyond.