Closer Than Close (Frankie Classic club mix) (10:20)
Review: Rosie Gaines will also be synonymous with her smash hit single 'Closer Than Close' (also the name of her fifth album) which now gets reissued by the Demon Record Singles Club. Gaines actually started her career back in 1985 when she perfumed and recorded with The Curtis Ohlson Band but it was when she was a member of Prince & The New Power Generation that she really got noticed. Her Closer Than Close album came in 1995 and soon after she was dropped by Motown, but a remix of the title track a year so so later arrived in club land on bootleg and sold over eight million copies around the world.
Review: Gala's iconic dancefloor hit resurfaces with a sharp, modern edge, proving that true anthems never fade. Nearly three decades after its debut, the 2024 version injects the track with fresh energy, weaving crisp electronic textures into the unmistakable melody that first captured hearts in the 90s. There is a balance of nostalgia and reinvention that amplifies the hypnotic chant we all know, providing an infectious rhythm with new layers that feel built for contemporary club sound systems. What's remarkable is how the essence of the original remains untouchediits euphoric pulse still as irresistible as it was on its first spin. It's a celebration of a track that continues to unite generations on the dancefloor.
Review: Massimo Napoli is Galathea and he is still riding high off the success of his second album Sacred Love. Now he backs up the quality of that one with this new EP on Space Echo which features four unreleased tracks. 'Ancestral' and 'Karimabao' on the A-side feature hypnotic atmospheres and blend African rhythms with tribal percussion and sleek pads to make for a rather addictive fusion for sophisticated dancefloors. 'Africa Carnival' then offers an Afrobeat groove infused with Brazilian spirit and plenty of jazz, and funk all added to by Mario Pappalardo's masterful keyboard work. The EP closes with 'Sacred Club,' a track which mixes up African mysticism with a danceable, clap-driven rhythm that is perfect for a more subdued yet entrancing dancefloor experience.
Review: Rhythm Section's latest favourite, (Oliver) Gallegos, evidences his mastery over the art of what we like to call the "speech tune" - a format almost as old as time. Think Rum & Black's 'Slaves' or Underground Resistance's 'Transition'; the formula is as such; a slow-built dance beat, at least over 110BPM by our estimation, over which a rousing historical speech plays out throughout the track. Though this form lends well to a 90s rave aesthetic, Gallegos finds himself at a post-comedown period of history, indeed in which "rave" is often bittersweetly thought to be anachronistic; and in which house music often reigns supremer. So, then, does he bring a record-breaking, body-moving homily vocal sample to an incredibly arranged set of house arpeggiations and medley-style sample cut-ups, working in a sort of auditory bricolage but nonetheless bringing them together under a seriously reflective memorial dance-dome.
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!
Review: The Gallery series of edits and reworks has already dropped some killer cuts, though we're no nearer discovering the identities of the 'unknown artists' behind the imprint and its fine collection of re-appropriated disco workouts. On 'Don't Wait For The Doctor', a single-sided affair, they dip their toes into the sometimes murky world of the mash-up/bootleg remix. Of course, it's a tasteful and well-crafted affair, with our mysterious heroes combining a gently tweaked, effects-laden instrumental re-edit of First Choice Salsoul classic 'Doctor Love', with vocals borrowed from another Larry Levan favourite, NYC Peech Boys' proto-house classic 'Don't Make Me Wait'. The nods to the Paradise Garage legend don't stop there, either, with the infamous laughter sample associated with his DJ sets and remixes making an appearance from time to time too.
Pleasure, Joy & Happiness (Musclecars remix) (9:24)
Circles Going Round The Sun (Laroye remix) (8:06)
Review: Yet two more Brownswood bubblers rise to the surface, this time under the well-organised branch of the tree known as Brownswood Remix Editions, which does what it says on the lovey-dovey carving. Here, back-to-back debutants Musclecars and Laroye receive the Olympic torch from London-based acid jazz group Galliano, who've blazed a thick trail of flame since their original formation in 1988, not to mention a recent reformation in 2023. 'Pleasure, Joy & Happiness' hears a house musical chorale from Musclecars, with added vocal mystifications threshed in the stereo field, producing a Balearic effect. Laroye's version of 'Circles Going Round The Sun' brings swelling "Kaytra" grooves and bumper drums to an anticipatory mood, provided by the original's solo siren song and urban monologue.
Review: Soul Supreme is a master keyboardist best known for his covers of classic hip-hop songs by the likes of Mos Def, MF Doom and A Tribe Called Quest. Here side-steps his covers duties to handle remix productions for two of his contemporaries in the Netherlands neo-soul scene - Gallowstreet, LYMA, Shamis and Rebiere. The A side lends a wonky future house feel (a-la GoldLink, Crackazat) to '52 North', Gallowstreet's ode to the city of Amsterdam. The B tune strips it back to a lo-fi soul bapper, fleshing out its theme of loneliness in parenting.
Review: Jorge Gamarra's 'Exercise In Futility' EP is a striking exploration of sound from start to finish, showing his unique flair in the minimal and tech house genres. On Side-1, 'Rigor Samsa' sets the tone with an epic soundscape that merges futuristic and dramatic sci-fi elements. Its heavy, brooding atmosphere is both catchy and dynamic, making it a standout opener that invites listeners on an adventurous journey. Side-2 introduces 'Angular', a track infused with trance elements that create a romp into the future of techno sounds. The seamless blending of rhythms and melodies elevates the listening experience, highlighting Gamarra's ability to craft engaging soundscapes. Concluding the EP, 'Petrichor' is our favourite of the three. It delivers a stunning fusion of 80s darkwave aesthetics with techno influences, with lots of emotional atmospheric and depth with rich textures, evoking a nostalgic yet fresh vibe. All in all, a masterful record.
Review: Taking their namesake from the infamous mob boss of the same name, DJ and producer Carlo Gambino urges us to 'Ride The D Plane' on his latest EP for Tasteless Thieves. The titular opener rattles and scuttles away, its mix revelling in the many fast delays and transitional echoes that harken minimal cut-ups and drops to come thereafter. Alex Arnout comes through for a much weightier remix on the A2, yet he also straightens things out into a more flattened progressive techno shape. 'Small Talk' jibes out with waterily twisted-out vocals either lamenting or hyping up the necessity of small talk, while closer 'That's Right' verges, that's right, on minimal breaks, making for a thoroughly tricksy sendoff.
Review: French electronic icon Laurent Garnier returns with the FABRICLG4 EP to celebrate the 25th anniversary of London's legendary club. This release showcases Garnier's signature range and opens with 'Playing with the Low-End,' a fierce 2-step track that nods to the heritage of UK club sounds. The journey then shifts to techno with 'Resonances from the D' barrelling along with great force and then on the flip side, 'Odyssee Maison' features deep house grooves with Dan Diamond and last but not least 'On the Way Home' rounds out the experience with ambient sounds. This one comes with "augmented reality artwork" by Atelier 14 and is another doozy from the already untouchable Garnier.
Review: Gary's Garage arrives as a celebration of all things Gary, aiming to bring the name back into the mainstream by offering up a truly infectious garage EP. With four tracks packed with bass-heavy grooves and cheeky energy, it's impossible to ignore the pure joy of the sound. Kicking things off, 'I've Taken Too Many Garys' serves up a chunky, bass-driven anthem, filled with nostalgic vibes that instantly transport you to the good ol' 2000s UK Garage days. 'Gary's Ballad' takes a more somber turn, with a melancholic homage to Woolworths, capturing Gary's reflective side. Then, 'Gary's Garage (Is A Good Garage)' cranks up the tempo with a bouncy, feel-good anthem that'll get you reminiscing about those wild nights in Streatham. Finally, 'Nigel Garage' cranks up the BPM with a playful nod to old-school hardware, while poking fun at Gary's lack of an Emu SP1200. A fun, tongue-in-cheek reminder of the glory days of UK garage.
Review: For their latest vinyl release, the TINK! Music label looks to Lisbon and the enigmatic duo Gatupreto, whose Modo Di Trabadja 12" betrays all manner of influences that seep beyond the realm of house music. In their own words, "the art Gatupreto generates is simple, unpretentious and sincere, it owes to the classic rave vibe as much as to the rawness of hip hop as much to the sunset of Cape Verde as to the sunrise of the Lisbon riverside." This manifests itself in two understandably diverse productions from Gatupreto with the heavily percussive workout of Vahagn's closing remix of "Grandi Loba" of particular note.
Review: Emil Gayles made a brilliant impression with his recent and excellent 12" on Glenn Underground's Strictly Gaz Unit Extensions label and now follows it up with another tasteful deep house exploration. He hails from Chicago's South Side where he has made his mark as a DJ and played with dons like Gene Hunt and Theo Parrish and now backs that up with his studio prowess. 'Trinity' is a lush symphony of subtle chord work and rubbery drums while 'Mustafa' has a spiritual edge thanks to its glowing harmonies and leggy drums. 'Lotus' gets even deeper with its subaquatic bass and then 'Black Trojan' layers up seductive spoken words with another bubbly mix of drums and bass.
Review: Italian producer Gemil returns with Planet X on Deep Down Space Records, marking the label's second release. 'Dance Phobia' immediately grabs your attention with its serious bass groove while the energy builds. A mid-tempo minimalistic house track enriched with vocal samples that add a house appeal, while the track’s tension mounts through the break before cruising smoothly to its end. "Reaction" dives even deeper, presenting a creative, addictive rhythm track with a tech appeal. Swirling chords and airy, euphoric elements blend seamlessly over a classy 90s house feel, leading into a moody alien melody in the second half—perfect for late-night dancefloors and growing more impressive with every listen. On Side-2, the title track 'Planet X' is an exciting and creative blend of sounds, even earning an approval nod from HAL 9000 in the mix. Italy is known for their wonderful history of ambient house. This piece has that legendary sound and appeal to be a classic while providing many smiles on the dancefloor. Lastly, 'Soul Killers' delivers an addictive house mantra that everyone can get behind. It's perhaps the most underrated track on the EP but is sure to find its way into the sets of classy house music DJs. Don't be a Soul Killer! Planet X by Gemil is a splendid EP, capturing the essence of house music with a touch of techno sophistication, ideal for both connoisseurs and late-night revelers alike. Welcome to Planet X!
Review: One of Chicago house most unique and salty tousled producers, Gemini's music will always be well regarded. It gets reissued every so often to prove that fact and always sells out as no one made house as intensely emotive and rhythmically fresh as him. This EP previously appeared on Classic shortly before he stepped out of the fray and it's not hard to hear the signs of his mental health struggles to come in the playful lyrics of the title track, but throughout the EP is the evidence of what a gifted house artist he really was. From the playful, bubbly bounce of the lead track to the heads down low end trip 'A Taste', this is essential, still.
Review: The most sought-after release from the entire Sounds catalogue, Gemini and Unit T's 1995 release, 'Sideburns', finally gets a much-needed reissue. A1 track, 'Trip', is a prime example of deep house if there ever was one. An infectious, encircling melody meets the deep groove of the bassline to create a finished product that is in equal measure sun-soaked and cosmic. 'B Trip', the A2 track, is a gloriously shifted, off-beat reimagining of A1, pummeling percussion reverberates across the track, left alone to enjoy moments where everything is stripped back, before the body of the track returns. On the B-side, 'Mystery Tones' arrives with the kind of groove that instantly makes its way across dancefloors - a unifying track that feels precise in its simplicity, whilst still retaining exactly the right degree of looseness to get a crowd moving. This is a must-have record for any deep house aficionados, and you can now save yourself the hefty Discogs price tag!
Review: Enman Recordings is a brand new label that kicks off with an EP of classy deep house sounds from Gene. The opening gambit is a nice loose percussive tumbler, 'Mayonaka Jam', with its warming bass pulses and percolating funk groove. French house master Franck Roger remixes and does so with more kicking and fulsome low end, shuffling drum and zippy pads. 'No Accident' on the flip has a more stripped back and eerie sound for building atmosphere and 'Fall In' closes with a nice deep, heady sound, sparring synth puddles and wooden hits for extra bite. A tasteful 12" to start this label off in style.
Review: Rumors chief Guy Gerber teams up with Innervisions co-head Dixon for the life-affirming dancefloor drama of 'No Distance' with its Afro and futurist deep house elements creating for an altogether epic experience that you'll be sure to encounter in a club this year - if they ever reopen. On the flip, Leipzig's Martin Enke, better known for his work as Llewellyn on local label Riotvan, serves up a dreamy rendition under his alias Lake People. This version of the track is so immersive and complex, it will draw you deep into the ether.
Review: Dance of Enjoyment seems a perfectly fitting name for an album from Geed. The German DJ, label head, writer and tastemaker is known for his party-starting sets and for being as liked by threads as he is the more casual dance music enthusiast. His joyous selections span sounds and eras with ease and this new collection of tunes does the same. The title cut is a throwback, piano-laced banger, 'Let The Music Take Control' brings some raved-up breakbeats and 'Change of Heart' brings 80s synth energy to lively house betas before 'Digital Illusion' is a glistening and synth-laced disco gem.
Review: The late, great Nathan Coles is rightly hailed as UK tech house royalty - an originator in the scene who embodied its headsy, underground energy in the long and winding years before the sound broke through to its ubiquitous popularity it enjoys now. Of the many projects he turned his talent to, Get Fucked found him studio sparring with Nils Hess around the turn of the millennium on labels like Eukahouse. Now leading tech house reissue label Repeat have gathered together the best of the singles, and as you might well expect it's heavyweight, rolling gear for the late night marathon crew, crafted masterfully with grit and groove in equal measure.
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.
Make Life Funky (DJ Sneak Big Boss Business remix) (6:59)
Make Life Funky (Inner City, Kevin Saunderson, Dantiez remix) (4:37)
Make Life Funky (Amine Edge & dance remix) (6:41)
Review: To think associatively for a hot sec, the command to 'Make Life Funky' - the command that also abounds throughout this latest fidget house release by Gettoblaster and Roland Clark - might mean a lot of things. Funky in musical terms implies swing, rancour, arousal, and the occasional bared lyrical fang; to "get oneself into a funk", in idiomatic terms, might mean to muddy the waters, to abandon purity of life and accept a bit of dirt, a bit of stank, a bit of funk. Though there's no 'funk' in the strict funk genre sense here, 'Make Life Funky' is an expert masterclass in funk as vibe, bringing peak hour hands-in-the-air house vibes as Gettoblaster mans the controls, while Roland Clark dispenses some solid life-advice on the mic. Phenomenal remix support covering wide stylistic ground from DJ Sneak, Kevin & Dantiez Saunderson and Amine Edge & DANCE.
Review: Dan Ghenacia's D is a mesmerizing journey into the realms of deep house, showcasing his unparalleled talent in blending various genres seamlessly. Released as the second installment from Aweed, a new exciting French label in the electronic music scene, this album is a true gem for any music enthusiast. The tracklist begins with the futuristic 'Detrance,' a nod to 90s style techno that is impeccably executed. On side 2, 'Dafternoon' captivates listeners with its Detroit-inspired vibe, combining an ominous melody with a playful yet profound undertone. 'Dubapest' blends dubby elements with deep house sensibilities and a touch of electro flair with expert drum programming and a unique sonic landscape, D by Dan Ghenacia is a must-have for fans of deep house, tech house, and electro techno alike.
Review: Amongst Larry Heard's many, many celebrated achievements in the field of pioneering house music, the Gherkin Jerks tracks have a certain magnetism thanks to their downright nasty rawness. The original late 80s 12"s have been revisited in the past, but now the bonus tracks originally released on a comprehensive 2013 compilation get their own outing, cut to wax for the first time to serve all those who love their foundational house as rough as it comes. 'Psychotic Fantasy' is a dissonant masterpiece of gnarly acid, while 'Rezynator' has a slightly more melodic demeanour alongside its own grubby brilliance. The 'Original Full Take' of 'Ecstasy' is a slow-burning monster of needlepoint 303 tweaking and bludgeoned beats which jacks out for a full eight minutes.
Review: A double A-side featuring 'RESIST!' and 'I Keep on Making the Same Mistake', Ghost Assembly's latest offering is less a release and more a protest on wax. Abigail Ward, the force behind Ghost Assembly, has crafted two distinct yet complementary tracks that pulse with raw energy and emotional depth. 'RESIST!' (Extended 12" Mix) is a primal scream against the injustices of the world. This 111bpm acid track is a visceral call to arms, primed for ALFOS and Optimo crowds. Think of it as a sonic Molotov cocktail: squelching 303s intertwine with a driving 707 beat, while unexpected bursts of Arabic melody add an intriguing layer of texture. It's like DJ Pierre jamming with Omar Souleyman in a Berlin basement. A fragmented vocal sample adds to the urgency, culminating in an icy string coda. The 'Utter Kunt Mix' of 'RESIST!' takes a detour into dub territory. It's a stripped-down, bass-heavy reimagining that draws inspiration from Sleng Teng rhythms. It's a hypnotic, almost meditative experience, where echoes of the Mission Impossible theme collide with the playful energy of Les Negresses Vertes and the raw sampling aesthetic of 'Duck Rock'. It's unexpected, yet strangely compelling. 'I Keep on Making the Same Mistake' (120bpm), on the other hand, explores the darker recesses of the human heart. It's a cinematic journey through heartbreak and regret. A glacial breakbeat provides the backdrop for a mournful bassline that tugs at the heartstrings. Hazel Grove's haunting vocals are fragmented and distorted, adding to the sense of unease, before being consumed by a wave of melancholic strings. A fleeting French voiceover adds a final touch of poignancy. The release concludes with a stripped-back string-a-pella version, a haunting reminder of the track's emotional core.
Review: Chris Gialanze brings plenty of dancefloor clout to this fresh drop on the Beeyou label. The title cut 'Gunna Bee' is already one that has been doing the rounds and doing the damage recently so it's great it finally gets a proper release on vinyl. As well as coming as s dub mix, also included is 'So Criminal' which is a steely and metallic garage infused tech cut, while 'Tough Cloud' entirely switches things up with downtempo and breakbeats combining in old school post-rave or second room fashion to provide a great comedown after the main room fun. As such this is an EP that shows Gialanze has greta style and versatility no matter what he's making.
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