Back catalogue: House

Review: Pablo Bolivar's Seven Villas label has released a slew of top-quality deep house and dub techno music since its inception ten years ago in 2014. The label continues to be one of the top labels in Europe currently for deep listening dance music. This compilation celebrates the history of the label and is part one of the three EP's that will honor the Spanish imprint. This brilliant collection features the beautiful 'Tali' by Pablo Bolivar as well as Germany's Iron Curtis dancefloor burning remix of 'Boundaries' by Yarosslav. To close out the first side of the 12", you have the dark and mysterious dub techno gem 'Candelaria' by Krissky. The B-Side is equally as great with Powel's gentle tech remix of melancholy star 'Vine of the soul' by n2Deep. Then you have Anton Lanski who is also featured giving us the emotional 'Never knew her'. Closing the EP out is tech brilliant 'Light shadow' by Agatha Pher. This is a great example of a label showcasing the perfect songs that exemplify their labels sound.

Review: Will Hofbauer and Igaxx collaboratively expand the all-too-easily received palettes of electro, techno, garage all in between, and even more yonder, proving to us that the boundary edges of each genre may be blurred without worry. Sharing three groove-bays each on this latest 12", Hofbauer indulges an across-the-pond sojourn, guesting on Japan's Ladybug label, which is managed by the also eminent Igaxx, who occupies the B with equal grip. Hofbauer's 'Cricket', 'Clod' and 'Cocodrilo' bring three endocrine C's to a singly sanguine side, echoing a Hessle Audio-esque experimental dance sensibility while secreting all manner of vital sonic fluids from his ears unto ours; the last track is especially alarming; cursedly toothy, its growly lead zombifying the elsewise rapid mix by way of an enthralled grunt. Igaxx's contributions are relatively supportive and yet mad, moving from the squelches and pipey ascensions of '4 5 SL Trip' to the parabreaks flows of 'Liquefy' and the sloshing cosmo-funk astro-vista that is 'Ray In Space'.

Review: Taken from last year's maxi EP under his off-piste Oeil Cube guise, I Cube's supersized "XXXX" gets the treatment from Red Light Records' Abel on this special 45". Taking its already smouldering slow-n-low vibe and giving it even more a hypnotic deep plunge, it's a respectful twist that loses none of the original's Balearic charm. Flip for "Etire En Avant" an immaculate slice of previously unreleased loopy magic that was recorded straight to tape in 96 but still sounds like it's 2096. Cool as ever.

Review: Nothing gets the hypemaschine talking like a one-sided 12", though this one may fly under the radar. It comes as part of Spanish imprint Downbeat's Special Edition catalogue. A quick "Indigenous Travellers" Google and Discogs search proved fruitless, suggesting it could be a one-off collaboration or secret alias, maybe? But the hint was in the tracks title "Paradise Ritmito Carnival" (Tribute To Jose Roberto Bertrami)". Jose Roberto Bertrami was a Brazilian keyboardist who died in Rio De Janeiro at age 66, on July 8th this year. There is little doubt that the colourful keys, short jamming chords and clucking Latin acknowledgement pay homage to the life's work of a leading light in Brazilian music.

Review: A compelling journey through minimal and tech house, blending futuristic elements with rich, danceable grooves. Side-1 opens with 'Survival', a track driven by a deep bassline and a sci-fi atmosphere that's both hypnotic and forward-thinking. The title track, 'Redemption', follows with techy, space-infused techno energy, creating an expansive soundscape. Side-2 brings versatility to the forefront. 'Connected (Kevin Tribute mix)' is an undeniable dancefloor weapon, packed with uptempo beats and a bold fusion of house and techno influences. It's a vibrant, big-room-ready highlight. The EP closes with 'A Loophole In Time', a downtempo treasure that transitions into jazzy, lounge-inspired ambiance, offering a smooth, melodic finale perfect for late-night introspection. 'Redemption' EP demonstrates Infinity Plus One's mastery of mood and groove, providing a versatile collection that moves seamlessly from high-energy dancefloor moments to introspective, melodic reflections.

Review: Relative newcomers Infradisco blend a Balearic sound of disco and house for the Italian label Archeo Recordings. Aqua Cheta is a blend of proper electronic examples of Balearic and chill out influences. 'Caduca' (Hear & Now remix) is ideal for the late-night scene with a blend a perfect blend of 80s and 90s but still sounding futuristic. Manu Archeo's remix of 'Dulcis' is a beautiful laid back downtempo jam that shimmers like a hazy day on the beach. We think you will like the organic and mystical 'Fluminea' as well. This EP couldn't finish any better than on the ambient tip with a soul warming float on the marina remix by Ocean Moon. Fans of Balearic, Cafe Del Mar and chill out music will treasure this EP no doubt. This 12" comes with a CD as well.

Review: Initially started as a 'long-range collaboration' during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Cooper Saver and Chris McIntyre's Inner Flight project was inspired by a heady mix of grandiose Canadian landcapes, Andrew Weatherall, the second summer of love and the "deeper corners of the 4AD catalogue". As this debut EP on Pacific Rhythm shows, it's a blueprint that guarantees warmth, sonic beauty, sunset and sunrise-ready soundscapes, and suitably loved-up club cuts. Following the slow-burn bliss of organic ambient opener 'Inner Flight', the pair cycles through acid-flecked, early 90s progressive house hypnotism (the stirring 'Explorer 3000'), dubby Balearic beats/dreamy IDM fusion ('Sonar Scanning'), mid-80s Factory Records leftfield electro-not-electro ('Channel Zero'), and chugging, delay-laden early morning colour (the chill out room friendly 'Rainbow Falls').

Review: Kaoru Inoue's latest EP continues the journey of his acclaimed long player Dedicated to the Island, which was recently released for Record Store Day 2024. This six-track sequel features a series of self-reworked tracks from the LP, a first-time vinyl release and previously unreleased material as well as a remix by Argentina's SidiRum, who is a leading tastemaker in the tribal and slower house scenes. True to its title, the EP emphasises enhanced rhythmic elements and delivers a blend of organic, left-field electronic sounds. Inoue's talent for crafting atmospheric, innovative sounds will only improve with this superb 12".

Review: Intrallazzi and Dario Piana have been friends and Milanese scene contemporaries since 1981, when they both fell in love with the distinctive Afro-Cosmic sound of local DJ (and later Piana collaborator) Daniel Baldelli. Since then, they have both made records aplenty under a variety of aliases, but this EP on Leng marks their first joint release. The headline attraction is opener (and lead cut) 'Out of Control', a dubbed-out cosmic disco chugger propelled by echo-laden percussion and a deep, low-slung bassline, smothered in psychedelic synth and guitar sounds. Fellow Italian producer LTJ Experience remixes, offering up a stripped-back and acid-flecked interpretation. Elsewhere, 'Lazise' is a TB-303-sporting cosmic shuffler and 'Saocraffen' is a Baldelli-influenced fusion of Afro-cosmic funk and ethereal Balearic sounds.

Review: Luca C & Brigante dust off the Invisible Cities controls for another hazy, foggy deep dubby dream escapade. With long-time collaborator Ali Love on vocal duties, it's an instant soul soother that lends itself perfectly to both remixes... Mad Professor does his unique thing, bringing the groove to life with liquid, ever-evolving character and adding subtle new synth elements while Apiento & LX Menace take the original to the dancefloors with a rolling, chuggy percussive tech twist.

Review: Ruvenzori makes the move to vinyl with four artists breaking new ground in the field of organic, spiritual house music. There's a Balearic tint to these harmonious jams, which melt into each other like one extended blend for the terraza of your dreams. 'Uluwatu' features Stan Tone and Izhevski collaborating on a swirling masterpiece with the steady tick of minimal tech house as an undercurrent for ascendant chimes, fluttering guitar licks and vocal murmurations. On 'Ayomi' Talemates joins the pair as they match emotive piano chords with sampled vocal loops, capturing an endearing, eyes-closed vibe in the process.

Review: Oceanvs Orientalis and Ilhan Ersahin first entered each other's orbits by chance at a performance at Turkey's Cappadox Festival in 2018. Orientalis is renowned for his fusion of Eastern musical motifs and traditions with cutting-edge electronica, while Ilhan Ersahin has long plowed a unique path uniting assorted musical strains from around the world via an exploratory jazz-improv sensibility. Following two tracks ('Mesta' and 'Pire') co-written by Ilhan and OvO and released as collaborations, as well as two more Ersahin / OvO co-writes ('Revenge Of The Wankers' and 'Television') released under OvO's name alone, a fresh and exciting new song, '1980', now heralds a full-length collaboration slated to land in Spring 2024. The track's title hints at a certain nostalgic bent, all while still keeping its gaze firmly fixed on the future as it evokes sun-drenched, bygone good times. The 10" edition adds several extra versions, one of which spotlights the multi-instrumental mastery of Darkside's Dave Harrington, and the other the mesmerizing vocal stylings of Gaye Su Akyol.

Review: Slow Life staple S.Moreira continues his explorations into evocative and futuristic Motor City themes on a new EP accompanied by the SL collective's visual designer Indi Zone aka Santi Uribe - making his second foray into production since SL008. "Santergio & Sergiago" sees the pair create some truly sublime tracks: from the mesmerising, psychedelic electronica of "Space-A-Nova" reminiscent of John Beltran or Neil Ollivierra's seminal works. They're then joined by Israeli bassist Yonatan Levi, who some of you may know from his collaborations with minimal veteran Bruno Pronsato, who contributes to the lo-slung hi-tech jazz of "Hazed" and the particularly chilled-out "Kalimojo On The Rocks".

Review: When it comes to production, the Idjut Boys are at their best when they let their dub influences run free. It's why their early, spaced-out deep house releases remain and high demand, and why Versions - a thoroughly dubbed-out re-imagining of their so-so 2012 set, Cellar Door - is arguably their most enjoyable album to date. Presumably put together while exceedingly high, the album's seven re-titled alternate takes flit between glistening Balearic dub (the 11-minute, gently evolving journey that is "Another Bird"), thrillingly percussive, Afro-and-rock tinged dub disco ("Lovehunter Dub", "Le Wasuk"), undulating dancefloor epics (the echo-laden piano and chugging rhythms of "Kenny Dub Headband") and the kind of drowsy ambient fare that recalls the finest Fila Brazilia productions ("Ambient Rab").

Review: When it comes to production, the Idjut Boys are at their best when they let their dub influences run free. It's why their early, spaced-out deep house releases remain and high demand, and why Versions - a thoroughly dubbed-out re-imagining of their so-so 2012 set, Cellar Door - is arguably their most enjoyable album to date. Presumably put together while exceedingly high, the album's seven re-titled alternate takes flit between glistening Balearic dub (the 11-minute, gently evolving journey that is "Another Bird"), thrillingly percussive, Afro-and-rock tinged dub disco ("Lovehunter Dub", "Le Wasuk"), undulating dancefloor epics (the echo-laden piano and chugging rhythms of "Kenny Dub Headband") and the kind of drowsy ambient fare that recalls the finest Fila Brazilia productions ("Ambient Rab").

Review: The cult Slow Life label has always operated at the more cosmic end of the house and minimal spectrum with speedy grooves designed to make an impact both physically and emotionally. Now a member of the collective, Indi Zone who is half of the Ethereal Logic project, steps out with a solo debut album that flips the script and explores organic grooves and blissful harmonies. It's an escapist delight with supple downbeat drums and gorgeous synth work that ranges from wispy to starry, watery to smeared. It paints a vivid picture of a heavenly tropical wonderland with endless neon glows and soft edges in which to get lost.

Review: Revered Japanese house producer and DJ Kaoru Inoue has been making his mark since the late 90s with releases music through his label Seeds and Ground and others like Mule Musiq and Groovement. Originally released in Japan in 2013, this newly reissued album blends world music, field recordings, ambient and electronic elements into an immersive and widescreen sound. It opens with the minimal gamelan ambient track 'Malam' followed by the Afro-Brazilian house of 'Selva' which is reminiscent of early Luciano and Villalobos. The album also features electric jazz fusion house, avant-garde tribal breakbeats and Balearic slow house. Closing with the melancholic new age piece 'Healing Force,' it's a timeless delight.

Review: Earlier in the year distinguished deep house and deep techno producer Kaoru Inoue dusted off his Chari Chari alias for the first time in four years and delivered We Hear The Last Decades Dreaming, a gorgeous (and essential) fusion of new age ambient, American minimalism, jazz and dusty downtempo grooves. On the back of that acclaimed release, HMV in Japan has decided to offer-up a first ever vinyl pressing of the Japanese great's 2002 album under the alias, In Time. A little bolder and more colourful in tone, the set sees Inoue and a variety of guest musicians brilliantly blur the boundaries between ambient, modern classical, gentle Latin beats, dub-flecked grooves, numerous exotic Asian musical styles, hazy Latin techno and the deepest house around.