Review: Marcellus Pittman is one of the forefathers of the raw, gritty, lo-fi house sound that we so strongly associate with the Motor City. This EP for FXHE is a perfect case in point. It manages to be abstract and odd but also exude a human warmth and soul that is unlike anything you can get anywhere else. 'Nyrobi Knight' is a rickety drum workout infused with synth glows, 'Dirty' is depraved and dark and delicious and 'Cherry Lee' is dusty deep house with eerie vocals.
Review: Marcellus Pittman is one of our favourite Motor City mavericks. He crafts raw as you like drum tracks and layers them up with weird and wonderful sonic details. For opener 'Bumpin Squwow???' here the beats are paddy, dusty and warm, while the synths up top are twitchy and sharp but doused on more heartfelt chord work. It's a beguiling mix, then 'Faze Out' gets all wonky with prickly hits and vamping digital chords speaking of a future world. 'November Peoples' is deep and sleazy house with a more human sense of heartbroken soul.
Hieroglyphic Being - "An Astronomical Object" (6:29)
Review: Mother Tongue's 'Yellow Jackets' series is wilfully eclectic, meaning second-guessing what will be on the next release is nigh-on impossible, but undeniably essential. Put simply, each EP in the series so far has been nigh on essential. Happily, volume five is superb too. On side A, Detroit scene stalwart Marcellus Pittman does a superb job of reworking a cult classic - Belgian outfit Arbeit Adelt's 1983 post-punk masterpiece 'Death Disco'. His resultant re-edit emphasises the track's weighty, low-slung groove, mind-mangling electronics and weirdo noises, extending the intro and outro to allow DJs to ride the mix. Over on side B, Chicagoan genius Jamal Moss dons the Hieroglyphic Being guise and offers up a sublime slab of intergalactic excellence, peppering a deep, shuffling, distorted rhythm track with spacey electronics and shimmering, star-gazing melodies.
I'm Losing Control (extended Bass-ment club mix) (8:01)
Review: Dark Entries presents a reissue of Shawn Pittman's 1989 Dreams, an obscure and highly sought-after private press gem produced and written by Art Forest. An undersung figure in the development of the late 80's Detroit techno sound, Forest collaborated with, produced, or penned material for many of the key players in the movement, including Inner City, Suburban Knight, and the Belleville Three themselves (on Kreem's "Triangle of Love"). This reissue gives Forest's own productions some shine while providing a thrill for both dancers and collectors.
Review: Pixelife is no stranger to the Tusk Wax family, having appeared on the Horn Wax label some five years ago, alongside intermittent releases on Throne Of Blood and more recently Samo Records. Now Pixelife is back with a gutsy release in the Tusk Wax style that matches warm, analogue power with bombast and drama in abundance, not least on EP opener "Radial Velocity." "Digital Silhouette" is equally epic in its construction, but sports a leaner club focus in between the surges of full-bodied synth swells. LA-4A is in a vicious mood on his remix of "Radial Velocity," uses some snarling low end acid tones to devastating effect, and then "Virtual Light Institute" finishes the EP off with a swooning, emotive cut that capitalises on Pixelife's bright and bold sound.
Review: Black Key return from a four year hiatus in style, with 4 sublime tracks from Australian ultra deep house don, Planisphere, aka David Swatten. Following an incredibly well received LP on reissue label, For Those That Knoe, Swatten returns here with more expansive, smokey and utterly consuming deep house cuts, stamped with his unique sound but offering a different flavour from his Definitive Transmission LP - one which immediately stands out from the crowd. Being only his third release in 20 years, there's an understandable sense of anticipation around Swatten's output. This release undoubtedly puts Black Key firmly back on the map, picking up their deserved reputation for releasing only the very best deep house, aimed well and truly at the heads.
Review: Star Creature is very much leading from the front right now if you like cosmic disco. Tim Zawada's label is back with another delicious dose of the stuff here as Plastic Bamboo heads out on a crime jazz exploration of the outer reaches of our galaxy. His lithe beats and rugged drums are laced up with marvellous synths that are ever on the move. They shine bright and bring real sugary rushes of joy as curious narratives and intergalactic intrigue come thick and fast. Amongst the big bright cuts are some more mellow moments like the wonderful 'A Scene At The Sea' with its hints of Afro percussion. Delightful.
Review: DJ Bagdhad debuts on Boyanza Records with some straight up dancefloor fire. The excellent 'Get Paid' has jacked up 808 beats run through with raw percussion and a sleazy ghetto edge. Some rapid-fire vocals add further attitude to this sure fire weapon. After the Acid Dub comes Gome's interpretation which brings a more elegant touch and plenty of deep house drums with slowed down vocals and fresh bass. Last of all is Hype Club edit from DJ Bagdhad that layers in some epic piano stabs.
Review: Lithuanian producer Pletnev shows his class here on four hypnotic tracks on his I Like Your Bitcoin EP, which is heavy on driving basslines and full of infectious rhythms on Space Lab 013. Each track radiates a warm, bouncy groove and has punchy drum programming and a signature blend of EFX. 'How To Calm Down After That' is a fun and funky opener, 'I Like Your Bitcoin' gets more trippy with sci-fi melodies and watery effects and 'Cover Them With Blankets' is a rickety rhythmic workout. 'Skazka' closes with a garage dubby undercurrent.
Review: Parisian producer Leo Pol is back after a great release on Velvet back in 2014 that showed his potential to create some deep, dusty and totally tripped out house for the afterhours, particularly on the Le Chat Qui Danse EP. He now inaugurates local label IILE (a sublabel of Uniile) with some more hypnotic subtlety; even if it is tougher and faster than his previous effort. There's the opener "2 La Deep De Bretagne" which really rolls deep. "Korben Dallas" gets its swing on in infectious fashion, much like local homeboy Varhat can. On the flip, he teams up with Marc on "21" for a bumpy and minimal jam while closing out the EP is the absolutely sublime "Parking" which is sexy and summery and has a certain DJ Gregory flavour about it.
The Light (Jesse Bru's Sea Of Change remix) (5:00)
Touch Me (4:14)
Review: Yann Polewka is the man in charge of the GLBDOM label's fifth outing and a fine one it is too. He brings plenty of timeless house vibes to the opener 'Keep On' with its Kerri Chandler style bumping kicks and feel-good piano chords next to subtle vocal chops packed with soul. 'Oblivion' is another upbeat, uplifting house cut with a classic underbelly and rich chords to get those hands in the air. 'The Light' once again layers up well-crafted chords, irresistible drum funk and nice analogue percussion. Last of all, Jesse Bru's Sea Of Change remix of the same tune brings a more deep and late night feel to close out a top EP.
Review: A mesmerising blend of organic textures and synthetic precision, delivering a fresh take on techno and house. The title track, 'Upside Down', kicks things off with a clever nod to the glitch and microhouse era of the very early 00s. Its gorgeous melody and intricate layering make it both nostalgic and forward-thinking. 'Eyes Between Letters' follows with a deeper bassline and spacious, intricate production. Side-2 opens with 'Beyond Light & Shade', where Asian-inspired melodics weave seamlessly with a balanced blend of techno and house, offering a richly textured and emotive piece. Closing the EP, 'Complementary Senses' delivers profound depth, bringing an introspective quality to its lush production. A unique release tailor made for fans of innovative, boundary-pushing electronic music.
Review: The all-star team of the instrumental world, Polyplus, release a cover of 'Hi-Tech Jazz', a classic electronic jazz track and representative work of the project Galaxy 2 Galaxy, first put forth by Mad Mike's Underground Resistance. As for the choice of cover, the Tokyo jazzdance quartet have chosen well; while they've only gone and done it - reinterpreted Mike's timeless club masterpiece with a full band sound - they refuse to sacrifice any danceability or DJ mixability, doing full justice to the term "hi-tech" despite the freehanded naturalism. Also coming backed by the original B-sider 'Wake Me Up', 'Hi-Tech Jazz' heralds Polyplus' upcoming tenth anniversary album, Cosmic, as well as a jet-setting tour spanning Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka.
Review: Before relocating to New York City last year, Pontchartrain invited the legendary Javonntte over to record some material at his east-side Detroit studio. The result was the deep, down and dirty late night groove of 'Keep Dancing' (Detroit mix) while the NYC mix is a more pumping, heads-down affair on an old school electronic disco vibe with a nice dose of 303 acid for good measure. Over on the flip, 'Cirrus' is a deeper, cloudy and synth-heavy house track, which is backed by Delano Smith's dubby and hypnotic Motor City Re-Rub.
Review: Indo-Ukrainian producer Mayank Saraiya, under his Pontiff Ordric alias, helms the third chapter of the Barbatus series with a new four-track release that continues the label's deep-space electro saga. Based out of the Barbatus label's inner circle, Saraiya not only crafts the music but also handles the mix and mastering, giving this entry a tightly unified sound. 'Secrets Of Nexus' and 'Laboratory's Hazard' pulse with crisp, syncopated drums and shimmering 80s-inspired synths, while the B-side moves into darker, more propulsive territory i 'Ancient Technology' runs on acidic undercurrents and robotic swing and 'The Dawn Of Machines' closes the set with a steady proto-trance march that edges into cinematic territory. It's a new release that never leans too heavily on nostalgia, instead reanimating vintage electro textures with just enough detail and narrative flair to keep things compelling. Riddled with sonic in-jokes and pirate lore, this one rewards both the dancers and the heads i electro as odyssey, with its boots still muddy from the last expedition.
Review: DBH welcome Mihai Popoviciu & David Delgado the the Pleasure Zone series with the 'Evolution' EP. Bringing jazzy, sloshy, jerking flavours to the tech house palette, 'Evolution' and 'Shifting' evolve and shift, convoking a delegated moot of propulsive chords and forward-driving janks, conveying the mood of a finely tuned closed clockwork system chugging away like the central engine of a wider contraption. Closer 'Black Light' operates more readily in the lower regions of things, proving unafraid of sounds that lean towards the more peripheral and umbral.
Review: We hear distant soul croons, and lyrical talk of silver linings, on this latest EP from Pornbugs and Frink, as the pair draw another heat on the EPs game after 2023's 'See Through My Eyes'. Striking while the rod is still hot, these two've releases through the likes of Spielgold and Sublease since 2006, which have surely informed on this rippling release, which keeps one foot in the chillout vault and the other in room one. But both moods are held in impossible superposition - we feel relaxed and upbeat at the same time. 'Keep It Down' especially impresses with its distant use of a vocal line that might otherwise be put to more focal use by less patient producers, proving the compatibility of lyricism and soundscape.
Review: 'Guiding Me' is the new single from South African-born, Berlin-based artist Portable, who is known for his distinctive vocals and futuristic soundscapes. The track is inspired by his ancestral roots in the Khoi San people, and explores the theme of using technology to alter our dreams. The original mix is a delicate and hypnotic blend of minimal beats, ethereal synths and his soothing voice. The remix by Lawrence of Smallville and Dial reinterprets the track in his typically understated, late night mood music style. The EP also includes an exclusive B-side track called 'Vigor,' which is a deeper and moodier affair that creates a more edgy and mysterious atmosphere.
Review: Common Labour returns to the hydraulic PVC press with their milestone tenth 12". This latest four-tracker by pothOles balances crisp percussions and bassy grooves with evocative sprinkles of synthetic harmony. His buddy Yaniel joins the party, collaborating on two tracks. Throwing back to the dawn of their friendship in 2003, this EP gives off a whiff of early-noughties hip house blent with French house, with smoked out clouds and unbothered double-claps complementing the laconic femme vocals of 'Westbound' and 'This & That'. Every track erstwhile enjoys the odd use of a nippy high-reg acid stab, as if to suggest a certain sincerity-but-also-whimsy on the part of the producers - they're taking house music production seriously, but only half-so.
Souled Out (Joe Claussell The Cosmic Arts interpretation mix) (8:10)
Souled Out (Joe Claussell Joaquin Sacred Rhythm version) (13:59)
Souled Out (Joe Claussell Joaquin Deep version FNL) (8:20)
Feed The Fire (Atjazz remix) (5:28)
Feed The Fire (Musclecars Dream dub) (9:05)
Review: Audrey Powne's eagerly anticipated debut album already had us all 'Souled Out', and now we find ourselves served more soul food than our dharmas can handle, with this new remix bundle from Atjazz, Joe Claussell and Musclecars. First comes Claussell with three exquisite and spiritual remixes, each highlighting unique elements of Audrey's original production. Joaquin's Deep Version is quintessential Claussell, merging the bassy textures of a vintage King Tubby dub with vibrant percussion and entraining beats. The 'Sacred Rhythm Mix' is especially apical and peaktime, weaving a threnody of layers that culminate in a boogied-out crescendo. Then come two new versions of Powne's album cut 'Feed The Fire', first by jazzdance maven Atjazz, then by the New York duo Musclecars.
Review: Mint Condition, as you probably know if you are reading this, deals in reissuing classic tech house cuts. It has raced ahead in its mission and is now up to a 55th EP. This one brings back Presence's White Powder EP. 'Heart' opens up with dark but well swung drums overlaid with diva vocals while '$10' is a frazzled, slapping cut with bubbling basslines from the 90s. 'Power Chords' is a loved up dee house cut with echoing pads and cavernous grooves and 'Giving Love' is a jumbled of tribal hits and woodpecker bass.
Review: French house tastemakers Robsoul return with four outstanding house tracks on vinyl by two talented Australian DJs. This collection features the most sought-after cuts from the three Secret Weapons projects which were originally available only digitally. Additionally, the release includes one exclusive, previously unreleased track, all of which bring these Australian DJs to a broader audience. 'When It Comes To Love' is a punchy one with sustained pads and classic sax, 'Let Me See You Work' is a nice loopy and lo-fi groove and 'Zone' and 'Movin' Up' close out with heady pads and feel-good vibes.
Review: This was the debut single from Italian dance crew Prezioso & Marvin back in April 1999. It soon made waves as an international hit that bothered the top ten of charts around the world. It has all the hallmarks of a Euro dance classic of that time - the happy drums and trance chords, the camp vocals and a sense of optimism that defined the dawning of a new millennium, as well as some hella catchy pop hooks. This white vinyl reissue offers up various different versions for some retro fun.
Review: Colombian-born, New York-raised producer Felipe Quiroz, aka Prince of Queens, debuts on the always relabel Razor N Tape with his Merida EP, which masterfully blends Trans-Caribbean culture with house and techno. Renowned for his work with Combo Chimbita and releases on Names You Can Trust, this EP features six Quiroz tracks that merge vintage tropical sounds with modular synthesisers. Spanning a variety of tempos and electronic Latin vibes, the grooves are both lush and dynamic and the superb cover art reflects the EP's emotional depth. While Prince of Queens is a relatively new name on the club scene, this release is going to win him many new fans.
Review: This isn't an EP of house tracks crafted in the mid 1990s by the late member of the royal family, but rather a dive into the back catalogue of New Jersey producer Heeley Calator of SMACK Productions fame. In keeping with much of Heeley's work, the four tracks on show (all originally released in 1994) are undeniably X-rated and full of sexually-charged vocals. Check first the 'Instru-Beat' mix of 'Whose Dick Is This', a rolling, low-slung and lightly soulful garage-house workout, before admiring the warmer, dreamier and jazzier 'What's My Name (The Tribe & Friends Mix)'. Over on the flip, WOLF has served up two takes on 'Big Dick - Mutha F*cka': the percussively dense, organ-rich New Jersey garage heaviness of the 'Sample Mix' and the stripped-back tribal house headiness of the 'Drum Mix'.
Review: Is it just us or has the quality of Record Store Day releases really levelled up in recent times? No longer do we just get unwanted new formats of the tired old classics. Instead we get genuine treasures reappearing, vital reissues popping up and interesting remixes like the one. It finds global tech house titans Solardo adding their own spin to Patrick Prins' seminal 'Le Voie Le Soleil' n the occasion of its 39th anniversary. It's full of mad pianos, euphoric drums and feel good energy that is perfect for festival season. A Pat Re-flex on the flip seals the deal.
Flare's Grip - Prism Remix (Herbert's Make It Right dub) (6:39)
Vol 03 - 02 (6:16)
Review: Remastered rarities by the late Susumu Yokota under his 246 and Prism monikers. Go Up was originally a defective release which has since been corrected and remastered and Vol 3 - 02 was not released. It also features a megamix of Ambient Love and Squeeze Up (which feature on Cosmic Soup 005) by Gene On Earth and a remix of Flare's Grip - Prism Remix by Matthew Herbert titled "Herbert's Make It Right Dub". Three legends on this EP. Superbly remastered and cut by Mike Grinser at Manmade in Berlin. Artwork by John Williams.
Review: Sometimes we get some wonderfully enigmatic notes with new releases and this is one of them. Rather than share them all, enjoy this one line - "Protecting the past by projecting it into the future, preserving identities, encouraging conversations across generations, and above all, safeguarding the island of Procida's vast intangible cultural heritage from extinction." Now you can ponder the meaning of that while getting lost in a collection of global grooves that span dub, downtempo, ambient jungle, Balearic and more with plenty of humid atmospheres, whimsical melodies and a general sense of mystic aura that will keep you coming back for more.
Review: For the latest volume in Running Back's sporadic 'Super Sound Singles' series of reissues, boss Gerd Janson takes us back to 1989 and Professor Supercool's 'If You Love Somebody' - a baggy, loose-limbed and saucer-eyed revision of the Blow Monkeys track of the same name that's long been rumoured to be the work of the band themselves. It is undoubtedly of its' time - think loved-up vocals, bustling breakbeats, rubbery double bass, glassy-eyed sonics and tactile piano stabs - but sounds as current and fresh now as it did at the tail end of the 80s. The original full vocal mix sits on side A, while the stripped-back 1989 instrumental can be found on side B alongside a fine Gerd Janson edit tailor-made for 21st century dancefloors.
Review: New week, new Instinct, new weapons. Burnski's unstoppable label continues to offer up the most fun and functional garage and house fusions out there right now. For this one, Prozak steps up with screw-face basslines and throwback organ stabs on 'Yush,' then 'Dash' rides on a pumping deep house groove that's underpinned by slamming bass. Benson steps up for collab cut 'Gangster' complete with gunshots, rude vocals and ridiculously naughty reversed bass stabs. 'Bounce' is a final fist pumping garage house banger to close an effective 12".
Review: By now already a cult favourite label, Banoffee Pies Originals is back with new beats from Planet Euphorique label boss D. Tiffany and multidisciplinary artist and Rinse FM resident Ciel working together as Psychedelic Budz. The Canadian duo delivers two off-kilter club tracks here with a guest appearance by Adam Pits under his Lil Mushroom alias. That's on the title cut 'Wonk Donk' and it features a supple and hyper-speed rhythm with dubby undercurrent and deft vocal smears next to acidic squiggles. The other cut 'Vokal Fry' is a percussive jumble with broken beats, watery effects, chopped-up vocals and a generally beguiling vibe.
Matra Murena (feat Local Suicide - Rafael Cerato remix) (5:41)
Review: Plenty of dark disco's finest practitioners come together on this new 12" on Iptamenos Discos, with Psycho Weazel serving up the original tune. They are two producers from Switzerland who mix up indie-dance, cold wave, breakbeat and EBM. Here they offer 'Mains D'Argile' featuring Curses which has sweeping, widescreen synths bring a retro feel to a stiff, kinetic beat. The wonderful Marvin & Guy offer an extended mix for extra long club fun and then it is Local Suicide who guests on 'Matra Murena' which brings a perfect mix of light and dark to stark grooves, and Rafael Cerato remixes to close out the package.
Review: Moxy Muzik's 'Moxy Editions' series of multi-artist EPs has long been a reliable source of quality underground house music, with the six previous instalments - all released between 2021 and 2023 - being packed to the rafters with high-grade material. There's plenty to set the pulse racing on volume seven too, starting with the driving, druggy and mind-altering peak-time excellence of Stacy Pullen's 'Nasty', a slamming concoction that makes great use of vocal samples lifted from a Prince-produced Vanity 6 classic. Label chief Darius Syrossian then delivers his interpretation of Audiojack's 'Get Down', reframing the track as a soul-fired slab of NYC tribal house of the sort that was once the preserve of Danny Tenaglia. Over on the reverse, Vincent Caira offers up the swinging deep house chunkiness of 'Position' and Buckley delivers the all-action, break-sporting rave hedonism of 'In 5D'.
Review: Chad Pulley makes his first solo appearance on John Beltran's All Good Music label, although keener eyed spotters will know that Pulley and Beltran previously collaborated on a track under the Bel-Pull Productions moniker. He steps up to the task ably, slipping into All Good style comfortably with the calm and melodic, gracefully coasting techno of 'Through My Eyes', before the flip side reveals the wistful 'Mesmerizing Blue', where pianos and synths call and respond over exotic rhythms. 'Sticks' completes the set, slightly harder and funkier than its two predecessors but again with an emphasis on musicality, off kilter danceability and originality. On this showing, a name to watch.
Review: Purple Disco Machine's 'Dopamine' came out last year in a blissful burst of singalong vocal house goodness, with Eyelar up front on the mix creating a fully fledged anthem which was a deserved hit for the German producer. Now comes a remix 12" which casts 'Dopamine' under the watchful eye of John Summit, a young producer with serious pop nous to his beats. It's a shoe-in for big rooms and big stages where you want to enrapture the masses, and if the A side isn't enough you've also got the Daft Punk-tinged disco delights of 'I Remember (Club Dub Mix)' on the flip. Purple Disco Machine's name is a byword for catchy club classics in the making, and so it goes on this new 12".
Review: German artist Purple Disco Machine is a studio wizard and something of a throwback - he manages to make tunes that are rich in musicality as well as having plenty of focus on the dancefloor. Each one brims with colourful hooks and catchy grooves and this new one 'Beat Of Your Heart' comes with delightfully soulful vocals from singer-songwriter ASDiS. It's got summer anthem written all over it such is the feel-good nature of the whole thing with both a club dub and instrumental also included for different settings. Bring on the sun!
Review: Honey Boy is a superb new single by the one and only Purple Disco Machine alongside the super star bass player and Chic band member Nile Rogers as well as Shenseea and Benjamin Ingrosso. With all these talents on one tune you know it is going to be a big one full of rich bass and killer hooks and so it proves, with funky beats, lithe bass playing and dazzling disco pads that are all topped with an irresistibly sunny vocal.
Review: For those who like kaleidoscopic synth sounds, nu-disco and 80s electrofunk nostalgia, the announcement of a collaborative single from modern disco maestro Purple Disco Machine and Canadian boogie revivalists Chromeo will be big news. Happily, 'Heartbreaker' is tons of fun, providing a perfect fusion of Purple Disco Machine's throbbing, cheery and uplifting take on nu-disco and the authentic synths, talkbox flourishes and eyes-closed vocals that have always marked out Chromeo's work. The A-side extended mix is particularly potent, but we're also massive fans of the alternate instrumental take, in which the uniqueness of the fusiuon - Moroder-ish bass, elongated mid-80s soft rock synth solos and glossy FM synth stabs - comes to the fore. To quote Alan Partridge, it's a copper-bottomed hit!
Something On My Mind (extended instrumental) (6:54)
Something On My Mind (Solomun remix) (7:36)
Something On My Mind (Solomun remix instrumental) (4:50)
Review: Purple Disco Machine makes the sort of warm, colourful and feel-good sounds that have united festival crowds all over the world since he first broke through. For his latest tune he has worked with UK chart-topper Duke Dumont on a single, 'Something On My Mind' which melts nostalgic disco goodness with fresh and contemporary production. It is jin indie-tinged cut with vintage synths and groove-driven basslines with vocals from rising band Nothing But Thieves, whom Purple Disco Machine remixed not so long ago. This is another crossover hit in the making for disco-revivalists Purple Disco Machine and it comes on a 12" that is limited to 300 copies.
Review: The label with the finest catalogue number naming convention in all of dance music is back with another fresh slab of wax. This one from Purple Kush mix up US house and UK garage starting with the swinging sounds of 'Let The Spirit Flow' which has a beautiful organ line and heart wrenching vocal. 'La Bahia' is another one with throwback organs and a fat bassline over low slung and well swung drums. 'Make Your Mind Up' goes deep with chopped up vocal fragments and plenty of 90s house vibes and 'Purple Kush Theme' is a stoner reggae downtempo delight.
Review: The anonymous artist game is still going strong in the minimal scene, and t's still yielding some of the freshest material at a time when it pays to bring something different to the table. The Putch series deals in a tougher kind of tech house on its sixth volume, bringing densely packed, rolling rhythms and sizzling flair to the A-side cut with one eye on the sunrise at all times. On the B-side, things get a little deeper without forsaking those snappy drum machine beats, but really the choral pads are the star of the show on this closed-eyes wonder, just itching for a loose and limber crowd to sail away with.
Review: Andrew Morgan's Peoples Potential Unlimited label may well have been founded to document the lost and forgotten funk, disco and boogie that peppered the DIY and private press labels of 1980s USA, but their contemporary releases are just as good. See 12"s from the likes of Legowelt, Beautiful Swimmers and Pender Street Steppers for evidence. Fried Chicken Skin adds to this small but deadly canon of contemporary PPU releases, presenting one of two records on the label from Stefan "Rekchampa" Ringer, a Stockbridge, Atlanta-based producer who got his break in late 2014 thanks to Kai Alce's NDATL label. "Fried Chicken Skin" is a bumping, rough US house delight replete with ad-libbing vocals from Ringer himself, whilst "Ride" sees him collaborate with Personal Trainer for a more reduced, deeper cut that will appeal to Sound Signature fans.
Review: Luv Shack's compilation style 'Disco Biscuits' series is the very definition of reliable, with each new EP delivering killer cuts aimed at the more cosmic end of nu-diusco dancefloors. Volume five in the series arrives with four more tried-and-tested workouts and little in the way of forgettable filler. Check first Rising Seed's 'Back For More', a driving slab of spacey dub disco/cosmic disco fusion in which intergalactic electronics and samples sitars ride a Prins Thomas-esque bassline and beats, before admiring the chugging and squelchy nu-disco shuffle of 'Suffering of K.P' by B.Visible. Over on the flip, Peletronic's 'Drifting' is a glassy-eyed slab of immersive deep house/nu-disco fusion, while Jon Gravy's 'When U Leave' is a stomping slab of peak-time house headiness rich in bustling beats, memorable melodies and hands-aloft riffs.
Paolo Rocco & Red Meat Therapy - "Better Dayz" (8:04)
Paolo Rocco & Lessi S - "This That" (6:04)
Paolo Rocco, Lessi S & Pijynman - "Sacred Place" (8:32)
Review: Paolo Rocco's back catalogue speaks for itself across the past decade of deep house. Iconic labels like Real Tone, Saved and Hot Creations have all put out his 12"s and in 2021 Fuse London carried his album Life In Pieces. Now he's back with a new release on his own RAWMoments label, which has been platforming the work of Rocco and his close pals since 2017. These same pals are the ones he jams with on these four tracks, which span the subtle new wave Balearic touches of 'Release Me' with Pijynman and the slinky funk of 'Better Dayz' with Red Meat Therapy.
Review: Seasons Limited made a welcome return in 2024 and now keeps up that good momentum with another big single from French house mainstay Franck Roger with some fine vocals by Paul B. It's a super smooth sound with drum swaying back and forth, molten synth adding late night and tissue soul and the tender vocal adding intimacy and late night romance. Rocco Rodamaal steps up for remixes and first of all he pairs things back to a sedate, seductive deep house roll then fleshes out the drums with some dubby weight to finish.!
Pete Moss & Colette - "Higher" (Saison remix) (5:32)
DirtyTwo - "Rymden" (5:12)
Review: There is a wealth of No Fuss releases all dropping this year and number 12 is a tasteful house four-tracker from various quality artists. Saison's 'Suffer' is up first as a remix from Fouk, and it is a lovely, jazzy, laidback and heartfelt sound with an infectious skip in the drums. The original is just as infused with dusty soul and warming chords and on the flip Saison remixes Pete Moss & Colette's 'Higher' 'into carefree grooves with more noodling melodies and DirtyTwo then keeps the grooves flowing with 'Rymden,' which exudes summery excellence.
Review: Finland's Common Labour label unites four different producers on the fourth volume of its Odd Jobs series, and each of them goes deep in their own inimitable way. Omar Santis begins with an unhuried and smoky dubbed out house with wispy pads and subtle vocals on 'Pinoki.' Flabaire ups the energy with some slick, tightly programmed but smooth drum loops that bounce freely beneath warm pads which infuse the mix with soul. Thomas Wood's 'All It Takes' has molten bass and liquid synths for a dub house delight on 'All It Takes' and Potholes's 'Bromsman' is the headiest of the lot with DJ Koze-style melodic whimsy.
Review: The debut album from Ukrainian collective Noneside unites musicians and visual artists under the inspiring words of poet Taras Shevchenko, who said 'Make love, o dark-browed ones.' Framed by a painting from contemporary artist Iryna Maksymova, the music explores the trance and tech house that is destined to bring souls together on the dancefloor this summer and beyond. Shjva opens with fresh and mashed bass and sleek trance pads that are subtle but effective. Lostlojic layer sup deep, bubbly techno drums and bass with an angelic vocal tone and Saturated Color's 'Trancia' is a speedy, scuffed-up tech groove for late-night cruising. Peshka and Yevhenii Loi offer two more future-facing trance-techno fusions packed with feels.
Review: Don't be misled by the facetious title, there's no handbag house to be found on Hed Kandi Vol. 1. Instead, you'll be treated to some real proper beatdown vibes by some right legends of the Detroit underground, curated by scene stalwart Norm Talley. The ever impressive Delano Smith gets the Mixmode vibe in effect on the hypnotic back room dubs of 'The Lost Synth' parts 1 & 2 respectively which cover the A side. Over on the flip, Sistrum Recordings main man Patrice Scott gets some emotive Motor City soul going on in his inimitable style on 'Better Days' followed by the heads-down basement beats of Deepset's 'Soltek'.
Review: Soft Traffic is an alias for a well-known digi-dub producer who recently turned heads with an outing on Made Mecum. Now they land on the mighty Sushitech with a super limited, hand-stamped 12" featuring Prince Morella. It opens up with the silky smooth 'Meltem I', a liquid dub techno roller with chords rippling out to an infinite horizon as vocal muttering up top heighten the immersive trip. Part II is more icy and underwater, with rhythmic synth undulations and smooth-as-silk drum rotations locking you into a meditative state. Last of all is part III, an ambient sounds scape with subtly suggestive rhythms as you float in an underwater cavern. Classy stuff.
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