Back catalogue: House

Review: Inhale Exhale Records return with their seance virus artists EP and it is one that will appeal to anyone who has any love whatsoever for house music. Raoul's 'Vae Victis' is first up to get a remix and that is from Luvless who brings modern power with old school dreaminess. Tilman is next up with an Atmospheric Mix of Marc Brauner's 'The Feeling' which has potent 90s vibes and Soela teams up with her partner in crime Module One for a super chunky groove to close the a-side in style. Eddie C is the standout on the flip side with a suer funky rework of 'Heads Up High' while Denyl Brook brings some peak time power to his interpretation of Shaka's 'Overminded.'

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Shaka's new drop on Selections is a delightful one that combines real jazz melodies with authentic deep house. Opener 'Sacred Church' (feat Eve - main mix) immediately wins you over with the buys keys, Rhodes chords and eco-system of cosmic synths that busy about while the soulful vocal oozes cool. Jon Cutler's Distant Music mix pairs things back and makes it more of a smoky late night sound and 'Shaker Games' then blisses you out with dusty drum depths and incidental chords that are magically feel good. 'Get Me Higher' shuts down with some superb US house vibes.

Review: True to the name, Nervous Records have always kept us on our toes, biting our fingernails, hind-waddling to the edges of our seats. That being said, they themselves have kept rather relaxed on the releasing front in recent times; any residual nervousness is mostly on our side. In a rare original EP move from the veteran garage house label comes Shaka with 'Hidden Lover'; this is the wisened work of a battle-torn Swiss producer, whose many previous outings on Yore, Mate, Selections and Vibes & Grooves has all paid off with this inclusion in said anxious pantheon. 'Sing With Me' brings nostalgic feet-sweeping recollections from singer Eva against modular rack rides and cowbells, while 'Sill Groovin'' sounds like the same location but revamped for the anniversary present: its grooving, cool, vitreous sound design recalls the clinking of martini glasses and the tinging of wine measures in a svelte art deco backroom.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record slightly warped***


The Tasty Treats label is weaving an intriguing path thus far, having recently released an album of future jazz magic from Kirk Degiorgio under his Offworld alias, and now they're welcoming Shaka onto the label to indulge in some effervescent, richly musical house music good n' proper. 'Shadows Of The Past' has the kind of star-gazing arps and uplifting string stabs which speak to early 90s Detroit techno at its most joyful, but there's also a house sensibility driving the groove. Meanwhile 'Southbound Path' pivots to some red-blooded Latin influence, from the percussion to the nagging piano and beyond. If you need some technicolour magic to sprinkle into a party situation, this record will serve you well.

Review: The Tasty Treats label is weaving an intriguing path thus far, having recently released an album of future jazz magic from Kirk Degiorgio under his Offworld alias, and now they're welcoming Shaka onto the label to indulge in some effervescent, richly musical house music good n' proper. 'Shadows Of The Past' has the kind of star-gazing arps and uplifting string stabs which speak to early 90s Detroit techno at its most joyful, but there's also a house sensibility driving the groove. Meanwhile 'Southbound Path' pivots to some red-blooded Latin influence, from the percussion to the nagging piano and beyond. If you need some technicolour magic to sprinkle into a party situation, this record will serve you well.

Review: Four artists with a taste for classic deep house infused with more than a touch of house line on the Silver Walker label's sixth release. Following releases on the likes of Local Talk, Balance, Traxx Underground, Mate, Quintessentials and upcoming projects on Nervous and NDATL, Shaka opens proceedings with a flurry of Hammond and plenty of exotic percussion, lie Alan Hawkshaw riffing with Underground Resistance. Glenn Davis (Wolf, Yore Records, Deeper Groove and Selections Records) delivers a deeper house workout on the A2 house track, the jazzy keyboard chords, fluttering flute and restless synths working real magic. One of the masterminds behind the Silver Walker label, Diego aka DFRA, comes on all perky with the saxes and soloing Rhodes, on the second side's opener, 'Nitewax'. Then we close with Damien aka Keymono (founder of several labels including Monocturne Records and Funkyshirts) laying on the handclaps of classic disco strings, the snippets of funk guitar and vibes the cherry on top.