Back catalogue: House

Review: 'Couldn't Love You More' is one of the most iconic songs from one of the most iconic soul singers of her generation. It is such a sweet tune that it is perfect for reworking into a lovely deep house framework. And that is exactly what we have here as some mysterious artist who for obvious reasons wants to be unnamed reworks it three different ways. Mix 1 keeps the lush, lazy chords in place and sprinkles in some deft percussion. Mix 2 is a subtle tweak that has a little more drive and edge to it and Mix 3 completes the package with another deft touch that is sure to get floors all loved up.

Review: Dunno about you, but we are absolute suckers for Sade mixes. Not the tasteless ones that are in no way sympathetic to the original mood - but the deep house reworks that couch Sade's heart-melting toes in soft, dreamy drums are hard to beat. And that's what we have here on another cheeky white label 12". First is a nice blissed out and late night rework of 'Somebody Already Broke My Heart' (Excursions mix) which is a pure joy, and then 'Hang On To Your Love' (De Rigueur) is a little more dancey with disco chords bringing some sparkle to Sade's irresistible tones.

Review: Roger Sanchez has had many supersized hits in his long and accomplished career. 'Another Chance' is one of the biggest and harks back to the years when he was as well known for his tightly trimmed facial hair and Kangol hat as anything else. It is now 20 years old and so gets an anniversary release on a special limited edition 7" picture disc. The track is a fulsome house affair with big drums and that catchy vocal hook and is sure to still unite plenty of floors all over the world all these years later.

Review: Scottish house music duo Silicone Soul aka Craig Morrison & Graeme Reedie's turn-of-the-millennium deep houser 'Right On!' certainly made a big splash back then, breaching the UK dance singles chart by bringing the genre an oily soulful emulsion. However, not their first release for the esteemed Soma Quality Recordings, 'Right On!' was an expert construction and a favourite for lovers of vocal house at the time. The track is a cover of Curtis Mayfield's 'Right On For The Darkness', a paean for living in the now and grabbing life by the bullhorns).

Review: On this sampler EP for the Razor N Tape label's latest Family Affair compilation, the Brooklyn based imprint showcases previously unheard cuts from a mixture of new artists and long-established names. In the latter camp you'll find long-serving deep house don Vincenzo, who delivers the gorgeous, tactile and loved-up deliciousness of 'Love Accurate', and Croatian nu-disco don Ilya Rudman (the acid-heavy dancefloor squelch of 'Discoteka Parmida'). Elsewhere, Yasmin impresses with the neo-soul/nu-disco fusion warmth of 'Real High', Arnau Obiols slams down the Fela-influenced Afrobeat excellence of 'Pagan Mambo', and label co-founder J Kriv turns Bessa Simons 'Si Naana' into an Afro-tinged analogue house treat

Review: One of the many songs that defined a distinct, hot, made-for-TV dance-pop era, Martin Solveig and Dragonette's 'Hello' is an energetic electro house rouser, and made waves with its tennis-themed back-and-forth music video, which allegorised the gone-bad relationship narrativised in the song. Now pressed to sporty white vinyl, this is a warm-up song if there ever was one, with its lead two-note piano riff clipped to searing, overdriven proportions. Dragonette's vocals sing of romantic vascular sweats, caused by botched inter-relational backhands, poor get-back-at-you swings, and triple bagel defeats. This version comes with a 2024 'Super Edit', bringing a stuttering progressive house continuation.

Review: This is the fourth and final installment of Sushitech label head Yossi Amoya's reissue series focussing on the work of Eric Spire and his Silver Pearl label. The Los Angeles based producer was on a hot streak back in the late 90s, fomenting a new take on West Coast house music with hard drums and psychedelic synths that lay down something of a blueprint for later tech house a la Craig Richards, Wiggle and co. This useful 12" packs another punch with potent drums and razor sharp percussion across three cuts from some of the Silver Pearl mainstays.

Review: While he is still thought of as a God of a DJ to many, Welsh wizard Sasha is a dab hand in the studio too. Airdrawndagger, his second studio long player, is proof of that and a real masterpiece with co-productions by Charlie May, Junkie XL and James Holden. It is a hugely complex world of sound with progressive melodies, wavy electronic drums and immersive synths capes that all add up to one smooth and serene trip. This luxury reissue comes on limited, numbered trifold 180 gram audiophile silver & black marbled vinyl. A vital collector's piece.

Review: Bob Sinclar's Born in 69 reissue for 2024 presents an album filled with joyousness and infectious energy, showcasing Sinclar's talent for turning cover songs into dancefloor anthems. Collaborating with reggae crossover artists like Shabba Ranks and Kevin Lyttle, Sinclar infuses Caribbean influences throughout the album, evident in tracks like 'Love You No More' and 'New New New.' From the spirited revamp of the lambada in 'Give Me Some More' to the funky reinterpretation of classics like 'Mr. Tambourine Man' and Adrian Gurvitz's 'The Way I Feel,' Sinclar's creative flair shines through. The inclusion of tribal beats, psychedelic sitar and Middle Eastern flair adds depth and variety to the album's sonic landscape. While some tracks may lean heavily on auto-tuned vocals, the overall vibe of Born in '69 is undeniably upbeat and feel-good. It's an album that prioritizes fun above all else, inviting listeners to let loose and enjoy the infectious rhythms. Bob Sinclar proves once again that sometimes, all you need is music that makes you dance and smile.

Review: French producer St Germain laid down a pretty untouchable deep house blueprint with his debut album Boulevard, then managed to go one better with Tourist a couple of years later. It had even more instrumental magic and jazz class to it, over the deep, driving yet cuddly house beats with plenty of spoken word tributes to house legends, hummable top lines and iconic flutes that have endured for more than 20 years since its release. The whole thing has been remastered and now arrives on translucent orange vinyl. A true classic that will never go out of fashion and works both at home and in the club equally well.