Back catalogue: House

Review: Get yourself geared up for festival season with some fierce party starters certified with the Glitterbox stamp. Melvo Baptiste leads the charge with 'Sweat', a sizzling disco house stomper with Dames Brown giving the biggest diva energy on her show-stopping vocal. Lovebirds bring unbridled joy on the Philly string swoon and slinky b-line funk of 'Burn It Down', while Art Of Tones & Inaya Day keep it peak time on the sassy strutter 'Give My Love'. Young Pulse & Fleur De Mur complete the set with 'Smooth Sweet Talker', another bright and bold vocal cut par excellence.

Review: Purple Print Records Compilation 3 is a rich exploration of minimal and tech house, bringing unique textures and groovy rhythms to the forefront. Side-1 opens with He Did's 'Mientras Tanto', a fun and infectious groove. The track's deep, rolling bassline and lively percussion make it an instant mood-setter. Following is DeWaal's 'Iceshade', a bouncy, upbeat track that balances playful energy with a steady, deep tech groove. Side-2 moves further into introspective territory with Raz's 'Rora', a smooth and melodic track that drifts along effortlessly, blending subtle harmony with a deeper bassline. Yama Music's 'In My Space' rounds out the collection with a broken beat approach, delivering techy, spacious vibes that add depth and variety to the mix. Altogether, this compilation is a refined showcase of tech house cuts that'll resonate with dancefloor times.

Review: Freerange's City To City series returns with its second edition, this time spotlighting Lisbon. Known for its stunning views, beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, perhaps one of the city's best-known hotspots is the iconic Lux Fragile, which has shaped the city's sound since the late 90s. Longtime resident DJs from Lisbon are now gaining global traction; to butterfly-net the essence of the coastal metropolis, this new mix LP hears six original tracks from local talents, chief among whom are Megatronic, progressor and ambassador for the city, and Yen Sung & Photonz, two names closely tied to the circuit's deeper-underground corners.A

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: 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: Six dance tracks skillfully blending old-school vibes with contemporary sounds, spanning acid, breakbeat, electro and house, inviting listeners to dream of underground raves and enigmatic gatherings where ethereal battles against soulless algorithms unfold amid nocturnal dance. Highlights include Trabuco's 'Happy Spliff, a vibrant mix of New York house and early 90s-inspired techno, setting a nostalgic yet fresh tone. Trabuco's 'Signals' follows, delivering a spacey techno experience that feels both futuristic and retro. Yepecc's 'UFO Camp' seamlessly combines electro and acid for a sci-fi romp that transports listeners to otherworldly dimensions. Kevin Kendall's 'Volca Three' stands out with its rich analogue bass, adding depth and warmth to the compilation. The album closes with Victor Reyes' 'Inspired By Nature,' which offers a cool, bouncy finale that leaves a lasting impression. Overall, The Sciences of the Artificial is a refreshing take on retro styled techno and it is perfect for those seeking a blend of nostalgic and fun.

Review: Yamen & EDA return after two years with a five-track offering that pushes minimalist house to its most refined form. The 'Giseigo EP' opens with 'Possibly Possible', a buoyant yet minimal track that relies on its sharp synth work and punchy rhythm to set a forward-driving tone. It's upbeat, understated, and perfectly designed to get the feet moving without needing too many layers. Then comes 'Technologie Tropicale', a funkier number, cleverly stitched together with playful sound clusters and effects that give it a quirky, infectious energy. It's a groove-heavy selection that feels tailor-made for those laid-back but still energetic sets, where simplicity wins over complexity. Flip to the B-side and 'Tournure 2000' delivers a soft, soothing melody. The beauty here is in its restraint, with just the right balance of elements to keep it light and breezy while still anchoring itself in the groove. This one's all about feel - simple yet captivating. 'Mickey Mousse' is the heavyweight of the release, with its chugging bassline and direct appeal to the dancefloor. It's a bass-driven force that stands firm without feeling overbearing. Wrapping it up is 'Clicker Of The Year', where funky basslines meet acid undertones, creating a track that plays with texture and depth without ever losing its cool. There's a laser focus on keeping things stripped-back, yet each track is detailed enough to hold its own. For anyone dialled into the nuances of minimal house, this EP has all the subtle power needed to carry a dancefloor without ever showing off.

Review: Yatut's Vahue EP on Minor Notes Recordings is a nostalgic journey through early 90s techno and breakbeats, capturing the essence of a vibrant era. Side-1 opens with 'Vitamin,' delivering a classic UK techno sound that transports listeners back to the golden age of rave culture. Its pulsating beats and retro vibes set the tone perfectly. Following this, 'Learn The Code' continues the homage with melodic techno reminiscent of early 90s UK scenes, blending harmonious layers with driving rhythms. Side-2 begins with 'Natural,' a standout track that fuses early 80s electro rhythms with rave elements. This unusual combination works remarkably well, creating a unique and engaging soundscape. The EP closes with 'Yokamon,' an uptempo house track interwoven with breakbeats. Its sweeping, breezy melody makes it a perfect end-of-the-night anthem, leaving listeners on a high note. Vahue EP showcases Yatut's skill in blending nostalgic influences with modern production, making this a gem for fans of classic techno and breakbeats.

Review: Ilkay Yeler serves up a debut EP that explores a fresh house sound that is perfectly suited to the Mood Waves house sound. Up first is 'Donations Feed' which is a kicking tech cut with wispy synths lashing about next to snappy snares. 'Ghost House (Dyson dub)' then gets deep and freaky with a marching beat and meandering pads that bring a ghoulish vibe. There is more kick to 'Space Lounger' but no less depth with more cavernous pads and a turbocharged bassline. Last of all is the more sci-fi leaning 'Wait A Minute' with eerie cosmic energy and a grubby, unrelenting bassline.

Review: After making his debut alongside Avangart Tabldot on Crib Records earlier in the year, Yet More - the chosen artistic alias of Paris-based Syrian-Iranian producer Teymour Khalatbari - has been handed a solo debut on Dixon and Ame's popular Innervisions imprint. It's an opportunity he's grasped with both hands. Check first the pleasingly heavyweight (and accurately titled) 'Bounce', where mutilated rap vocal samples, rave-igniting stabs and pots-and-pans percussion fills ride a tough, sub-heavy groove that sits somewhere between Kenny Dope and late 90s Danny Tenaglia. The Sound Factory/Twilo vibes continue on dark big room roller 'Tryna Jack My Style', while title track 'Back 2 Feelin' is a warming, dreamy and lusciously kaleidoscopic blend of shuffling breakbeats and sun-bright deep house nous. A wonderfully assured and impressive EP all told.

Review: There will also be space in a real DJ set for a cheeky edit or playful mash up. This latest volume of just that from Yinja covers plenty of ground so is a brilliantly useful 12" to have in your bag for when you want to pump the party. First up, The Bongo Jam's 'Love Disco Dub' becomes a shuffling, vibey and deep cut soulful house sound, then Jill Scott's 'Think It Better' (dub Yinja re-edit) gets a late night make over for smooth sessions. On the flipside are two reworks of classic Sade tackle, and both come with signature r&b vocals and well worked drums.

Review: He may have started life as a dusty-fingered hip-hop beat-maker, but French producer Julien Ozonder AKA Young Pulse is undoubtedly best-known for his party-starting disco, soul, funk and jazz-funk reworks (for proof, check his ongoing Paris Edits series on GAMM, which has so far notched up eight instalments). On 'Shake Your Body Down', which lands on the label founded by the Funky French League collective he's a member of, he combines samples from a forgotten disco gem with his own beats and instrumentation. On the A-side 'Disco Mix', that means squelchy bass, 126 BPM disco drums and mazy synth solos aplenty; while on the 'Beat Street Mix' he limbers up for the breakin' at the Paris Olympics via an authentically early 80s sounding electro workout.

Review: He may have started life as a dusty-fingered hip-hop beatmaker, but French producer Julien Ozonder aka. Young Pulse is undoubtedly best-known for his partystarting disco, soul, funk and jazz-funk reworks. On 'Shake Your Body Down', which lands on the label founded by the Funky French League collective of which he also a member, Ozonder mixes stems from a forgotten disco gem with his own beats and instrumentation. The lost azure in question is KC & The Sunshine Band's 'Get Down Tonight' (1975), and Young Pulse's version is restless as it is redolent of fishy funk, exuding eurgh-inducing effluvia at every turn, be that through wow-modded bass progs or topline squeezers. The Beat Street Mix on the B-side moves much more streetwise, trawling, navvying the rues with a cabbie's knowledge of Cybotronique vocoders, 2-step breakdowns and factory-fire percs reminiscent of the turn of the 80s, almost completely upending KC's original for an entirely new mix.

Review: It's been two years since the 2022 release of Young Pulse & Natalie Nova's multi-mix single 'Free', across the digital version of which we were graced with five exclusive mixes. With the 'original' itself and in turn being a cover of the Ultra Nate song from 1997, Pulse and Nova's version is a jubilant, disco-strung version, abandoning Nate's garage house proclivity for an upped sense of swing. This new vinyl edition also brings a fresh mix to the table, totting up the versions to six; first, there's the OG aforementioned 'Disco Tribute mix', as well as a 'Disco Dub' version, the new and never-heard-before highlight.

Review: Archivio is a brand new label from a Brooklyn based record store. Affie Ysusf and Parkwalker are the artists charged with starting off this new chapter. Ysusf goes first with 'Uba Cuba' which is a Latin-infused house sound with plenty of layers of drums and lively grooves appearing through the percussion. Parkwalker's 'Pashtwo' then keeps it deep and stripped back but with plenty of style in the deft synth details and on the flip offers the loopy, dubby, airy jam 'Urgez Untold'. Ysusf then closes down what is a fine first EP from this new label with the fresh house grooves of 'Ode Reticular.'