Review: Rush Hour have released some killer reissues in their time, and this mini-album from Ben Cenac of Newcleus fame, released under the Dream 2 Science moniker in 1990 is no exception, sounding like a conscious response to the warm, soul-flecked offerings of contemporaries Bobby Konders, the Burrell Brothers and Lamont Booker. Amazingly, Dream 2 Science still sounds remarkably fresh, 22 years on. The production, in particular, is terrific. While many house records of the period sound clumsy and dated, there's a timeless quality to the intricately programmed drum machine rhythms, the drifting chords, warm analogue basslines and cute vibraphone melodies.
Review: Alison Limerick's 'Where Love Lives' is the sound of a generation, a reminder of one of the most vital cultural movements of the last 100 years. It is a perma-hit that unites all ages, colours and creeds, even now, 30 years after it first got hands in the air and tears in the eyes on dance floors of cult clubs around the world. To mark the occasion it gets a special remaster treatment and 12" release for Record Store Day. The Classic Mix - which is still the best - kicks off, followed by a big piano version from Mo Knuckles and a darker, more stripped back Cut To The Bone mix.
Turn Me On (Tony Humphries Got U Turned On dub) (7:50)
Save Me (Coldcut remix) (6:38)
Review: South Street's latest missive gathers together a trio of club-friendly remixes of Nina Simone classics that first appeared on the 2006 compilation "Remixed & Reimagined". Francois K impresses with an A-side revision of Simone's celebrated cover of Beatles classic "Here Comes The Sun" that sounds like a long lost Larry Heard record from his classic Fingers Inc. period. Those after something a little more rolling and funk-fuelled should wrap their ears around Tony Humphries' Dub of "Turn Me On", which boasts a seductive mixture of Romanthony style hard loops and rumbling, UK garage influenced bass. Completing the package is Coldcut's fine re-imagining of "Save Me", which places Simone's heart-arching vocal atop skittish, club-ready drums and looped guitars.
Move That Body (with Cevin Fisher - instrumental) (6:52)
Review: A year after it slipped out digitally, Danny Tenaglia's superb 'The Brooklyn Gypsy' finally lands on wax. It's perhaps deeper and groovier than some of his vintage productions, which tended towards the muscular, dark and percussive, but the bassline is fabulous, the Frankie Knuckles-esque chords and textures inspired, and the piano solo that stretches out across the track nothing short of superb. Over on the flip, Tenaglia joins forces with fellow house legend Cevin Fisher on vocal and instrumental takes of 'Move Your Body', a more energetic, thickset and piano-powered affair that sits somewhere between the sun-soaked A-side and the long, Twilo-inspired workouts that marked out Tenaglia's turn-of-the-millennium creative peak.
Review: REPRESS ALERT: What hasn't been said about this timeless classic that hasn't been already? We'd be preaching to the choir but for what it's worth: Pal Joey's 1990 released, Chic sampling classic "Dance" is one of those tracks that never gets old and always sets the dancefloor alight. In all these years it has been thrown down by NYC house legends and Detroit techno's finest alike. Likewise, your record collection isn't complete without it! Features the energetic original version on the A side, as well as the dub with that nice bass solo section that comes in. Finally, on the flip is the wicked bonus beats version that was favoured by techno DJs and sampled by everyone from Jeff Mills to Jerome Sydenham. Reissued on Joey's own Cabaret Records.
Review: Last time out Andreya Triana and The Vision (AKA KON and Ben Westbeech) took us to "Heaven" and back. For their latest single they've asked us to gape in wonder at some suitably sizeable "Mountains". In its original "Extended Mix" form (side A) the track is soulful, slick and seductive, with Triana's superb vocals rising, mountain-like, above a musical panorama rich in dreamy chords, jazz-funk bass, gospel pianos and club-ready beats that sit somewhere between deep house and disco. Danny Krivit is the man at the controls for the flipside remix. He stretches out the track impressively, making a bit more of the spacey synths, guitars and bass while re-framing the track as a soaring slab of piano house brilliance.
Review: Though 420 was originally recorded and released in April of 2020, Galcher Lustwerk's pandemic project is an exercise in counting and patience. Originally from a 16 track, 69 minute release only available for Bandcamp for $69 (or $4.20 per track), the 420 project brings us practically brand spanking new Galcher EP, just under a different name. Finally at an accessible price (and including signature Galcher vocals in a majority of the tracks to boot) this vinyl release hopes to bring more fans who missed the original release to the 420 club.
Natural Blues (Reinier Zonneveld Homage remix) (7:22)
Review: Spanish imprint Suara are a force to reckoned with at the moment and continue to bring the heat with his fine collection of remixes by US electronica icon Moby. Brazilian Victor Ruiz kicks off proceedings with his rendition of "Go" and he sure had his work cut our for him, trying his deft hand at such a defining rave classic: it's pretty good and gives a fresh perspective while staying true to the original. Also on the A side we've got French hero Oxia who stays on the same vibe as the original with his deep and emotive rendition of "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad". On the flip, the m_nus affiliated Julian Juweil delivers an absolutely stomping peak time weapon with his version of "Porcelain" which blows the bloody doors off as always. Reinier Zonneveld's homage to "Natural Blues" goes for some sunny uplifting deep house: Kater Blau style.
Review: Three years after it first dropped digitally, J T Donaldson's Classic Music label debut finally makes it onto wax. The EP naturally opens with the long-serving deep house producer's original mix, a wonderfully sun-splashed and warming slab of electric-piano-heavy deep house goodness marked out by a superbly soulful - but also pleasingly laidback - lead vocal from guest singer Liv E. Donaldson's own bumpin', club-heavy remix - think vintage Masters at Work and you're close - follows, before we're treated to two fresh revisions from other producers. Fellow house veteran Sandy Rivera delivers a typically drowsy, soulful and tasteful rework, before Girls of The Internet re-invent the track as a bustling slab or elastic jazz-house complete with layered analogue synth sounds and heady double bass.
Barely Breaking Even (Louie Vega Boogie mix) (7:59)
Barely Breaking Even (Louie Vega NYC House remix - instrumental) (9:08)
Barely Breaking Even (Louie Vega NYC House remix) (9:07)
Barely Breaking Even (Louie Vega Boogie mix - instrumental) (7:55)
Review: We're prepared to argue with anyone on this, but Universal Robot Band's "Barely Breaking Even" is one of the best boogie-era disco records ever made. Its title was also the inspiration for the name of BBE Records, so it seems fitting that the label's 500th release is an all-star re-recording that brings together NYC house hero Louie Vega and original creators Leroy Burgess and Patrick Adams. Vega delivers vocal and instrumental versions of two distinctive passes: a slick, smooth, soulful and string-laden "Boogie Mix" rich in warm electronics and subtle nods towards the early '80s original, and a rolling "NYC House Remix" full of twinkling Fender Rhodes solos and atmospheric chords. As you'd expect, Burgess' re-recorded vocal is superb.
Review: Classic Music Company welcomes a real legend to their ranks in the form of Detroit innovator Robert Hood under his Floorplan guise, which has more recently also included his daughter Lyric. The line-up may have expanded, but the sound remains the same - uplifting gospel house with a very real sense of spirit. 'Right There' has dusty hi hat ringlets and warm organ stabs over an endlessly shuffling beat that will get clubs in raptures. 'Holy Ghost' then gets a little more bouncy with lively chords and clipped vocal yelps bringing the energy.
When You Love Someone (Groove instrumental) (7:55)
When You Love Someone (The Reconstruction mix) (8:18)
Review: The latest on-point reissue from Italy's Groovin' label takes us back to 1993, and the Peter Daou/Danny Tenaglia-produced debut single from vocalist Daphne Rubin-Vega. It's a far breezier, groovier and sweeter record than many of Tenaglia's later productions (which tended towards the muscular), with Rubin-Vega's quietly soulful vocal seemingly drifting across a backing track rich in warm chords and baggy, breakbeat-driven house grooves. All of the various mixes hit the spot, with the trippy, dub-style Reconstruction Mix, vibraphone-laden Groove Instrumental and low-slung Never Do Dub standing out. The Acapella Reprise, which features rich chords and vocal snippets, is also rather good.
Review: Hot on the heels of the "Lush Culture" EP with Deetron that landed on Perpetual earlier this summer, more lush licks come from Mr Fred P aka Black Jazz Consortium. Four soul hurricanes that range in weight and emotion, the two poles here can be found slap-bang in the middle of the EP: "Moonlight" is a sultry brushed-drum break for lovers while "Riverside Drive" jacks like a rhino but soothes you with big breeze feels. Elsewhere "Reaching For The Stars" cruises on a skippy break with airy early 90s New York pads and "New Ways" closes on a stunning 88 tip. Have nice dreams y'all.
You Got Me Dancing (feat Audrey Wheeler & Cindy Mizelle) (4:04)
Chimi (feat Elements Of Life) (4:15)
Love Has No Time Or Place (feat Elements Of Life - previously unreleased instrumental dub) (4:40)
Atmosphere Strut (feat DJ Spinna) (3:57)
Cosmic Witch (feat Anane) (3:55)
How He Works (feat Nico Vega) (3:54)
A Place Where We Can All Be Free (feat Janine Lyons) (3:53)
Touch The Sky (feat Tony Momrelle) (4:01)
Dreaming (feat Cindy Mizelle) (4:02)
All My Love (feat Robyn) (4:07)
Feel So Right (feat Honey Dijon) (3:56)
Louie Vega & Karen Harding - "Free To Love" (4:03)
Bebe Winans - "It's All Good" (feat Debbie Winans Lowe & Korean Soul - Louie Vega remix) (4:02)
Review: It may come with an eyebrow-raising price tag, but what's on offer here is undeniably alluring: a box set of 10 seven-inch singles containing all of the songs from Louie Vega's brilliant Expansions In The NYC album - an all-star affair in which the Masters at Work man celebrated his love of New York disco, boogie and house. The album itself is incredible, with fantastic musicianship, arrangements and vocals, while the cast list - which includes original electrofunk outfit Unlimited Touch, Peech Boys main man Bernard Fowler, Honey Dijon, Cindy Mazelle, Moodymann, Kerri Chandler and his son Nico - is similarly impressive. It's a great product, packed with brilliant music: a fitting finale to this portion of the ongping 'Expansions NYC' project.
Review: Kai Alce's faultless NDATL label brings us more goodies direct from his base in Atlanta, which might be best known for its rap but also packs a punch when it comes to house music. This one is from Rasheeda Ali, a new name that might be familiar to anyone who heard Kai's 'Sheed's Move' tune from a previous EP. She has also been on stage with none other than Jeff Mills and here her flute skills come to the fore with production from Kai. 'Libra Ascending' has a snappy bounce, then 'Sheed's Rising' showcases Rasheeda's gymnastic flautist abilities. A fine debut.
Review: For the latest volume in their Foundations series on BBE, Kai Alce and DJ Spinna have decided to reissue one of the finest records from the earliest days of Chicago house, Chip-E's spellbinding 1985 anthem "Like This". This seven-inch edition features a fresh edit of Chip-E's original cub mix on the A-side. This version is essential largely because of the quality of K-Joy's impeccable vocal, though the re-mastered sound also makes Chip-E's crunchy Roland drum machine hits, bold synth-bass and spacey lead lines sound better than ever. Turn to the flip for the heavy and stripped-back "DDD Dub" version, which makes more use of the short "Like This" vocal, which was originally provided by the Godfather of House himself, Frankie Knuckles.
Dennis Ferrer - "How Do I Let Go" (feat TK Brooks)
Rain: A Lil Louis Painting - "Give It Up" (Masters At Work club mix)
Mood II Swing - "Sunlight In My Eyes"
Kimara Lovelace - "Misery" (Lil Louis club mix)
Review: Now under new ownership (international dance music powerhouse Armada Music, fact fans), long-serving New York house imprint King Street Sounds is doing a good job in showcasing gems from its vast archives. This second label sampler contains four more genuine must-have cuts. First up, there's a chance to admire the deep, soulful house wonder that is Dennis Ferrer's 2008 hook-up with honeyed vocalist K.T. Brooks, 'How Do I Let Go'. It's followed by Masters at Work's deliciously loose, disco-influenced deep house revision of 'Give It Up' by Lil' Louis' Rain project (first released in 2000), Mood II Swing's DIY Soundsystem favourite 'Sunlight In My Eyes' (easily one of the greatest deep house jams of all time) and Lil' Louis's swinging garage-house rub of Kimra Lovelace's 'Misery'.
Review: Fred P continues to be a prolific driving force in deep house, with his own Private Society label carrying a huge amount of his work these days. On this latest single he maintains one of his other close working relationships with Parisian institution Synchrophone, delivering three cuts of his refined, endlessly immersive music. 'Dance Of Rhythms' is a driving, sharply defined cut with a lot of action occurring in the lower register while the higher frequencies have acres of space to stretch out in, all the better to keep your head mellow while the hips sway. 'The Beauty In The Sound' is a more pattering affair and 'Vibe Science' favours a nagging drum pattern which nods towards jazz funk as much as techno. This is quintessential Fred P mastery, through and through.
Byron The Aquarius - "When The Freaks Come Out" (feat Computer Jay) (4:40)
Review: Multi-artist EPs have all been all the rage of late, though few can boast quite as strong a line-up of artists as this one from dependable French deep house label Phongramme. It begins with a gorgeous chunk of detail-heavy, sun-splashed electronic deep house brilliance courtesy of Abacus (an artist whose discography also contains outings on Prescription, Innermood and NDATL Muzik) and ends with a vibraphone-solo sporting shuffler from the effervescent Byron The Aquarius and Computer Jay ('When The Freaks Come Out'). Sandwiched in between you'll find two more must-have workouts: the bumpin', brilliant and spiritually uplifting 'States of Motion' by Fred P, and a typically dusty, jazzy and warming number by Colombian hero Felipe Gordon ('The Gordon Way').
Review: This 7" record from SNIPS delivers two summer dancefloor gems perfect for hip-hop heads. On Side-1.
'A Spread Called Quest' is a downtempo, jazz-fused instrumental packed with great samples from the legendary A Tribe Called Quest, creating a nostalgic yet fresh vibe. For Side-2, 'Kool Summer' offers a house track featuring the classic 'Summertime' sample, famously popularised by Will Smith's 1991 hit of the same name. This track brings a smooth, laid-back groove, making it an essential addition to any summer playlist. With its blend of jazz, hip-hop and house, A Spread Called Quest is a great example of the 45 community thriving with rare and classy urban gems.
Harry Romero - "Revolution" (House Masters edit) (5:13)
Prunk & Rona Ray - "Keep It Simple" (6:41)
Review: The mighty Defeated has got a fun package on its hands here with some fat disco and house anthems primed and ready for big room summer fun. A'Studio's 'SOS' (feat Polina - Skylark remix - Nic Fanciulli edit) is chunky house with a hooky vocal and rolling groove designed to sweep you up and away. Chloe Caillet then remixes Tensnake's classic 'Coma Cat' into a hands-in-the-air house stomper with epic strings. Harry Romero's sweaty 'Revolution' gets its drums buffed up and well swung by a House Master's Edit and Prunk & Rona Ray steal the EP at the last with their lush vocal house cut 'Keep It Simple.'
Music Is My Life (Masters At Work remix dub) (4:44)
Review: Louie Vega continues to offer up fresh remixes of tracks from his epic 2023 album Expansions In The NYC. The latest cut to get the rework treatment is Unlimited Touch hook-up 'Music Is My Life', a joyous and gently soulful fusion of disco instrumentation and house nous. There are two mixes from Vega and long-time studio partner Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez as Masters at Work: an A-side full-vocal remix that gently beefs up the house elements and adds some tasty Rhodes licks, and an EP-closing dub in which the storied duo reach for spacey synth sounds, rolling grooves and selected vocal snippets. To complete a strong package, British veteran Dave Lee doffs a cap to his popular 'Remixed with Love' series and re-imagines the track as a punchy disco-funk workout.
Review: It might be 23 years old, but Metro Area's second eponymous EP still sounds as fresh, timeless and immaculately produced as it did at the turn of the Millennium. Here the three-tracker returns in freshly remastered form. The real standout is arguably near nine-minute A-side 'The Art Of Hot', a deliciously deep, sparse and glassy-eyed affair in which echoing strings (courtesy of Kelley Polar and chums), sustained chords and electronic pots-and-pans percussion rise above an undulating synth bassline and crispy disco drums. Elsewhere, 'Machine Vibes' is a more warming and melody-rich skip through deep nu-disco pastures featuring a rather lovely flute solo, and 'Wafer' is a bass guitar-propelled skip through spacey, house-not-house awesomeness.
Mood II Swing - "Closer" (feat Carole Sylvan - King Street Moody club mix) (6:17)
Ananda Project - "Cascades Of Colour" (feat Gaelle - Wamdue Black extended mix) (6:46)
Review: Earlier this year, legendary NY house label King Street Sounds was acquired by Armada Music. The Dutch imprint plans to reissue many of the well-known - and lesser-celebrated - gems from the King Street vaults in the months and years ahead. To kick things off, they've delivered this vinyl sampler featuring some of the stable's most admired cuts of all time. So, we get Dennis Ferrer's iconic remix of Blaze and Barbara Tucker's gospel-powered soulful house anthem, 'Most Precious Love', the 'King Street Mix' of Jovonn's legendary deep, bumpin' tribute to New Jersey's Club Zanzibar, 'Back To Zanzibar', Mood II Swing's hot and heavy 'moody club mix' of their own Carole Sylvan collaboration 'Closer' and the all-time deep house classic that is the Wamdue Black extended rework of 'Cascades of Colour' by Ananda Project. Simply essential!
Life Forces (feat Zara McFarlane - Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm version) (6:18)
Life Forces (feat Zara McFarlane - Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm dub) (6:25)
Umoja (Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm version) (7:32)
Umoja (Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm dub) (8:02)
Soul Of The People (feat Bridgette Amofah - Joaquin's Sacred dance version) (8:23)
Soul Of The People (feat Bridgette Amofah - Joaquin's Cosmic Arts dub) (10:04)
Into The Light Of Love (feat Myles Sanko - Joaquin's Spirit Of The dance version) (9:37)
Into The Light Of Love (Joaquin's Spirit Of The dance instrumental version) (9:38)
Review: It's not often that jazz guitarists and bandleaders double up as DJs and producers, but neither is Nicola Conte the kind of person one often encounters. Here the Italian multi-talent proffers a new version of his latest spiritual jazz-house opus, Umoja. This record first came to be as a full-length 4x4 dance LP of serene, danceable tropicalias and sports-whistly whorls. They now come reincarnated, karmically re-endowed with the thermal force of an eagle, by way of an album's worth of reworks by the veteran producer's vim of fellow spiritual house height-scaler and abseiler, Joaquin Claussell. Whether invoking the exquisite voices of Stefania Dipierro or channelling the patent inspirations of Lonnie Liston Smith of Gary Bartz, Conte Conte-nues to propose endless Conte-nuations of his sound; all it takes is a little help from one's friends to evoke a sacred dance, a sonic world-spirit.
Sacred Church (feat Eve - Jon cutler’s Distant music mix) (5:56)
Shaker Games (7:33)
Get Me Higher (7:01)
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.
I Don't Remember The Last Time I Saw Stars (11:11)
Review: Following their acclaimed debut album Sugar Honey Iced Tea!, NYC duo Musclecars aka Craig Handfield and Brandon Weems are back with a double pack of alternate versions and remixes featuring house legends Louie Vega and Maurice Fulton. Vega reworks 'Tonight' with orchestral flair and festival-ready dub versions including the NV South Jersey Mix and his Bronx Dub. Maurice Fulton's remix of 'Hello?' blends his signature live bass and punchy percussion to add a whimsical touch to the introspective original. The pack also includes stripped-down versions of 'Ha Ya! (Eternal Life)' and 'Water' plus a full side of Musclecars' 'I Don't Remember The Last Time I Saw Stars.'
Danny Tenaglia presents George Vidal - "Out From Obscurity" (6:11)
Danny Tenaglia & Cevin Fisher - "Move That Body" (Antranig remix) (6:32)
Review: The legend that is Danny Tenaglia seems to have been creatively re-energised in recent times, with last year's 'The Brooklyn Gypsy' delivering a gorgeous and celebratory blend of good-time house grooves, mazy solos and life-affirming dancefloor energy. 'Tonight', his latest missive, is another gem, presented in 'beats (intro)' and 'no beats (intro)' variations. Both takes feature many of his aural trademarks - think impeccably programmed beats, a mesmerising bassline and incredible sound design - alongside waves of awesome electric piano solos, dreamy pads and eyes-closed female vocal snippets. Over on side B, he doffs a cap to his days as Twilo resident with a deep, dark and deliciously percussive workout ('Out From Obscurity'), before ANTRANIG delivers a similarly heavy, druggy and mind-mangling take on Cevin Fisher collaboration 'Move Your Body'.
Review: The Master at Work that is Louie Vega has been a music-making machine all his life but in recent years has continued to reach new heights with various different projects. Here he is back on regular label Nervous with various different versions of his tunes 'Joy Universal' and 'Igobolo.' 'Joy Universal' (feat Two Soul Fusion) is classic Vega - soulful house music awash with Latin influences, loose-limbed percussion and funky basslines. And that template is tweaked over the ensuing tunes, with glorious pianos, jazzy grooves and tropical rhythms all making for a fine EP.
Days Like This (DJ Spinna & Ticklah club mix) (5:27)
Days Like This (K-klass club mix) (7:07)
Space Rider (MJ Cole vocal mix) (5:09)
Days Like This (Spen & Karizma main mix) (9:26)
Review: It is fair to say that Demon Singles Club has another top nugget on vinyl here. 'Days Like This' by Shaun Escoffrey is a proper good slice of modern house music and it gets remixed here by top dogs Spen & Karizma, MJ Cole and DJ Spinna. This reissue of the 2002 original has been remastered by Phil Kinrade at Alchemy Mastering with the new remixes including the first-ever vinyl appearance of the MJ Cole contribution. There is lots to love in each of these with all of them being standouts and perfect for playing as the days warm up.
Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Dimitri From Paris club mix) (6:14)
Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Dimitri From Paris dub) (7:16)
Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Masters At Work Clap Yo Hands dub) (7:25)
Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Moplen remix) (5:03)
Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Mousse T Fantastic Shizzle mix) (6:00)
Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Blackchild remix) (6:00)
Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Two Soul Fusion remix) (12:05)
Review: Anane's soulful vocal delivery takes centre stage on her reimagining of this evergreen disco cut - originally crafted by Love Symphony Orchestra in 1978 - rebooted here through a series of new mixes from some massive house names. Dimitri From Paris delivers two irresistible cuts, his club mix a vibrant and energetic journey through classic house sounds, while his dub strips things back to a hypnotic groove. Masters At Work's 'Clap Yo Hands Dub' injects a dose of infectious energy, while Moplen's remix takes a more atmospheric approach, its swirling synths and hypnotic rhythms creating a mesmerising soundscape. Mousse T's 'Fantastic Shizzle Mix' adds a touch of soulful bounce, while Blackchild's remix delves into deeper, more tribal-infused territories. Two Soul Fusion's remix closes out the collection with a smooth and uplifting vibe, its soulful melodies and infectious groove leaving a lasting impression. A true classic reimagined through the lens of a host of diverse, talented producers.
I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair) (John Morales M+M main mix) (8:06)
I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair) (John Morales M+M mix edit) (4:16)
I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair) (John Morales M+M Classic club) (7:59)
I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair) (John Morales M+M instrumental mix) (7:50)
Review: Inner Life's 'I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair)' released in 1979 is a quintessential disco anthem that captures the exuberance and allure of the era. Jocelyn Brown's powerful vocals deliver a story of fleeting romance, seamlessly intertwining with lush orchestrations and a driving rhythm section that still get people up and dancing all these decades on. The track's infectious groove, memorable hooks, and lavish production epitomise the magic of late-70s dancefloors which is it why it is such a staple in both nostalgic disco sets and modern dance compilations. This reissue offers up four different versions by the great remix king John Morales.
Review: For his latest release, Tommy Musto delves into his venerated DAT vaults to unearth a treasure trove of mid-'90s NYC gems that are sure to excite house heads. These four tracks capture the essence of the legendary likes of Red Zone, Club Zanzibar, Twilo, and Sound Factory scenes and do a fine job of evoking the vibes that legends like Frankie Knuckles, Tony Humphries, Roger Sanchez, Tommy Simonelli, Masters at Work, and David Morales were all spinning back in the halcyon days of house. Now, you can own a piece of that iconic era with these deep cuts sure to bring back that classic house sound in some style.
Review: While nowhere near as celebrated as some of his NYC contemporaries, Tommy Musto made some incredible music at the turn of the 90s, flitting between breakbeat-driven, techno-tinged heaviness and heady, sample-rich house. The Lost Dubs Volume 1 takes us back to that period via a quartet of contemporaneous cuts recently unearthed in the producer's vaults. There's much to admire throughout, from the driving, bass-heavy hedonism of 'Holdin' On', a track propelled forwards by insatiable organ riffs and breathless beats, and the extra-percussive early morning headiness of 'Baby's Right' - all delay-laden Rhodes licks, funky bass guitar, mazy synth solos and Masters At Work style house beats - to the Victor Simonelli style saucer-eyed warmth of 'Love Is Needed' and the sleazy, Kenny Dope style heaviness of 'Keep It Movin'. Genuine buried treasure!
Review: In the late 1980s and early '90s, twins Rheji and Ronald Burrell did more to define the sound of deep house than almost any other producer bar Larry Heard. It's for this reason that this new EP from Rheji under the Utopia Project alias - one of many monikers he and his brother adopted back in the day - is such big news. The five tracks are totally fresh, rather than archival cuts, but are every bit as magic as the music Burrell released all those years ago. Expect tactile basslines, classic deep house rhythms, huggable melodies, chiming motifs, sun-bright piano riffs and immersive chords, all created using the same combination of synthesizers and drum machines that he and his brother once used to craft pioneering NYC house jams. Essential!
The Afro-American Conundrum (Where Does That Leave Us?) (3:56)
Dream Boy (5:53)
Tonight (feat Kamaal) (4:03)
Every Party Must Come To An End (feat Kamaal) (3:59)
Running Out Of Time (3:16)
Ha Ya! (Eternal Life) (7:30)
I Don’t Remember The Last Time I Saw Stars (11:11)
Carlos Sanchez Interlude (1:25)
Hello? (feat Aden) (5:06)
Circles I (Prelude) (1:37)
Circles II (feat Toribio) (6:08)
There's Space For Us All (9:33)
Water (feat New Past) (8:47)
Review: Sugar Honey Iced Tea! is the highly anticipated debut album from Musclecars, comprised of Brandon Weems and Craig Handfield, delving deep into the Afro-American experience. With 13 tracks that span themes of joy, loss, intimacy, perseverance and more, Musclecars craft a profound narrative that captures the nuances of daily life in native New York. From the exploration of Afro-dystopia to moments of self-discovery and self-preservation, the album offers a rich blend of sound that resonates with authenticity, emotion, and rhythm. It's a musical adventure to throw yourself in and get lost in the essence of the urban experience, crafted with intentionality, depth and a touch of magic.
Tell Me That I'm Dreaming (Louie Vega mix main) (5:45)
Tell Me That I'm Dreaming (Louie Vega mix instrumental) (5:44)
Tell Me That I'm Dreaming (Dave Lee Disco Not Disco club No Drop) (8:13)
Review: The Cape Verdean model, singer, DJ, artist and philanthropist Anane is up next on esteemed New York City label Nervous with 'Tell Me That I'm Dreaming' which is remixed by her husband (and partner in Elements Of Life) Lil Louie Vega. He injects the track with some late night boogie-down action which accompanies her fabulous vocals just perfectly. The same quality you've come to expect from one half of Masters At Work. Over on the flip, veteran British producer Dave Lee's Disco Not Disco club No Drop is ultra smooth and as low-slung as you like it. The man has the midas touch, what more can we say.
The Mind Travel (Saturday Night Sunday Morning mix) (16:18)
Lost Horizons (6:50)
Lost Horizons (Percussion bonus) (4:57)
Review: The ever reliable Isle of Jura label gives a reissue to two tracks from Instant House, the outfit consisting of Joe Claussell, Stan Hatzakis and Tony Confusione, with a 'Percussion Bonus' of 'Lost Horizons' to boot. The word epic naturally springs to mind when we come across the 16 minute Saturday Night Sunday Morning mix of 'The Mind Travel', and with its exotic keyboard solos and bongo freakouts it certainly elevates the psyche to new heights. 'Lost Horizons' has a nice line in Weatherall-style skittering echoes, held in place by a hypnotic key riff, while the Latin-laced Percussion Bonus mix of 'Lost Horizons' is the most mesmerising and direct of all three cuts here. Lost - and now found.
Review: Nu Groove is of course one of the foundational labels when it comes to house music. From the late 80s and through the 90s, the New York imprint put out some of the genre's most definitive deeper sounds. Carrying the torch for that sort of quality today is Jovonn who never fails to cook up classy grooves. Here we're treated to 'The Piano Fix' which plays with a lead piano line throughout and layers up subtle acid over the simple but effective drums. A Return version is more funky and then 'Let Me Tell You Somethin' is more playful house on the flip. 'Drop That Traxx' shuts down with laidback house perfection.
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