Tags: Tech House

Review: It would be fair to say that Studio K7 has pulled off something of a coup in getting Kenny Dixon Jr. to agree to compile and mix the latest installment in the long-running DJ Kicks series. It is, somewhat remarkably, the legendary Detroiter's first commercially available mix set. This triple-vinyl edition features a whopping 19 cuts - all in unmixed form - from the 30 track mix. Musically, it's a blazed, jazzy, soulful and groovy as you'd expect, and contains a mixture of downtempo beats, nu-jazz and hazy house cuts from the likes of Flying Lotus, Dopehead, Peter Digital Orchestra, Nightmares On Wax, Soulful Session and Lady Alma.

Review: Shadow Pressings hits its stride with release number three, featuring Detroit's own Mike Agent X Clark. A stalwart of the Beatdown movement, Mike's contributions to the scene are legendary, and this EP only adds to his already impressive catalogue. 'In the House Club' leads the charge, a minimal yet impactful track that showcases spoken word from fellow Detroit artist Dr. Tinglefingers. The raw, unpolished feel captures the essence of true Detroit house, with a stripped-back approach that leaves space for every element to shine. Jimpster steps in on remix duties, building on the original with a subtle, yet effective touch. His rework maintains the track's integrity while injecting a deeper groove, with added Rhodes stabs and warm textures that push the energy forward. On the flip side, 'Get Up' serves as a proper homage to the stripped-back, bass-driven sounds that Ron Hardy would have spun at the Muzic Box. Its simplicity is its strength, providing a hypnotic pulse that's impossible to resist. Wrapping up the release, 'Fresh Air' stays true to the underground, offering a deep, minimal cut that speaks directly to the heads. Mike Agent X Clark proves once again why he remains a revered figure in the scene, delivering a release that's primed for both the discerning selector and the dancefloor devotee.

Review: On their fourth studio album, The Masters Plan, Robert and Lyric Hood - the father-daughter duo behind Floorplan - deliver a masterclass in house and techno that's as diverse as it is cohesive. Released on Luke Solomon's Classic Music Company, this 18-track odyssey showcases the Hoods' uncanny ability to blend the sacred and profane, the light and dark, into a sonic tapestry that's uniquely their own. From the opening chords, it's clear that Floorplan's Detroit roots run deep. The gospel-infused 'We Give Thee Honour' sets the tone, its uplifting vocals and rolling rhythms invoking the spiritual ecstasy of a Sunday morning service reimagined for the dancefloor. This spiritual thread weaves throughout the album, most notably on tracks featuring local Detroit vocalists like the soulful trio Dames Brown, Earthtone, and Lowell Pye. But make no mistake - The Masters Plan isn't all celestial bliss. The Hoods aren't afraid to get grimy, as evidenced by the pummelling beats of 'What A Friend'. Here, they demonstrate their mastery of techno's harder edge, crafting a track that wouldn't sound out of place in the sweatiest basement clubs of Berlin or London. It's this deft navigation between styles that makes 'The Masters Plan' so compelling. The dreamy house soundscapes of 'Feel It' provide moments of blissful respite, while collaborations like 'Fake & Unholy' with label-mate Honey Dijon inject a shot of pure dancefloor adrenaline. What's most striking about 'The Masters Plan' is how seamlessly Robert and Lyric blend their generational perspectives. Rather than a handicap, their age gap becomes a strength, allowing them to draw inspiration from decades of electronic music history while still pushing the sound forward. Ultimately,
The Masters Plan feels like both a celebration and an invitation.

Review: What began as a beloved underground party two decades ago now steps into a new chapter as Rock Tha House Traxx, a vinyl-only label helmed by veteran Chilean selector Camilo Gil and Mario Flores in Mexico City. Shifting from the dancefloor to the turntable, the label sets out to document and reimagine the musical movements that shaped its roots. After a hothousing debut featuring Romania's Mihai Popoviciu and Swiss mainstay Quenum among others, we've a new sonic tort from the label's very own Gil, solidifying the Western SA nation's place in said conversation. Squeezy reso-basses, stupid-hard breaks, zany lifters: Gil has us covered.

Review: Ascension on Wax tap Toronto Hustle & Sean Roman for their third release, a slick four-tracker pulling heavy influence from *that*argent 90s US-East Coast deep house sound. 'The Unity' lands with some pedigree, where recent drops on Wolf, Local Talk and Freerange have mounted this pairing firmly in the frame. Javonntte lends his unmistakable Detroit flow to the A1, which also gets a shimmering rerub from longtime Prescription associate Abacus. Flip for a late-night dub version that leans into tougher territory, before closing out with a heads-down deep house cut built for sloppily recalled nights.