Back in stock: House

Review: Frame Of Mind has been one of the best techno and house labels in the past couple years hailing from the Netherlands. This is the second appearance for Synaptic Voyager on the label in total. 'Epoch Ten' exhibits a premier example of the quality ambient techno the label has released in recent years. Fans of As One, FBA, Stasis and Sensurreal are sure to gravitate toward this track in particular. The 90s Detroit vibe is here in many respects. 'Ne Plus Ultra' and 'Reverie' are perfect tributes to the lineage there. The robot funk in 'Milestone' is particularly exciting with this early 90s styled foray into UK techno while 'Parallax' gives off a heavy Innovator and early Warp label impressions. If you are a fan of ambient techno then this is a quick and easy pickup.

Review: Thatmanmonkz is Scott Moncrieff to be precise, a Sheffield based producer who been making house music since around 1997 but more recently on Kolour LTD and of course Delusions Of Grandeur: where he's recognised as a label mainstay. His new album Colombusing is a mighty 14 track effort, and there's a wide variety of moods and grooves, not to mention collaborations! Some of those very hookups are the highlights on here, we must say. There's a couple of tracks with San Francisco minimalist/human beatbox Dave Aju; "Turn It Out" is a deep and sleazy funk jam with Cameo-ish vocals, while "Boogie Down" features the sweet lungs of Erik Rico whose Curtis Mayfield impressions suit this feelgood soul jam just perfectly. "Baked" features the deep poetry of NYC's Malik Ameer on this on this dope jam full of urban flavour. There's music to dance to too, rest assured: "Take U 2 My House" featuring Khalil Anthony is surefire deep house aimed squarely at the dance floor.

Review: Timmy P is a long time servant of the underground and someone who has released on a range of labels. He has a fad-free sound formed by the classic school of house and techno and now arrives on the revered Cecille. 'Mylo's Groove' is upbeat and uplifting, the swirling pads get heads up high and bring an airy feel to the weighty and bouncy kicks down low. On the flip is the more sensors 'Vintage B' with its alluring but wordless vocals and more heavily swung drums and big hits, all topped off with some New Jersey style pads. High quality and effective sounds, as ever from Timmy P.

Review: Sacred Medicine, the carefully-honed joint project and label of Joaquin "Joe" Claussell and Ron Trent, deliver the second instalment in the label's soon-to-be bulging discography. The much-anticipated 'Magic Carnival', a song heavily programmed and tested by repetitious inclusion in their many DJ sets over the years, has finally been completed here and comes finalized in the form of this single-sided record; the format suggests we marvel at its singular majesty, which should not profess to be comparable to any alleged counterpart or B-side. 'Magic Carnival' builds and builds in a musical crescendo with signature musical elements pulsating all over the song to full impact. A relentless spiritual groove, and a special single-sided 12"

Review: As part of the mammoth Out Of The Ashes compilation that pulls together records previously lost to Freerange in the PIAS warehouse fire, the latest record on Freerange has everything you need for a freakier kind of deep house. Of course Isolee can always be counted on for bringing the weirdness and pleasure in equal measure, and his remix of Manuel Tur adeptly demonstrates this with a driving yet woozy vocal jam. Switch is in a steadfast jacking mode, getting into a funky techno looping frenzy whilst fuelling it with a more organic kind of sample. Audiomontage rounds things off with twitchiness aplenty on "The Darkness", tussling with nervous synths and neatly interlocking rhythms to reach nervy perfection.

Review: The first compilation on Koze's Pampa label is a lovingly curated affair. It starts with the left field house of Herbert's take on Lianne La Havas and Ada's r&b-infused "You & Me", as well as DJ Koze's own hymnal take on Roman Flugel's "9 Years". Other Pampa regulars like Axel Boman are well represented and he provides the ultra-mellow "In The Dust of This Planet". Equally though, Koze also provides a platform for newcomers to the fold. There's the utterly bizarre, glitch-hop of Nasrawi and Funskstorung's contributions, and at the other end of the spectrum, wide-eyed deep house from Mount Kimbie and Jamie xx & Kosi Kos' pumping indie-dance "Come We Go".

Review: French label Wagram is a go-to when it comes to quality compilations that take a broad look at certain sounds and scenes, and this one is an on-going series that focuses on house sounds with an Afro undertone. The grooves are lively and often come with plenty of percussion. The drums hit hard but with funk, the vocals are Afro-centric and plenty of irresistible hits come thick and fast from the jazzy tribal swagger of 'Imbalaye' to the big steel drum party sounds of 'Viet Dao' (Klement Bonelli & Yann DL remix). Another great collection of colourful Afro house sounds.

Review: When it comes to 90s Dutch dance music we tend to think of formative techno and the monolithic rise of gabber, but there was also some golden house music being produced around that time. Now German label Anacalypto is taking a trip into these less explored realms to offer a finely curated compilation with eight deep cuts for the discerning dancefloor. Max 404's sublime 'Infinite Legs' is an ambient house fantasy of the highest calibre, while Galaxy's 'Axis' is similarly trippy and soft around the edges, setting the tone for the deeper, techno informed shades of house we're in for across the collection. This is elegant, heads down gear which has been coveted by diggers for decades, now available freshly remastered and pressed up in one place.

Review: The always innovative Tommy Jar Vicari brings more of his well-crafted house sounds to the French label PortaL Recs here. His Germination EP kick off with the title track which is a driving sound with low swinging drums and plenty of watery pads up top. 'Bless You' has more snappy drum work that straightens the back and makes you march. Flip it over and things get more heady and journey into soulful Detroit house territory on 'Deap of Faith' while 'Nano Kitaro Expo' shuts down with some dubby and blissed out depths detailed with rich synth work.