Elevation (Tommy Musto Zero Hour vocal mix) (7:04)
Review: Last summer, Soul Clap Records giddily introduced their first ever singings from the UK, 2Fox, via digital-only vocal house number 'Elevation'. Nine months on, that track has finally made it onto wax, accompanied by the best remixes from the expansive digital EP. In its original extended mix form (A2), the track is a sublime slab of warm, tactile, nostalgic and gospel-tinged deep house excellence with superb lead vocals by Laville. Masters at Work man and all-round NYC great Louie Vega delivers a fantastic, lightly tooled-up soulful house take to kick off the EP, label bosses Soul Clap add tech-house style synths and attractive electronics aplenty, and New York veteran Tommy Musto leans further into 'Calling Your Name' style gospel-house joy.
Review: AkizzBeatzz and Lego Edit join forces to mutually reinforce what they both do best: making disco edits and reworks of classic funk, soul and Afrobeat, and occassionally offering up the odd original track. The 12" 'African Groove' is a downtempo and weighty meditation on what it means to hail from the continent, with Akizz' A-side 'I'm An African' playfully laying down a diasporic big beat excursion, replete with regional instrumentation and defiant political vocal samples. Lego Edit's 'Sahara Adventures', meanwhile, works a chugging beat around a central algaita line.
Young Pulse & Fleur De Mur - "Smooth Sweet Talker" (6:53)
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: Rebirth kicks off its 2024 with a remix EP that serves as "a tribute to the Brescian music scene in its many facets and declinations." The full original project is a complete 12-track album that brings together many different sounds, scenes and generations, with the best bits now assembled on this new 12". The revered deep house master Fred P opens up with some texture spiritual synth depths, K-Lone brings some nice house swing to his version of 'Paline' and edit maestro Rahsaan also keeps it paired back and late night on his soulful take on 'Scent Of An Old Life'. A great reimagining of some moving musical adventures, then.
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!
Review: New label Taf Kif kicks off with this classy VA package from some cool cats who know how to lay down a slick groove or two. First up on this distinctly 80s-styled package is Axel Boman, who brings some of his signature sparkling melodies to a synth-pop indebted jam entitled 'Oasis'. Meanwhile Velmondo follows up with something a little more trippy and adventurous on 'Echo Welt', before MLiR inaugurates the B-side with the sultry tones of 'It's Baby Time'. Lusille completes the set with the hazy Afro house deviations of 'Une Longue Route', riding a swung groove that offers something different from the everyday cookie cutter house we know so well.
Review: The latest from Bossibility and Look Perry on their Split Series is a precise, layered exploration of minimal and tech house that never quite settles in one place. Bossibility's contributions are subtle yet compelling, balancing clean rhythms with restrained complexity, particularly in 'Morphoder,' where the tension between the bassline and atmospheric layers steadily builds, leaving just enough space for the track to breathe. Look Perry's side offers a contrasting dynamicihis deep percussion on 'Way to the Dance' grounds the track, while 'International Beats' surges with a forward momentum that feels unpredictable, yet right on target. It's an unassuming yet compelling exchange of ideas and proof that simple elements, when handled with care, can pack a real punch.
Review: Red Laser Records continue their stellar form with another knockout release, blending Manctalo fire from old hands and fresh faces alike. Frank Butters opens the EP with The Call Of The Wild, a dazzling blast of crystalline synths, thunderous bass, and cosmic effects that showcase his forward-thinking production skills. Bob Swans delivers 'Bodyform4U', a dreamy arpeggiated groove that builds an uplifting, futuristic atmosphere, perfect for igniting the dancefloor. Lone Saxon switches things up with 'Hypersleep' a breakbeat-infused piano gem that oozes nostalgic charm, before Franz Scala and Il Bosco finish strong with Webo, a late-night, tension-filled Manctalo banger.
The Mechanical Man - "Uncle Swing" (feat Bob Vito) (4:31)
DJ Rocca - "The Box Above" (6:03)
Lex & Locke - "Soul Escape" (6:56)
Review: Musica Solida sampler 1 marks a thrilling celebration of 40 years of Flexi, the venerable record emporium that has stood the test of time in the ever-evolving music industry landscape. As the label weathered storms and celebrated triumphs, it has remained a beacon for vinyl enthusiasts, and this compilation embodies its enduring spirit. Curated by Flexi Cuts, Musica Solida promises a series of carefully selected singles spread across multiple 12-inch samplers, showcasing the talents of cherished Flexi-affiliated artists and producers. With a vision to cultivate a movement of sublime tunes, the compilation aims to uphold the commitment to quality that Flexi has exemplified within the Italian music scene and beyond. Musica Solida sampler one sets the stage with an eclectic lineup of artists, each bringing their unique flair to the table. DJ Rocca stands as a stalwart of the clubbing scene, while Club Soda delivers live electronic ensembles brimming with house-flavored jams. Lex & Locke bring a touch of Greek sophistication to the mix, showcasing their groovy sound destined for future acclaim. Hiroyuki Kato emerges as a Japan-based multi-instrumentalist with a punchy debut track, and The Mechanical Man (feat. Bob Vito) adds a raw, gritty energy to the compilation. For those that are adventurous in finding unique music, you will want to check out this great release.
Review: Mule Musiq continues to refine its reputation for sophisticated electronic music with a release that radiates warmth, groove and effortless elegance. The opening track, 'Midnight Piano', with its addictive groove and shimmering melodies, delivers a soothing yet danceable experience. It sets the tone for 'Slow Ride', a Balearic-infused journey with laid-back rhythms and breezy horns, evoking images of sun-drenched coastlines and late-afternoon lounging. On the flip side, 'No Flamingos In Salinas' embraces an ambient house aesthetic, channeling a vintage '90s feel with dreamy synth work while maintaining a subtle techy edge that keeps it dancefloor-ready. The closer, 'Dream On', is a smooth, melodic builder that gradually unfolds, carrying the listener into a hypnotic state with its rich textures and serene energy. These two Italian producers join forces to produce one fantastic EP, a record which embodies the aura of summer with its lush soundscapes and masterful deep house craftsmanship.
Lee Wilson Vs Rudi'Kastic - "I Refuse" (DJ Spinna Galactic Soul remix) (6:33)
Review: Founded in 2023, Category 1 Music (C1M) builds on deep roots in house music, focusing on soulful house vocal productions on a fine international scale. Beyond digital releases, they're now diving into vinyl with a series of exclusive drops; the first is a Category 1 Music Sampler, a 12" of four standouts by Terry Dexter, Michael Gray, Dr Packer, Richard Earnshaw, and DJ Spinna. Organic but still well cooked Ibiza house predominates the set menu, whether by way of the ultrasoul wateriness of Terry Dexter's 'You Saved Me' or the tighter but still dreamy entreaties of Shawn Christopher's 'He's Got It', both translated in exquisite mashup form by the likes of Gray and Packer.
Review: In a move towards soulful French electro-funk from the duo that brought us 'Caipirnha', comes the latest new single from DjeuhDjoah & Lieutenant Nicholson. The two producers here bring together a vast cast of musicians playing everything from Moog to claviers, culminating in a texturally rich afro-soul single that urges us to "hold our horses" ('Pas Si Vite') in these troubling times.
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.
Dr Packer & Elektrik Disko - "My Lovin'" (extended mix) (6:04)
Dr Packer & Elektrik Disko - "My Lovin'" (Elektrik Disko extended mix) (5:14)
Mattei & Omich & Re Tide - "Give Me Your Love" (feat Katy Alex - extended mix) (5:27)
Re Tide & Lukas Setto - "Me & You" (Dr Packer remix) (7:07)
Review: Next up on the Fool's Paradise vinyl sampler is a four-tracker of glitzy and emphatic proportions. Vol. 3 opens with Dr. Packer and Elektrik Disko's 'My Lovin', which vexes us of our infidelities in the promise of being lent "all our love tonight", a vocal motif that swirls endlessly around its discoic mix. Mattei and Omich follow up with exactly the same theme, though it would seem that the former promise has been foreclosed upon, since the central vox is now asking the listener to "just give me your love", with an added dash of urgency to boot, and not the other way round. The B-side, not purely coincidentally, we think, dominated by the producer known as Re-tide, moves much more profligately, abandoning much of the A-side's glamour for the more immediate appetites that drive, but do not temper, disco's soul.
Rhythms Of Africa (Jazzphonic instrumental) (7:20)
Review: There ain't much that Matt Early and Lee Jeffries cannot do, and they have more than proven that with the music they have dropped this month alone. There have been four or five essential 7"s on Sonic Wax In Da House and its new sister label Disco Edits and this latest one is another bomb. It finds the duo taking Afro banger 'Rhythms Of Africa' and flipping it with their own Jazzphonic mix. It takes the original into new sonic realms with jazzy, dancing keys, restless drum funk, lashings of percussion and plenty of manic flutes. The instrumental is no less busy nor effective.
The Sun Will Shine Another Day (Jeffries & Early main mix) (7:19)
On & On (Jeffries & Early main mix) (7:31)
Review: Jeffries & Early step up here to add a contemporary spin to a stone-cold classic sound. The original is a rather iconic tune that now gets a modern update: 'The Sun Will Shine Another Day' brings lung-busting vocals and colourful pops of synth colour to liven up the dusty beats. 'On & On' (Jeffries & Early main mix) then has big synth energy from the stabs and a sense of cool funk in the drums that roll on down low. The likes of Keinemusik, Black Coffee and Damian Lazarus have already been hammering this one so expect to hear it all summer long.
Review: 'Tribute To The Flowers' is one of those tunes that is often considered to be a part of the holy grail cannon. It's loved up and irresistibly catchy and now it gets a sublime new house make over with Rocky Washington on lead vocal. It is another great drop on the Sonic Wax In Da House label and comes from the great pair of Matt Early and Lee Jefferies on green marbled wax. The For Real mix is all soulful and airy grooves, there is an instrumental mix and also a more bumping club mix version.
Review: There's a certain brand of 4x4 deep house that utterly slapssss. And that's exactly the business Toolroom Records are in - they're simultaneous experts at throwing us back to the sprawling garage paradises, while still lending modern, buildup-drop flairs to their productions. This V/A 12" sampler from a wider comp shows off choice buts from label mainstays, Essel, Guz, Qubiko, et al., showing off the best of what Italy's poppy deep house scene has to offer.
Farayen & Liam Parkins - "Where Do We Go" (Jamie Unknown remix) (5:04)
Dan Newman - "Movin'" (5:05)
Dean & Di After - "Wicked Dreams" (5:06)
Shade Guevara - "Ted Or Dead" (4:07)
Review: Warehouse Tools takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through the vibrant world of UK house music, showcasing the iconic sounds of Hooj Choons. Opening with Farayen & Liam Parkins' 'Where Do We Go (Jamie Unknown Remix)', the track blends high-energy euro house with New York-style house rhythms, offering a dynamic trip back to the early 90s. Dan Newman's 'Movin'' follows with a melodic Balearic progressive house gem, featuring heavenly piano moments paired with a serious beat that creates a dynamic vibe. On the flip side, Dean & Di After's 'Wicked Dreams' brings retro energy to the forefront, evoking the essence of house music's early days while offering a fresh perspective. Finally, Shade Guevara's 'Ted or Dead' delivers a piano-driven breakbeat, showcasing a vintage sound that encapsulates the roots of house music. This compilation is a well-crafted tribute to the genre, perfectly balancing nostalgia with contemporary energy.
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: Five years on from their debut collaborative EP 'Frisina Meets Toco', modern Brasilian dance artists Gerardo Frisina and Toco return for a second faceoff, this time with liaising artist Luzia Dvorek serving as ringmaster. Centring on samba-infused jazz and deep house with mystical and folk influences, "deixa passar" translates from Portuguese to "let it pass", though the mood is certainly not outright passive. This delectably quartered slice of carnivalesque dance music is rather rich in sonic papaya juice, charting sustained vocal contrasts between Toco and Luzia against smoky and furnaced beats. Aperient track 'Deixa Passar' leans heaviest on languid piano, whilst dozier mists emerge on the B-side in the form of 'Ile' and its rework by Gerardo Frisina, bringing pan flutes, strings, breathy vocal counterpoints, cabasa shaker, and subtle bass undercurrents.
Review: Samosa Records returns with Afrikano Vol. 3 which is a lovely Afro-themed, genre-blending EP featuring four standout tracks from trusted artists. Kicking things off is Vincent Galgo's 'African Rebel,' a 125bpm fusion of horns, driving rhythms, and Afro-pop bass. Frank Virgilio follows with 'Mistress,' a jazz-infused mid-tempo groover, packed with guitar riffs, organ stabs, and hypnotic bongos. Newcomer Casper Leo delivers 'Tom Tom,' a tribal delight featuring Kora guitar and melodic Marimba. Closing the EP is Lego Edit's 'El Safari,' a sultry Afrobeat banger that grabs hold and doesn't let go.
Review: Welcome to Open Space Club Tools Volume 1, a new series of 12 inch records for DJs from the Open Space label. They pull together some low key, highly skilled DJs to cook up some jacking house beats and rugged rhythms that are proudly analogue and rough around the edges. There's an old school vibe to 'Word Problems' that takes you right back to Chicago in the late 80s. Benedek layers up the kicks, rickety rhythms and rattling cow bells into another muscular groove and elsewhere there is glistening melodic tackle from Liluzu, bristling drum work from Calvin and a weirdo collection of odd-ball sounds and samples nailed to a punchy rhythm by Glue Boy.
Review: Focused on artists from the great anatine peninsula that is South America, Mirror Vinyl Series reflects the techno-house multi-talents of many an artist from Argentina to Bolivia to Ecaudor to Peru to Suriname to Uruguay to Colombia to Venezuela to Brazil... there are simply no limits on locale, except for the featuring artists' ancestries themselves, and that to hail from SA is a must. Here, after a stellar set of digitals recently from Sofia Duz, Zolbaran, Atemporal and Marcos Coya to name but a small few, we're now heard hearing the Uruguayan ur-builds of Marcos Coya ('Sabes Que Si'), the chord-smeared minitech funk of Colombian boheme Donnie Cosmo, and/or the hoarse breaks, seedy acids and "what do you wanna take tonight?"s of guileful Brasiliera, Guile.
Review: Toolroom share the seventh instalment of their label Sampler series, bringing together four new ones from six artists in their roster; Martin Ikin, Raumakustik & Tony Romera, Low Steppa & Crusy, and Eden Prince. These are huge, ravey, deep techy numbers for the big-room-inclined; we're rhythmically and vocal-samply implored to oscillate at a nigh-militant frequency, though the impulse to dance doesn't come without its shuffles and wonks. Our highlight here is the beatless breakdown in 'BFG', on which that delicious chord stab truncates all expectations thereafter.
Review: Give My Love by In Dat Groove & Lee Wilson is an infectious late-night jam with soft calypso vibe to it and the DJ Spen Rework elevates with soulful house flair, adding a depth and groove that's irresistible for dancefloors. The L'Amour Disco mix rounds out the package, paying homage to classic r&b, disco and house sounds with a polished nod to the 80s. Both versions offer a unique flavour, making this release a stunning collection that caters to diverse musical tastes. Whether you're in the mood for tropical warmth, soulful beats, or nostalgic disco, 'Give My Love' delivers beautifully.
Review: Chicago's Tied label rolls out a 17th release as good as all the previous ones, this time with a four-track various artists EP that showcases emerging talents from deep, spacey electronic realms. Just_Me's 'Laser Brane' launches the journey with electro-funk propulsion, while Lumieux's 'In Your Space... It's Me In Space' drifts into cosmic grooves and ambient textures. On the B-side, Constratti's meticulously crafted 'Bind' delivers intricate synth delays and solid rhythms that capture the feeling of interstellar motion. Label head Max Jacobson and 97 Till close with 'Orion,' a break-infused and celestial house cut built for late-night floors.
Review: KC Lights is a runaway success story from Glasgow's house music scene, and his stock has only risen since signing with the mighty Toolroom in 2020 for the knockout single 'Girl'. Since then he's perfected his craft in working with strong vocalists to create a chart-ready, crossover kind of house music that speaks to sunny days, and that's explicitly spelt out on this latest hit-in-the-making. 'Better Days' features Lapsley on vocals calling out to life's peaks and troughs, leading to good times on the horizon. It's just the right kind of sentiment to step into the new year with, and this one will fast-track you to summer quicker than you can book a ticket to Ibiza.
Leftwing: Kody, James Hurr & I Jah - "Music Is The Medication" (4:58)
Review: The mighty and unmovable Toolroom offers up a snapshot of where it is at right now with a fifth volume of its Sampler series. The boss himself Mark Knight kicks off with a collaborative tune with Crusy: 'Daddy Shhh' is loopy, tribal, full flavour tech with jumbled drums and lots of buffed metal. Huxley's 'All I Need' is one of the UK producers warm house sounds, a smart vocal brings a sense of pain over simple but effective beats. Essel's 'Lennon' then brings peak time energy with strobe-lit synth sequences and churning drums, and Leftwing: Kody, James Hurr & I Jah shut down with 'Music Is The Medication', a muscular bumper with dub-wise vocals.
Mark Knight, Darius Syrossian,James Hurr - "I Got All This" (5:56)
Low Steppa, Jewel Kid - "Big Busta" (5:05)
CASSIMM, Mahalia Fontaine - "Say Yeah" (5:48)
Wh0 - "Sunglasses" (6:58)
Review: Toolroom is a house label for big moments big tracks, big rooms, big DJs and main stages. This 15th sampler offering gives a snapshot of where the label is at right now with some new cuts from its biggest players. The boss himself, Mark Knight, kicks off alongside Darius Syrossian and James Hurt n 'I Got All This' which is bouncy and full of energy. Low Steppa, Jewel Kid offers the deeper, low sung and bass heavy menace of 'Big Busta' and CASSIMM, Mahalia Fontaine then come through with 'Say Yeah' (extended mix) which is a a passionate vocal anthem which throws it back to the early days of house. Wh0's 'Sunglasses' shuts down with a blaze of melodic stabs and filtered sweeps to lift you off your feet.
HoneyLuv & Mason Maynard - "XTC" (Jamie Jones remix) (7:31)
Lauren Lane - "Ryde Or Die Anthem" (5:23)
Carloh - "Quisiera Tenerte" (6:58)
Review: Hot Creations' latest vinyl sampler delivers four essential cuts, each with its own distinct flavour, while maintaining a coherent, subtle progression. Kolter's 'Red Alert' opens the A-side with a thundering intensity, its old-school house energy and relentless groove laying down a powerful foundation. Jamie Jones's rework of 'XTC' follows, taking the original into a deep, bewitching realm with dubby atmospherics and a head-nodding rhythm that perfectly complements the previous track. Flip it, Lauren Lane's 'Ryde Or Die Anthem' offers a playful rework of DMX's 'Ruff Ryder's Anthem', blending rolling basslines and rapped vocals with transcendent guitar stabs for a tripped-out ride. Finally, Carloh's 'Quisiera Tenerte' injects a lively Latin groove, dripping with enthralling basslines and hooky vocals that ensure the groove never falters. Each track is finely tuned to create a mix that's full of energy but never overcomplicated, seamlessly connecting one moment to the next.
Review: After a (rare) completion of a vinyl record series, Musica da Discoteca, producer L'Oggetto returns with a standalone display of melodious might on wax. Exploring sounds emitted between his native Italy and his adoptive home in the USA, Marco Scozzaro delivers a muted but jubilant record here, covering every affective angle from snappiness to drowsiness. 'Dippe' and 'Can't U' peck at feeds of lo-fi and deep house, while 'Raschiante' and 'Rotolante' each serve to further estrange the vibe, through glassblown chords and downtempo hydrolyses respectively.
Review: Some 13 months on from the release of volume two, L'Oggetto (real name Marco Scozetto) delivers the third volume in his ongoing Musica da Discoteca series. The New York-based Italian is in fine form throughout, smoothly moving between the lilting chords, eyes-closed electronic textures, acid bass and kick drum-driven deep house beats of 'Aquatico', the oceans-deep, TB-303 powered dancefloor immersion of 'Fluido', the New Jersey garage-meets-early-90s Italian dream house lusciousness of 'DeepOrg' and the gorgeous -house revivalism of 'AltVers', with its synth-flute riffs, chunky bass and tactile pads. In other words, it's a well-rounded EP full of genuinely playable deep house club cuts.
Review: Ben La Desh shows off his elegant take on deep house on the Dirt Crew label here with five well appointed tunes. 'Heel Goed' has loopy, subtle broken beat loops taking you on a trip through the cosmos next to swirling pads and daubs of colour. 'Lift Adrift' is a gorgeous tune laced with ambient beauty and 'Fine Rise' is warm, comforting and inviting. The drums are paced and the pads are spaced out. There is some meticulous drum programming to 'Asanti' that again heads off up amongst the stars and 'Expanding Signal is a perfect back room sound for cosy and intimate dancefloors.
Review: La Pointe, a trio formed by Geneva-based techno pioneers and a New York City stalwart, make an impressive debut on Damian Lazarus' Secret Teachings. The original mix is a hypnotic exploration of light and shadow, blending atmospheric melodies with deep, pulsating rhythms. Nathan Fake's remix takes the track into more intricate and textural realms, while Jonny Rock injects a raw, off-kilter energy with his signature blend of disco, funk, and house influences. Captivating soundscapes that resonate both emotionally and physically, a perfect fit for Lazarus' label as he continues to champion boundary-pushing artistry.
Review: The Austere label deals in deep house music that is anything but, and now it clocks up a tenth release with LAAK at the helm. As ever things open in smooth fashion, with warped chords bent over deep, lazy drums and brought to life with subtle but colourful arps. 'Norm-alise' is a little more upright with jangling percussion and icy tinkles peppering the groove and 'Natural Selection' is another dusty but dynamic house sound that reminds of the late great Mike Huckaby. 'Obsolescence' closes out and is a super humid basement tackle with a gentle tumble of toms and congas over the dubby drums.
Review: Foundation Music take two of the standout tracks from Lady Blackbird's critically acclaimed debut album 'Black Acid Soul' and enlist the expertise of some of jazz's finest talents - Greg Foat and Emma-Jean Thackray - to step up and remix these absorbing cuts. Jean-Thackray delivers a casual, hypnotic, broken-beatific dream-imagining of the track 'Blackbird', replete with bustling piano backings and amphitheatrical echo. Foat, meanwhile, pulls out the smoother-edged, slow-jammed stoppers on his version of 'Collage', in what amounts to a deeply sensuous downtempo funk head-nod.
Hold My Hand (Octo Octa Sapphic Trails In Bloom mix) (7:54)
Sing The Blues (6:17)
Hold My Hand (6:32)
Review: Akua Grant's outings as Lady Blacktronika are always worth checking, and her first full outing on Peggy Gou's Gudu label is no different. 'Baby I Got It' is full-on aural madness - a bombastic blend of beefy, redlined house drums, ghostly chords, pitched-up vocal samples and discordant minor key melodies - while 'Sing The Blues' is a deliciously drowsy chunk of wayward, dub-flecked deep house that's as beautiful as it is trippy. Best of all though is the locked-in deep house hypnotism of 'Hold My Hand', which features some superbly soulful vocal samples, metronomic bass and spacey electronic textures. Octa Octa provides a fine remix of that cut, too, re-imaging it as a stomping slab of lo-fi, funk-fuelled breakbeat house headiness.
Review: Ladymonix brings the class on the four tracks she lays down for Frizner Electric. 'Club Nowhere' is like a superbly deep Fred P track if he were a more extroverted character, while 'Mood' manages to marry dreamy pads to heavy weight kicks with a real sense of drive. The house gets raw and steamy on 'Gonna Let' then closer 'Movin On' is a super silky late night jam. What's more, a portion of sales from this EP will be donated to support Femme Queen Chronicles, a series about the lives of four black trans women in the city of Detroit.
Review: Paramida's Love On The Rocks imprint is in great form. Following up Indonesian Jonathan Kusuma's brilliant Underpass EP is Detroit's Sharif Laffrey with the Pony EP and following up that wicked acid anthem "Turn It Up" on Discos Capablanca last year. On the A side we've got the stomping and tunnelling peak time acid house of "Pony J.A.M." which is sure to get the kids trancing out retro-style. That sample of "It's A Fine Day" in the middle was a nice touch! On the flip "Pony Roger" is another, purely belter version of the track, almost bordering on early 90's techno by the likes of Final Cut or Cybersonik, but hey.. he's from The D right?
Review: Connoisseurs of the European underground will be well-tuned to the sounds of quality operator Nico Lahs. And as for house operations over in the States, they don't come much finer than Kai Alce's NDATL Muzik, which means this a superb coming together. And so it proves with 'Over Me', offering slouchy, low-slung deep house beats with nice aloof, soulful samples. 'Searching' has a zoned-out late-night feel with swirling pads and a super smooth groove, then 'Overcome' brings a little more percussion and jazzy key work which Alce flips into one of signature and smoky shufflers.
Review: Housewax proclaim Mr. Lico Lahs as the don of Bari house, a supposedly local form of the international dance music genre based in and around Bari, situated on the east coastal heel of the booted peninsula of Italy. With a haggard, bleary-eyed, verging on narcotised sound - reminiscent of the opiate excesses of Chicago house - 'Coming Down Baby' and 'Time Shine' season the pan with additional lo-fi and filter house elements, commanding shoulder exposures and suggestive side eyes the whole floor over. Closer 'Luv You The Right Way' cleverly goes full stereo on the kick, providing a mood of apparitional nostalgia for the holiday sun.
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