Review: The SEVEN7 late makes its bow here with the sort of house jam that is going to win it plenty of fans from the off. The original comes from Cryme but is offered up here as a series of remixes. The first lady of the Berlin house scene Cinthie opens up with her signature sense of cool grooves and soulful pads, then the Obscure Shape remix ups the ante with more slamming drums and techno forcefulness. There is a distinctive old school feel to Lydia Eisenblatter's remix as she brings raw breakbeats and super sized hi-hats. Volpe brings some dubby low ends to close.
Review: Marvin Dash and Lowtec combine to serve up some house grooves here that perfectly embody the Workshop sound. They are lovably loose-limbed, dusty and ramshackle, and almost feel as if they may fall apart at any given moment, but that is the joy of them. Instead, they keep you locked amongst rickety drums, frayed pads and imperfect little vocal hooks that bring the soul. 'Track 1' does that with a hazy feel, 'Track 2' is more one out with a dubby undercurrent and sustained keys and 'Track 3' brings little more prickle and drive, like a super raw Omar-S track. 'Track 4' is all about the prying, bulbous bassline that unfurls with a mind of its own beneath DIY percussive sounds.
Review: DCTL is a collaborative project between Masafumi Onishi (known as Telly) and DJ Duct, two influential figures in Japan's underground scene. Onishi is also the founder of Troop Music Works and has been instrumental in shaping the electronic landscape in Kobe. DJ Duct, much loved for his innovative turntablism, brings a unique blend of hip-hop and electronic influences to the duo. Together, they produce raw, analogue-driven tracks characterised by gritty drum machine sequences, soulful samples, and a DIY ethos that resonates with fans of Detroit-style beatdown house and downtempo music, as evidenced here on five fresh and funky cuts stacked with loose rhythms, smart samples and melodic hooks.
Manuel De Lorenzi & Freddie Wall - "Sun-Rise" (6:15)
Fichs - "Find Yourself" (6:35)
Manuel De Lorenzi - "You Already Know It" (7:08)
Manuel De Lorenzi & Giacomo Silvestri - "The Big Apple Community" (7:09)
Review: Monday Morning is back to roll out some more lush house depths with a second EP, this one featuring founder Manuel De Lorenzi in the company of his pals Giacomo Silvestri, Freddie Wall and Fichs. 'Sun-Rise' is a nice gritty but vibey opener with percussive skip and dry hits. Fichs's solo cut is a loopy workout with nice bulbous synths and a pared-back rhythm that gets ever more inescapable while De Lorenzi then offers up the radiant synth warmth and dubby undercurrents of minimal house shuffler 'You Already Know It.' With Giacomo Silvestri he then closes on the more percussive loops of soft house soother 'The Big Apple Community.'
I've Gotta Heat (Ohm Hourani Festival Du Soleil rework) (8:43)
I've Gotta Heat (Delavelour Freespacemix) (6:38)
Review: Canadian label Poesie Angulaire kicks off its year with a new series of remixes featuring Delavelour (aka Francois Lebaron). Taken from his Paranoid Fantasies long player, this package fuses glitches, circuit-bent rhythms and nostalgic chords into something fresh. The Freespacemix blends melancholic synths with a garage bassline, while the one and only Isolee delivers a sharp, refined rework. Ohm Hourani rounds out the EP with a hypnotic minimal version, adding a deep, atmospheric touch to a fine array of new takes on the signature sound of Delavelour.
Review: Chicago and house music go together like tea and cake, football and accumulators and politicians and bullshit. Dellacasa taps into that fine tradition here on the Fresca label with some fresh and future facing takes on the trip and tested Windy City template. 'Time For House' is a pulsating, enthralling cut with rich kicks and a jacked-up percussive edge under prying basslines. Jorge Savoretti remixes with a brighter melodic twist and 'Chica & Go' then gets a little more playful and loopy with jazzy motifs and bubbly pads. Franco Cinelli remixes this one into a funky jam for steamy sessions.
Review: Athens-based label Ethos is looking to build on the good start it made with its first two outings with a third raw and direct EP. DimDJ is a legend in Greece and has been since the 90s when he first began making his mark. His sound is not all about nostalgia though - he opens his Welcome To This World EP with 'This Little Face' which is a deep house reverie with painterly pads smeared over dusty drums. Nice analogue textures make it all the more lived in and a Beatless version strips away everything but the suspensory synths. 'Welcome To This World is another lo-fi and crackly deep house meditation and 'Hyper Tonic' flips the script with some undulating acid lines, more light synth work and hissing hi-hats.
Macchianera - "Gotta Dance" (De Gama Re-Groove) (5:24)
Niels F - "Trying To Love" (De Gama Re-Drums) (6:11)
MP Soundworks - "Gotta Get It" (4:46)
Review: Samosa Records delivers another funk-fuelled feast with Vol2, a double-vinyl delight bursting with disco grooves. Dirty Elements & Drunkdrivers open with 'Koko,' which is a clavinet-driven, string-laced dancefloor gem and then Macchianera's 'Gotta Dance' gets the De Gama re-groove treatment-soulful, brassy and endlessly playable. Niels F.'s 'Trying To Love' grooves with filtered strings, brass and a slick vocal hook that is nicely enhanced by De Gama's re-drums. MP Soundworks closes with the Afro-tinged 'Gotta Get It,' a tribal-infused banger powered by looped vocals and a bouncing bassline. This is a very useful collection that underlines Samosa's fine ear for cutting talent.
DJ Bistro Schulz - "Disco Loves You" (AKeeM Dans Op De Deel remix)
AKeeM & 4-Takte - "The Sermon" (2024 edit)
Review: Sometimes a tune comes along that you just know is going to come a bit of a cult classic. We have the feeling that will be the case with the opening gambit on this new series, Musik For Pet Lovers, from the Memory Believes Before Knowing Remembers imprint. It is the work of AKeeM Dans Op De Deel who remixes DJ Bistro Schulz's 'Disco Loves You' into a languid, grubby groove that slowly but surely does great things with scattered percussion, radiant synths, minimal rhythms and plenty of mood shifts, not least when the classic vocal sample drops in. On the flip is AKeeM & 4-Takte's 'The Sermon' which is another slow-motion but high-impact sound with spoken words, dub drums and yearning pads.
Review: Stockholm's DJ City debuts on Dresden's Uncanny Valley with his COSMICOMICS EP, a playful, sensory-filled record inspired by Italo Calvino's 1965 short story collection. The record channels the essence of 80s Italo disco and 70s sci-fi films by blending high-energy tracks with a sense of fantasy and drama. Each one draws from Calvino's blend of scientific facts and fictional narratives and mixes in comical absurdity with metaphysical depth. With nods to Hi-NRG and dancefloor-driven rhythms, this is a high concept EP even without the back story. It comes with a cover which is a censored painting by Jens Fange. Artful stuff.
Review: Chiwax is reissuing a couple of the very many superb EPs that DJ Deeon has put out over his peerless career. The Windy City native is known as the Godfather of Ghetto house and always brings more bump and sleaze to his sounds than anyone else. His Freak Mode EP dropped back in 1994 but still sounds like nothing else as it pioneered a new juke and footwork sound. 'Yo Mouf' is tight, loopy, manic and irresistible club music. 'Work This Dick' brings his signature tongue in cheek vocal filth, 'Off Freakmode' has a futuristic twist and 'Hoodrat' is non-stop drum funk for sweaty situations. A legendary EP.
Review: Im In Love is a German label that says bonjour to DJ Merci who serves up a dynamic four-tracker for their limited series. These DJ tools are crafted for the dance floor so while driven by effective house kicks, they are not mere tools. Each one brings some character, starting with 'In The Middle' with its nice finger clicks and bouncy drums and bass. 'Bouncing Back' is infused with dusty synth chords that hark back to classic US house and on the B-side, 'Deux Trois' pens with smooth, deep chords layered over a rolling conga rhythm. 'Swing My Baby' wraps things up with bouncy drums and stripped-back minimal house. Merci indeed.
Review: House Cookin''s series House Cookin' Wax serves up a sixth delicious collection of trad house sounds here, all from a range of fresh names. DJ Merci's 'Just A Groove' is perfect 90s revivalism with golden, soft focus chords and nice woody beats and hits. Bruno Bar's 'A House Of Music' layers in some pensive spoken words to a nice chord-driven groove that is deep but dynamic. Pat Lezizmo continues on this same deliciously deep tip with more analogue excellence on 'Not In A Hurry', all with a nice dub underbelly, then Reagan Mian's 'Caracole' closes out with a little more bump and grind
Review: Second-wave Chicago house mainstay DJ Sneak has been around for years but is currently at the top of his game after an almost decade long hiatus. He nods to that in the title of this new EP, 'Still Jackin'', on In The Future. It kicks off 'Going Back To My House' and with some underlapping bass and nice roughshod kicks while industrial metal hits up top bringing some balance. 'Still Jackin' has reverb-drenched drums and crispy hits that make for perfect mid-tempo body music and 'Can I Get Ahhh Feeling' brings some more diffuse, soul-infused vibes and late-night warmth. 'String Me Up' shuts down with a blend of textured stabs, winky beats and uneasy atmospheres.
Don't Touch That Dial (feat Yuuko Sings - Make A dance remix) (5:14)
Don't Touch That Dial (feat Yuuko Sings - Make A dance vinyl Only dub) (5:40)
Review: Make A Dance brings their official remix of Django Django's 'Don't Touch That Dial' to vinyl and in the process create a dancefloor bomb. Already a club-ready original, the remix transforms the original into an electrifying body-shaking anthem with Yuuko's vocals taking centre stage but nicely complemented by glitchy synths and acid elements. This version is a full-throttle, infectious banger and on the B-side you will find a vinyl-only dub mix that amplifies the electro grooves allowing Yuuko's vocals to subtly loop in the background. This is one of those records that Das of all genres will be reaching for to get things going to the next level.
Review: The Not An Animal label, which rose out of the "debris left uncleaned from London's infamous Bad Passion parties" arrives at release number 20 here and a fine one it is too from Donald's House and DJ Chrysalis. They open up with the prickly percussive prog of 'Pound Bend' with its warped lines and glistening snares. The Apiento remix is a snappy one with more synth patterns layered in before 'A Curious Warmth' strips it back and gets a little more deep and dubby with a mix of abstract sounds and aching vocals. 'Tingler Ring' closes down with a Balearic late night feel.
Review: The Tequila Grooves label drops its first vinyl release here and it comes in the form of serval remixes of Dos Buratinos's Control U. 'Control U' (Ant To Be remix) channels 90s Future Sound of London and jazzy broken beats and jungle before the extended mix brings languid rubbery rhythms under colourful synths. Things get all steamy, deep and seductive with the romantic sax tones of the LPO Deep & Sensitive remix. Last of all, the LPO dub remix takes all the energy out of it and layers in pensive chords and free flowing jazz melodies.
Review: Detroit mainstays Drivetrain and Blaktony are next up on Soiree with some high-octane but soul-infused machine music, while Funtom and Hughes Giboulay appear on the flip side. Drivetrain gets to work with the jerking loops and turbocharged chords of 'Hyperlock' while Blaktony's 'Butt Naked' sinks into a deeper late-night and more dubbed-out house vibe. Funtom's 'Wisdom' brings a great lightness of touch in the wispy pads and scuffed-up drum patterns, then 'Kickin That Feelin' has a more exuberant but still deep feel with subtle chord joy and deft acid.
Review: Given that he's already released music on Numbers, Diynamic, Bosconi Music and Peggy Gou's Gudu imprint, it would be safe to say that Dukwa (real name Marco D'Aquino) is an established and successful producer. It's little surprise, then, to find him popping up on Bristol's wildly popular Shall Not Fade label. He begins in confident mood with 'Searching For a Match', where exotic female vocal samples and cybernetic synth sounds ride a bouncy and energetic house groove, before opting for loved-up chords, squelchy bass and loose-limbed beats on the ultra-positive 'For You'. The Italian's love of bold piano riffs and life-affirming moments comes to the fore on 'Talk To Me', a chunky and bass-heavy slab of peak-time excellence, while 'Chameleon' sits somewhere between vintage Isolee releases and revivalist Italo-house.
Review: Duzer Records is back with a second playful outing to follow up its well-received first, and already this one had been getting dropped by some top-tier names like Jamie Jones, MK and Eats Everything. It features two versions of the same tune on one limited 12". 'The Hack' is a bumping house cut with organic drums and a wonky lead synth line that brings great dynamics. Add in some raw, rapped vocals and frazzled fills and you have a high-class tool. The instrumental on the flip removes the vocal for even more direct results.
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: EEE keeps it simple, with the artist, label and EPs all given that simple naming convention. It means there is nothing to focus on but the music. Which is fine by us as this 18th such outing is another doozy that should slip into your record bag post-haste. 'Track 1' has 90s organ chords and a deep, rolling bassline working together to soon get you moving while sustained pads and dry per add detail as a tempting vocal lures you in. On the flip, things are a little less pared back with some widescreen synths adding cosmic scale to the potent tech house drums. Tidy tools.
Review: Though now almost at 20 releases deep, the EEE label and production outfit remain a mystery to us. What we do know is that since debuting in 2017 they have served up a steady stream of playful, charming, accessible edits and mash-ups across the house and minimal spectrum. 'Dubs 4 Clubs' takes a classic vocal that keeps pushing on with thudding kicks, a rolling bassline and enough synth detail to make it a standout in plenty of Ibiza sets this summer.
Review: Leipzig-based Eira Haul takes his tech house sound forward with a fine outing on genre-specialists RAND Muzik here. 'Pocari Sweat' manages to combine the stuff, compelling drums of tech with more balmy and silky synths that bring great dynamics to the groove. It's spaced out and pacey then 'Tectona' kicks on with some bouncing bass and kick combos, sci-fi motifs and smart vocals worked in to bring the soul. 'Root Synergy' zips along with a sense of cosmic space travel that can easily get you locked in and zoned out and then 'Beach Haze' shuts down with a more heady, deep vibe, tropical synth details and a steamy atmosphere for late-night back rooms.
Review: Encee serves up a superb debut here on the nascent but already impressive Only Cuts Records. It's lush, funky vibes all the way here with 'Carlito' tapping into a classic soulful sound and drenched in loved-up vocals. 'Zhanet' has fizzy, sugary synths darting through the mix as warm drums bounce in neat patterns and 'Hov' then brings some blissful summer synth work and cut up stabs that energise the party without ever starting from deep and rich musicality. 'Meshell' is a perfect vocal cut for summer deployment with wispy chords, r&b vocal chops and colourful bass.
Review: Innes taps into many different niches for inspiration for this new house EP on Housewax out of Germany. 'Let Me Love' is part deep house cut, part late-night lullaby and part jazzy escape. The dreamy vocals bring the heat next to rickety beats then 'Move Back' is a smoky and driving number with raw beats that hark back to early Chicago. 'Ring It' brings me more smart vocal samples and humid chord work to nice analogue drums and 'Sensations' closes out with pitched-up vocals and heavy, thudding house kicks. It's physical but packed with emotion and brings a different kind of energy to the club.
Review: South London's Tom Esselle returns with a standout EP on Rhythm Section that cements his place at the core of the UK underground. Building on past successes like 'Praise Bes' on Wolf Music and 'Lou's Groove' on Rhythm Section, this release shows off his wide-ranging house influences which have all been refined through collaborations with Chaos In The CBD. The A-side delivers club heat with 'Baddies' featuring a killer mid-2000s r&b sample, and the techy 'Plaything'. The flip is breezier as 'One Of These Days' shines with Dave Koor's jazzy keys, while 'Harmonise' closes things with dreamy warmth. A mature, versatile offering from a producer hitting his stride.
Aline Umber & Maxime DB - "Wavelength Infinity" (4:12)
Markus Sommer - "Does It Funk?" (8:11)
Rocky - "Aquaticmaneuvers" (8:06)
Review: Depending on your age, you may not know that a pager was a little communications device that briefly became popular before mobile phones. This incarnation of Pager we much prefer - deep house with real meaning. Phil Evans opens this latest transmission with 'Chocolate Funk' which is a low key viber with nice melodies and some cool swagger. Aline Umber & Maxime DB then combine for a dazzling blend of smeared 80s chords and rasping bass. Markus Sommer ups the ante with more slinky and speedy beats and Rocky's 'Aquaticmaneuvers' brings nice rawness to close.
Review: For its tenth release, the label showcases Chilean producer Existencia Pasajera, an artist steadily rising in the electronic music scene. This release features five diverse tracks that highlight his signature style, blending deep textures with dynamic rhythms. A standout is the co-production with Dismal, adding a compelling layer to the project. Together, the tracks offer a well-rounded glimpse into Existencia Pasajera's evolving sound, balancing experimentation with dancefloor appeal. This release not only marks a milestone for the label but also solidifies Existencia Pasajera's position as a promising talent to watch.
Review: Blkmarket Underground Music Party Edits is a sub-label to the influential Blkmarket, an esteemed label and event series in New York. Contrary to what that catalogue number might indicate, this is actaully their second release and has Facets at the controls. First up is 'Computers' with its raw and snappy analogue drum sounds and late-night synth details. 'Time Of War' is another full-fat blend of analogue drum thump and driving synth motifs, 'Talk To Me' has crashing cold-wave synths and deadpan vocals and 'Paranoia' has loopy vocals and moody atmospheres for freaky dancing. 'Lies' and 'Dub To Destruct' shut down this varied and retro-tinged EP with jerking rhythms that will do plenty of damage.
Review: Having built his career via a mix of inspired self-released EPs and outings on the likes of Shall Not Fade and Happiness Therapy, Parisian producer Matthieu Faubourg lands on Housewax for the first time. The five-track missive he's delivered is undeniably impressive, fusing good quality deep house grooves with intricate arrangements and mood-enhancing musical flourishes. For proof, check opener 'Pressure Drop', where fluid piano motifs, bubbly electronics and gorgeous chords ride a nagging analogue bassline and drum machine percussion, and the fizzing, Norwegian space disco-inspired house futurism of 'Oslo Track'. Elsewhere, title track 'Normal Boy' is warm, woozy and cheery, 'Waves' doffs a cap to early 90s Italian deep house and 'Haze' is a stab-happy slab of warehouse-ready peak-time sleaze.
Reel It In (feat feat Madaline - Fingers remix) (5:53)
Between Us (feat Madaline - instrumental dub) (6:40)
Reel It In (feat Madaline - Summer Acid Burn) (5:49)
Review: 40 years have now passed since Larry Heard made his first record. Heard is, of course, without peers when it comes to deep house - he pretty much drew up the blueprint after all - though he does occasionally invite other producers to bask in his reflected glow. That's the case here, as he and Memphis-based Michael Kuntzman (an artist who has previously released music on Heard's Alleviated imprint) deliver a notable collaborative 12". Guest performer Maddaline whispers, sings and vocalises her way through the dreamy, richly electronic and sonically pristine 'Between Us', which is accompanied by a typically gorgeous 'Instrumental Dub'. There are two versions of 'Reel It In' - also featuring Maddaline - too: the deep tech-house shuffle of Heard's'Fingers Mix' and the back-to-Chicago-87 flex of Kuntzman's 'Summer Acid Burn' take.
Review: The classical-inclined RAWAX crew looks back to another great retro EP here and reintroduces Orlando Voorn under his FIX alias. His superb Flash 12" was originally released on KMS Records in 1992 and this new pressing of it features the original plus bonus tracks 'Face' and 'Players Anthem.' As you would expect given the heritage, these are all timeless outings. 'Flash' is the most well-known with its wonky lead hook and coarse drums and perc. 'Dope Computer' brings some zippy motifs and electro-funk-inspired drums and 'Face' then gets more smooth and seductive with a garage-tinged groove. 'Players Anthem' is a bright, visceral, off-balanced rhythm that sounds like little else before or since.
Review: Flabaire reaffirms his status as one of France's most refined producers with this masterful deep house EP on the no-nonsense Skylax label. Known for leading D.KO Records and contributing to Skylax House Explosion, this latest suggests a new level of artistic maturity across four tracks that channels the spirit of revered house artists like Black Jazz Consortium, Mike Huckaby and Soul Capsule. From the lush opener 'Echoes' to the dreamy closer 'La Haye,' each cohesive sound blends jazzy textures and ambient depth with club-ready grooves. This is timeless, introspective house music of the sort that is always going to appeal to the heads who like their sounds intimate, pensive and slow during for those cosy back rooms.
Review: London-raised, Lisbon-based songwriter, producer, and DJ William Florelle has been making waves at R2 Records with his soulful electronic groove for a while now. His work has always seemed a natural fit and that tradition continues with 'Red Velvet' which is a sultry track that blends Will Flo's jazz, r&b, and club influences while capturing his uniquely organic yet electronic sound. Also on the 12", Kaidi Tatham delivers a stunning remix with his signature broken-jazz style, while Karizma brings a beat-down dub perfect for late-night sets. Ato Ayerra rounds it out with the Beringei '2am Snack' remix which confirms this is a crucial pick-up.
Review: The endlessly fertile scenes that are minimal and tech house yield more essential DJ goodness here as Bread & Butter assembles a selection of talents for this ninth various artists' release. Alex Font & Aron open up with 'Walking On Clouds' which is not as airy and dreamy as it might sound, but does lay down a nice deft minimal groove. Beiger has a more sunny outlook with the mellifluous synth clouds of his 'Audible Illusions' and Mihai Pol then brings ouse late night jazz house cool to his 'Bip Bip.' Iuly B completes a varied package with the heady loops and wispy cosmic synth motifs of 'Bouncing Lights.'
Review: The Treasure team keeps up the momentum of its early release with another fruitful dive into the annals of house history. This time, they have dug up more nuggets from FR and have refined them for contemporary floors. 'ET Is Coming Home' (vocal) is a slow and dubby cut with percolating live bass and muted horns next to some Ubiquity style vocal soul. The instrumental allows the superbly loose-limbed and live drums room to really shine, and then comes an epic, 10-minute-plus jazz-drenched house odyssey that's alive with swirling cosmic radiance and busy chords and synths. A real trip for proper music heads.
Review: Fresh & Low are original tech house titans who brought a sunny West Coast vibe to their very many classic EPs. Plenty of them have become cult favs that are pricey to cop these days so the reissue option is always a good one. Enter Rawax who do just that, this time focusing on two tracker 'Rack Up'. 'Rack Up' is the opener and is a punch one with leggy kicks, nice warm dubbed-out bass and soulful vocal samples. 'Interlude' keeps it warm and deep with humid kicks and tender piano chords laced over the groove to a captivating effect
The Funk District - "La Rapina" (De Gama (Re)Funk-Head) (6:53)
De Gama - "Pina Colada" ((Re)Funk-Head) (6:36)
Paul Older - "Daboom" (De Gama (Re)Funk-Head) (7:14)
De Gama - "Higher" ((Re)Funk-Head) (5:40)
Review: This big-hitting new EP is a vivacious mix of Afro-funk, Latin disco and 70s film score-inspired grooves that are packed with details. It kicks off with 'Congalizer,' a high-energy track driven by a frantic guitar line and dancefloor-ready loops from The Funk District which create an irresistible vibe. 'Heaven is Gonna Fall' follows with breakneck speed and features funky brass stabs, echoing guitar riffs, and dynamic percussion. On the flip side, 'La Rapina' delivers Latin dance floor gold with 70s disco influences, and last of all is 'No Worries featuring Dr Disco,' a loop-heavy disco groove that culminates in a standout guitar solo.
Review: Romanian artists Funky Trip dropped the fourth EP on the Bohrium Records label back in January and despite promises it would not be repressed, it has in fact been repressed just a few months later, but given the timeframe we don't blame the label for wanting more people to have this one. This artist stands out in the Romanian new wave for navigating a vast universe on releases with Rawax, Nazca and Stamp Records. 'Alpha' features a passionate vocal cry thing brings emotional urgency to the dub, percolating beats and synth phrases that loop tightly. 'Dreams' has a more melodic, light and airy feel for the quiet moments. Barac of Moment Records adds his signature touch to the title track, with a smooth rhythm layered with subtle psychedelic influences.
Review: Massimo Napoli is Galathea and he is still riding high off the success of his second album Sacred Love. Now he backs up the quality of that one with this new EP on Space Echo which features four unreleased tracks. 'Ancestral' and 'Karimabao' on the A-side feature hypnotic atmospheres and blend African rhythms with tribal percussion and sleek pads to make for a rather addictive fusion for sophisticated dancefloors. 'Africa Carnival' then offers an Afrobeat groove infused with Brazilian spirit and plenty of jazz, and funk all added to by Mario Pappalardo's masterful keyboard work. The EP closes with 'Sacred Club,' a track which mixes up African mysticism with a danceable, clap-driven rhythm that is perfect for a more subdued yet entrancing dancefloor experience.
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: Colombian house maestro Felipe Gordon has a brilliantly musical and artistic take on house music. He's prolific, too, but always manages to offer up freshness whenever he steps out. Here he lands on GAMM and shows his jazzy side on a release brimming with his signature style. The standout track, 'Self Love,' is a warm jazz-infused journey with playful electronic twists perfect for uplifting moments. 'The Punk Automata' follows with a bouncy, club-ready rhythm. For deeper vibes, 'Your Feelings' dives into late-night deep house territory and closing the EP, Felipe teams up with Bob The Egoist for 'Please Don't Go,' a soulful, vocal-driven gem.
Sundays With U (feat Ambra - Neapolitan mix) (6:11)
Sundays With U (GT remix) (7:16)
Review: Gratts returns with a release that perfectly balances club-ready energy and laid-back vibes. The opening track, 'Sunsets (FBI Mix)', pays tribute to Sydney's DJ Simon Caldwell, blending dubby West Coast deep house influences with smooth, atmospheric vocals from Lesley Williams. On 'Sundays With U (Neapolitan Mix)', Gratts delves into jazzy, bruk-inspired sounds with a standout soprano sax performance by Andreas Poppelbaum and lyrics in the Neapolitan dialect from Ambra. The 'GT Remix' of 'Sundays With U' shifts gears, enhancing the original with a deep, dancefloor-focused rhythm. Gratts and his collaborators create a textured release that's as suited for radio as it is for late-night sets.
Review: Belgian-born producer Gratts and pioneering Chicago vocalist Robert Owens first collaborated on 'Brighter Future' back in 2021 after meeting in the streets of Kreuzberg years before. The pair now join forces again for follow up 'Today', a powerful and emotive, 90s inspired deep house cut with layered backings and Owens' lilting affirmations soaring above. The extended club version takes you straight to house music's ecstatic heydays, while the twelve also includes an acapella tool for those singalong moments. On the flip, Mark Hand's slower, soulful rendition takes things into sideroom territory. Finally, 'Mount Olympus', home to the Greek deities, fuses a rattling drum machine, arpeggiated synth lines and a potent analogue bassline - with added bonus beats to bang the box and get weird!
Groove Armada - "Get Down" (feat Stush & Red Rat - Mark Knight extended mix) (6:15)
Illyus & Barrientos - "When You Gonna" (extended mix) (5:41)
David Penn & Offiah - "Satisfied" (5:18)
Ben Remember - "Waiting 4 You" (extended mix) (5:16)
Review: Mark Knight's epic Toolroom label returns with a four-track sampler featuring plenty more big-room house excursions. First up, the boss himself offers up an extended mix of Groove Armada's legendary 'Get Down' which is full of rave stabs and big vocals. Illyus & Barrientos offer the synth laced and peak time sounds of 'When You Gonna' and David Penn & Offiah combine for the supersized piano house rollercoaster that is 'Satisfied' complete with big hooky vocals. Last of all comes Ben Remember's 'Waiting 4 You' (extended mix) which ducks and dices with some smart filters, chopped-up vocal stabs and raw percussive house energy.
Move Your Body (A Fire House Chicago Classique) (6:01)
Marisa (GU edit) (5:33)
Tell You (Today) (GU edit) (6:40)
Hurry Up & Wait (GU extended version) (6:34)
Review: GU (which is of course an alias of Chicago favourite Glenn Underground) is back with a 20th volume of his Classiques series. It once again finds him adding his own special studio magic to come stone-cold classics from the funk and disco world. First, he flips Le Cop's 'Move Your Body' into a funky percussive sound with steamy vocals. Then Machine's 'Marisa' becomes a jazzy and expressive sound with busy leads and funky guitars and Loose Joints's 'Tell You Today' is a wild horn-led sound with a busy arrangement and pumping drums. Last of all are the sunny and soulful sounds of The Isley Brothers's 'Hurry Up & Wait' with cool house drums.
Review: Straight from Tokyo, the elusive Guchon debuts on Feelings Worldwide with his latest and maybe greatest release. This one is a treat for night owls and video gamer lovers alike as it is packed with dance floor curveballs and great sound design. It features Japanese bubblegum pop-house infused with bonus breaks along with a remix by Chicago club Smartbar's cult hero Chrissy. The tracks exude super fun vibes from start to finish so bring fun as well as function and great form.
Review: Brooklyn-based deep and minimal house label Yuzu Music welcomes a close find of the operation to step up with this classy new four-tracker. Gunnter impresses from the off with a super silky and seductive sound on the loopy, bubbly, clean sounds of 'Narta' complete with hints of 90s reference but plenty of future synth work. 'Far Away' is heavy and punchy but with a nice bouncy kick and crisp percussion. 'Lamartine' is a heady one doused in cosmic synth work and mute neon glows and 'Smack' shuts down with a more dark and heavy house sound but still plenty of musical character.
Review: It's worth noting this is a pretty impressive 125th EP from the Bristol label Shall Not Fade. The shine has not come off this always eclectic label in that time and next up to move things on is the dream team pairing of Lawrence J and J Peacock. 'Too Far To Come Back' opens up with some celebratory Daft Punk-style, hands-in-the-air and festival-sized house. 'Everything I've Got' keeps it a little deeper but filter synths still take centre stage with a balmy twist and 'Brother John' slows to heavy beatdown house with rapturous chords and vocals all swirling around to great and uplifting effect.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.