Back catalogue: Deep House

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: A San Francisco house producer who is taking jazz influenced house music to another level is Coflo aka Cody Ferreira 'Syncopatience' is a stunning deep house release that highlights his signature blend of soulful rhythms, intricate grooves, and rich musicality. Each track brims with personality, that blend clever and creative vocals and lyrics to a deeper level than just for the dancefloor. Side-1 starts off with 'Get Down, Show Love', a collaboration with Fenyan that exudes a hip, jazzy charm. Playful yet refined, it features catchy vocal work and a high-level jazz flair, effortlessly blending house with improvisational energy. Next, Coflo's remix of 'Cee.Side's Elektrify' brings atmospheric depth, wrapping Latin influences around a funky, sultry groove that's as hypnotic as it is danceable. Side-2 delivers Ecru, where Coflo, Steve Howerton, and Niya Wells craft a deeper, tech-tinged house cut with sharp, clever lyricism. Its polished production and layered instrumentation elevate it to a higher plane of jazzy house, demonstrating Coflo's versatility and artistry. 'Syncopatience' has the solution on how merge soulful textures with dancefloor energy in a unique way.

Review: The London-based band, known for their post-industrial fusion of live drums, synthesisers and noise, deliver a high-intensity release with 'Between You'. On Side-1, the original mix is a relentless, driving forceipowered by a pounding rhythm, heavy chords and a dynamic structure that builds with raw intensity. The track's weighty sound and electrifying energy make it a true floor-filler, perfect for dark, sweat-drenched dancefloors. Side-2's extended mix stretches the tension further, amplifying the track's industrial undertones and deepening its hypnotic pull. The expanded arrangement allows the rhythmic propulsion to breathe, enhancing its body-moving power. Blending elements of coldwave, darkwave and experimental techno, this record highlights the band's ability to craft visceral, high-impact electronic music that bridges the gap between raw post-industrial energy and contemporary club sound.

Review: A collection of remixes gives a fresh perspective on a revered club anthem. Fat Tony & KDA's 'Now Mix' opens the set, with a driving, deep rhythm that instantly locks into the underground pulse. Catz 'n Dogz step in with their 'Tribal Dub,' revamping the original with gritty percussion and high-octane energy that'll fire up any crowd. Cinthie's remix brings a dash of lightness, merging classic house vibes with playful, disco-inspired layers for a more vibrant yet smooth feel. Cormac's 'Divine Whore Remix' takes things to a darker, more intense place, with a propulsive beat that demands attention. GIDEON's 'Cash Remix' offers something different, blending breakbeat and synth-driven sounds for an electrifying twist. Ending with the original '12 Inches Just The Right Size,' this collection stays true to its roots while giving the track a new spin for modern tastes. A solid tribute to a dancefloor classic.

Review: Having previously reissued Fresh N Low's sublime debut 12", a deliciously deep double A-side, Rawax has once more dipped into the UK deep house artist's back catalogue and come up smelling of roses. Originally released, like its predecessor, in 1995, this three-tracker offers more hypnotic, intergalactic and effortlessly tactile early morning fare. Check first 'Interact', where yearning pads, hypnotic riffs and intergalactic electronics rise smooth deep house beats and an undulating bassline. Over on the flip we're treated to two takes on 'Get Up', the chunky East Midlands free party deep house-meets-formative tech-house flex of the 'Rise mix' and the more sparkling, wide-eyed and warehouse-ready 'Shine mix'. Classic UK business that should be in any discerning deep house head's record collection!

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: From Chicago to New York via the UK, Freedom Party rack up mega phono-mileage on this retrotextual deep house steamer. The label have set foot on this bold, folk artistic sound-quest since 2023, when the first V/A emerged amid black-and-yellow steams of equably danceable produces from in-house charcutiers Look Once, Mederic Nebinger and Steal Vybe. Now a completely fresh crew is welcomed aboard, with just three new mates added to the original four: Vick Lavender deals in impossible erotism on the long out-of-press vocal jam 'The LOVE Song', with anachronistic beat tech and sampled, 1930s-feel vocals. Funkey Munkey follows up with 'Make Me Feel It', an ambitious retro-rave sound-splay, and In House Ii offers to take us home on 'Love To Love You', a sultrier refit of an all-time-classic, Donna Summer surestarter.

Review: The still newly established Rhythm Traxx kicks on with more fresh, club-ready house music here. It's Finky and Ben Murphy who step up for this one and deliver the goods, starting with 'What Is Disco Tech' which does a fine job of answering its own question. 'Danger' then switches up it with some garage flexing in the drums and spacecraft transmissions for vocals. A brilliantly infectious energy defines 'Dance Potion' with its naughty baseline and cheeky bounce and for the big finish, 'Rhymes & Rhythms' brings acid stabs, drum fills and vocal chops to some peak time tech.

Review: This special 12" sampler, part of the forthcoming compilation, taps into the timeless spirit of the Paradise Garage with two unreleased collaborations that showcase the late Frankie Knuckles' legacy. On the A-side, the final production from Knuckles, alongside Kenny Summit and Eric Kupper, delivers a soulful, uplifting remix of Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine." It's pure house brilliance that captures the essence of the Garage sound. On the flip, the trio reunites for "Loving You," a Motown-inspired anthem featuring Yasmeen's powerful vocals. These tracks, which have been staple spins for DJs like Cajmere and Sonny Fodera, form part of a larger collection that celebrates house music's rich history, with remixes of iconic tracks. The cover art, designed by Alexander Juhasz, adds an extra layer of cultural significance to this must-have release.