Deep House charts

Review: Late last year the Wolf Music crew launched a dedicated vinyl only series in triumphant fashion with the double dose of Red Rack' Em that was In Love Again. Evidently looking to maintain a high profile for this new endeavour, the second release in the series features the talented duo that is Creative Swing Alliance! If you've shaken a leg at a recent Wolf Music gig you'll no doubt be familiar with "In My Arms" from Pabs Valentine and his fellow Creative Swinger Steven Joyce Ames, a sublime arrangement where percussion rattles away with just a hiss of distortion, complemented by filtered M1 stabs, a beefy bassline and some fierce vocal hooks. Heading up the B Side is Wolf cub Thrillogy; don't be put off by the chilly title, "Arctic" is actually all about the warmth that resonates from those huge synth lines.

Review: With his release schedule operating at a gentle pace to allow for each of his twelves to sit and be considered on their own merit, Daniel 'Red Rack'Em' Berman makes just his second outing of 2013 with this pair of cuts for the ever strengthening Wolf Music. It's a record that shows off Berman's idiosyncratic approach to deep house on two very different levels. The first track, "In Love Again", is as blissed-out and heartfelt a take as you could wish for, from the sumptuous pad lines to the plastic strings that positively ooze contentment and passion. "Latin Techno" meanwhile is perhaps less predictable based on its title, opting for a jagged cut up of drum machine patterns and contorted brass sounds but rubbing them up in a non-direct way that makes for a delirious and utterly singular end result.

Review: Greymatter can probably be considered a Wolf Music stalwart, appearing on a couple of the London-based label's various artist 12?s, most memorably with the "Give It To Me Slow" cut that featured on WOLF 09. For the next release on Stu Clark and Matt Neale's label, Greymatter holds court for a solo EP, with the shimmering arpeggiated exotica of "Tisno" sharing space with basement house jam "Sweat" on the A-Side. On the flip you'll find the revving synths of "Pick & Roll" alongside a shuffling US garagey remix of "Sweat" from James Welsh.

Review: The latest release from the reliable Wolf Music camp is a limited edition, hand-stamped affair, and features two previously unheard remixes of tracks from Casino Times' Familiar Circles full-length. On the A-side, Al Zanders does a stellar job reworking "Carlotta", in the process laying down a hypnotic, percussion rich deep house shuffler full of bright cowbell hits, sunset-friendly jazz guitar licks and bubbly electronic melodies. On the flip you'll find a more than pleasant surprise: a deep, dreamy and utterly beguiling drum & bass remix of "Oddity" from Smallville regular Moomin. Its expert combination of evocative musical elements and crispy, snare-driven D&B rhythms is reminiscent of the golden age of Bukem-style liquid D&B.

Review: It's no surprise to see Amsterdam man Fritz Wentink issuing his debut album through Wolf Music, as the London label have been staunch supporters of his work with two 12" contributions over the past two years. The wonderfully named Rarely Pure, Never Simple adds to Wolf Music's growing artist album profile following long players from main men Medlar and Greymatter and further develops the all encompassing production style Wentink has displayed so eloquently for Detroit Swindle's Heist Recordings and others. He seems most impressive on the more downbeat tracks done in collaboration with Loes Jongerling who possesses a quite astounding vocal delivery, though those craving some proper house will totally dig on cuts like "The Excitement Happens At Page 320".

Review: Gratts, a Belgian-born, Australia-based DJ and producer who has been active in the scene for over two decades presents Rhythms, Tales & Instrumentation - his first offering on Wolf Music Recordings. The EP features four tracks that showcase his diverse musical influences and skills, ranging from deep house to Balearic to downtempo. The EP opens with 'Pretty Lights', a collaboration with Brandon Markell Holmes and Leito, that combines emotive chords, a catchy vocal hook and a smooth groove. The second track is 'Polaroids', featuring Tee Amara, a piano-driven track with hypnotising pads and a sublime vocal. The third track is a remix of 'Polaroids' by Glenn Davis, who adds some ethereal elements and dreamy synth work to the original.

Review: Who or what is or are Henk Donkers? We don't know, and we don't care, cause the music they make is bang on. This new and amusingly entitled EP arrives via the always cultured Wolf Music and is immediately effective. Henk Donkers X Ell Murphy's 'Without You' is classic house with depth and drive, soulful vocals and nice sustained chords. 'Dope' is more intense for the strobe lit late night hours and then its back to balmy and loved up grooves with the busy chord work of New Jersey style house kicker 'With You'. This varied EP is not done yet, as closer 'Pink Horse' explores another sone - dusty downbeat house with noodling chords that recall early Mood Hut tunes.

Review: Given their confident style, the artist lurking behind the Retromigration moniker already has an impressive track record, and the take on U.S style deep house and J Dilla style instrumental hip-hop they show here is sure to please both DJs and punters alike . Check first the echoing strings, synth chords and twinkling pianos of deep and steppin' house jam 'Hafenluft', before admiring the swirling deep house jazz of 'Mad Fox' and the more driving but similarly jazzy 'Tinger'. Elsewhere, 'Be Alright' is a mid-tempo number that combines deep house elements with flashes of '80s synth funk, while 'Disk Yard' and 'Nur Weir' are dusty, stoner-friendly head-nodders.

Review: It might now be 14 years old, but Tone Control's 'Illusion' - a 21st century deep house classic marked out by crunchy machine drums, booming sub-bass, soft-focus soul vocals and drowsy chords - still gets plenty of club plays. Since the original 12" is now hard to find, WOLF Music has decided to do a reissue, pairing Tone Control's own mix (here featured on side B) with a brand-new "translation" from the legend that is Theo Parrish. The Detroiter's take is naturally something of an epic: a near 10-minute excursion that slowly twists, turns and evolves throughout. It boasts fresh jazz-tinged house beats with that trademark Parrish swing, alongside freestyle electric piano motifs and plenty of Tone Control's original elements.

Review: Retromigration is the nom de plume of Malik Kassim, a DJ and producer from Amsterdam with previous releases on labels like Ravanelli Disco Club, GLBDOM and Healthy Scratch. The five tracks featured on the Bloom Street EP come to you courtesy of London's Wolf Music, featuring the sensual late night mood music of A side cut 'Brining It' and its velvety Rhodes keys that guide it all the way. Over on the flip, you have the urban influenced jam 'Free Spirit' getting that Berlin vibe going on that's reminiscent of Max Graef and Glenn Astro's work, and ending with the dusty jazz bar loops of 'Slick Walkin' that takes you deeper into the twilight hours.

Review: Manuel Darquart is actually a couple of Kiwis named Louis Anderson-Rich (aka Louie From The Club) and Sean Whitaker, who nowadays live in London. They are back on local imprint Wolf Music after their debut for the label last year with this 10' featuring a couple of nice reworks of the track 'Keep It Dxy'. On the A side, we have got Italian Don Carlos' remix which takes the track into sunny balearic territory, while over on the flip you can enjoy the low-slung broken beat swing of Manny D's Sleazy Sunday mix.

Review: Tom Esselle (real name Tom Lawes) debuted back in 2015 with the Garibaldi EP ?on Wholemeal Music, then just disappeared into obscurity. Well, the good news is that he's returned from a long hiatus and his sophomore effort now appears courtesy of the ever reliable London imprint Wolf Music. The Praise Bes EP is jam-packed with five tight grooves, starting off with the sensual late night affair 'Can I Get A Bump' (feat 3Digits) with its sexy sax throughout, followed by some real proper deep stuff on the late '90s vibe of 'Better Than Never'. Over on the flip, it's all about the soulful UK broken beat number 'Let Me Love You' featuring Lizzie Berchie's wonderful vocal.