Back catalogue: Funky/Club House

Review: B2 Recordings rolls out more of its quality-assured deep house here with Label head Bengoa stepping up next for a new three-tracker that comes with featured guests Kristina Berger and Brothers' Vibe. 'Idyot' kicks off with deep and pulsing synths and clacking hits that bring an early Chicago vibe next to the libidinous and erotic vocals which really tease. 'Meet Me Halfway' sinks into a super silky groove that is deep as you like and driven by stylish drum hits under a muttered vocal. 'Come On Now' then sinks into a more acid-laced atmosphere with sustained chords keeping you on edge next to loose and jumbled percussion. It's a stylistically diverse EP, this one.

Review: On his contribution to Watergate's mix series, Biesmans has decided to showcase his own tracks, and mostly a dizzying array of previously unheard collaborations with some seriously talented producers. It makes sense then that the German imprint has decided to show off the best of these across two vinyl samplers, of which this is the second. It's a great collection all told, with opener 'Quantum Computing' - a bumping piano-house hook-up with one of his musical heroes, Mathew Jonson - and the effortlessly funky nu-disco workout 'Me Gusta Acid', co-produced by Kid Simius, standing out. Elsewhere, solo cut 'Hipster Paradise' and Johannes Albert collaboration 'Luft' are also well worth a listen.

Review: It's a sizzling seven up for Moiss Music here as they draw together four different artists to offer up one cut each for this new various artists collection. Boogietraxx goes heavy on the filter vibes on 'S N T' which is French touch disco-house of the highest order. Kellit's 'Pryscoks Sockin Socks' is all about sultry sax lines and loose-limbed disco house beats while C Da Afro gets heads up with the streaming sunshine synths of 'Don't Be Quiet.' Groovemasta shut down with the funky Afro-disco stylings of 'Gonna Make U Rock.'

Review: Funkhut Records is proud to bring to you the anticipated release by DjPope & The Funkhut All Stars Feat. Kenny Wesley "Listen Love". With all the live instrumentation along side Kenny's extraordinary interpretation of the great Jon Lucien's original, "Listen Love' makes this release a must have for any music connoisseur. Produced, Mixed and Arranged by DjPope. Additional Mixing by David Sussman, Mastered by Joey Hernandez, Bass : Irv Madden Guitar: Karlos Brickhouse Drums: PJ Spraggins Congas: Kevin Pinder Keyboards: Charles Dockins.

Review: After hitting on something of a formula with 'Only Human', this A-side banger is further proof that Four Tet is onto a rich vein of side hustle action with his KH alter ego. 'Looking At Your Pager' is a cheeky slice of '90s throwback-ism in jackin' house form, and in a heuristically Hebden-esque style, makes deft use of the hilariously autotuned opening verse heard in 3LW's girl band hit, 'No More'. It's a very clever tune; just as no-one uses pagers anymore, nor do people use the kind of dubstep wobbles heard underneath the track's clacking groove... Mr. KH makes them cool again!

Review: A top value for money opportunity here, as Moiss Music deliver the latest in their sweet and sticky Jam series of various artist 12" line ups, bringing you no less than six bubbling, vivacious disco triumphs from six artists. Khemir's 'Disco Bandit' kicks off proceedings, a production that sounds like it was made by a band of around 45 musicians, a proper cavalcade of strings, brass, brazen disco thump and beautifully bold vocals. Wurzelholz's 'Prince' goes for a bit more economy but with a slinky funk bassline like that - not to mention the occasional exclamation from the purple overlord himself - it's equally devastating in dancefloor terms. Among the other highlights, 'Golden' by I Gemin has the feel of a lost Daft Punk flip tune and Cosmocomics' 'Glamorous Garcon', boasting 70s-style synth bubbles that are as cute as they are retro. Tasty as ever.

Review: Stacy Kidd and Peven Everett have had more than a few hot link ups in the past, but even they surpassed themselves with 'Body Jerkin' in 2015. The single was an instant hit, which is why the limited pressing became so highly prized amongst rabid second hand house heads. Now South Street have done us all a favour and repressed this crucial track, and bundled it with some killer remixes as a bonus. The original version sits on the A-side of this record, bringing some joyous disco feel to the house template and coming up trumps before we slap into the funked up 'Chicago Mix'. The B2 'Disco Mix' is the secret weapon thanks to its raw, looped up and stripped back sound.

Review: Ready your arms and ears for an injection of nostalgia from Mark Knight and Funkagenda. These two longstanding artists tear the house down with their reimagining of the classic track by French maestro Laurent Garnier - clearly, the original is by now a house music standard, to the extent that Garnier isn't even obviously credited on the release here. It just goes without saying. Knight and Funkagenda's 'cover' here is neatly chiptuney, emphasising the bare bones of the composition, while their networking abilities see to further remixes of the cover by ATFC, Rene Amesz, and - hilariously - Hardwell. A varied remix EP spanning EDM, deep tech and nu-disco.

Review: Fool's Paradise is the exciting new label from Toolroom Records' Mark Knight. Coming straight from the heart, it's a natural progression from his hugely acclaimed 2021 album release, 'Untold Business', which saw Mark go back to his roots, paying homage to the more funky, soulful, and vocal house from the 1990s from where he came. With a focus on real instrumentation and production, coupled with great songwriting, this new Toolroom sublabel will be a platform for high quality house music designed to stand the test of time. Launching the new label with a mighty bang and delivering the first in our exciting new vinyl sampler series is head honcho Mark Knight, who joins forces with his Australian Toolroom labelmate, Sgt Slick, and British Soul sensation, Beverley Knight, on a dynamite cover of Prince's 1979 classic, 'I Wanna Be Your Lover'. Respectfully transporting the song onto today's dancefloors, Mark & Sgt Slick deliver a classy uplifting soulful house production, loaded with funky guitars, warm pads and sublime key performances. Adding the icing on the cake and putting her own stamp on things, Beverley belts out one of her signature spine-tingling vocals, garnished with lush harmonies and BV's that would indeed make The Purple One proud. Completing the vinyl package is dance music stalwart, Opolopo, and British soul icon, Jaki Graham, whom together bring the dancefloor heat with their new single, 'Fire'. Powered by a potent soulful house groove from Opolopo, loaded with warm piano hooks, emotive synth melodies and a sublime popping bass hook, 'Fire' see's Jaki flaunt her electrifying vocal talents with a show-stopping performance on this irresistibly catchy song.

Review: 'Hollywood Swingin' is one of the most recognised Kool & The Gang songs in their amazing catalogue, having soundtracked movies, been sampled in hip-hop as well as used in commercials. So how would someone remix it and make it fresh once again? Easy. In 2005 they added Jamiroquai's unmistakable voice, made a disco and house version of it too, the 'Disco Dust' mix adding new sounds while not losing and ounce of the original's energy. 'The After Party' mix offers a more house version of the classic.

Review: DeLaChaud is the long-time home and record label of Krewcial, who is something of what you might call a young veteran in the game. Following impressive solo albums on PlayItAgainSam and UK's BBE in the early 2000's he is still going strong and this new one proves it. Whether sampling jazz greats, laying down funky bass and infectious drums there is no mistaking the soulful impact of these tunes. 'Love & Devotion' is a vocal gem that will raise anyone's spirits no matter which version you pick here and 'Nereci' brings a throwback house sound with a Latin vocal on the club mix. The Bruk mix is a lovely London broken beat and a final acoustic mix is a useful tool.

Review: Hot on the heels of his Discosaurs EP, which saw him expertly re-edit a swathe of obscure disco jams, Pascal Garnier AKA Krewcial delivers another hot-to-trot dose of dancefloor focused rearrangements. This time round, he's chosen to do a bit of (we think) multi-track "versioning", offering a trio of reworks of the same killer cut: Chaka Khan's 1980 disco hit 'Clouds'. The 'Extended Clouds' version is fairly faithful to the original, just longer and even more epic. Arguably more revolutionary and revelatory is the 'New Clouds' take, which opts for a denser, more freewheeling disco-funk sound with crunchy guitar licks aplenty and heavier bass. On the 'Acoustic Clouds' take he removes the groove entirely, instead showcasing Chaka's vocal and the original instrumentation. It's a real treat!

Review: Anita Baker, quiet storm legend and balladmaker, gets two of her most heartwarming classics remixed by Krewcial, with Texan vocalist Sheelah Monae filling in for Baker's original vox. 'Sweet Love' hears a lounge and club mix respectively, both versions heavy on the most broken housey, piano-centric moods. 'Whatever It Takes', meanwhile, gets a club mix and an intriguing version of the original acoustic, rapidly homing in on disco strings and deep-hit bass licks.

Review: Following up some terrific collaborations with the likes of Julee Cruise. Keith Thompson and Keiko Yoshimura, Veteran New York City-based producer Eric Kupper is back on his long running Hysteria imprint with "Rain Falls' - this time with vocal contributions by singer/actor Yasmeen Sulieman. An expression in spiritual and life-affirming deep house exactly the way it's meant to be and simply mesmerising. The arrangement is the perfect backdrop to Sulieman's awe-inspiring voice. Some of you may remember Sulieman from her collaboration with Sonny Fodera on 2019's 'Caught Up' on Defected.

Review: Over the last three years, DJ/producer Mimmo "MoBlack" Falcone has turned MoBlack Records into arguably the World's leading label for African house music. Defected clearly thinks so, because the label has decided to put out this EP featuring tracks from remixes from Falcone and some of his regular collaborators. On side A Falcone joins forces with Armonica to deliver two sparkling, rubbery, positive and heavily electronic reworks of Fela Kuti classic 'International Thief Thief'. Both hit the spot, though it's the Dub, with its extended vocal breakdown and trippy effects, that floats our boat. Over on the flip we're treated to two versions of MoBlack, Emmanuel Jal and Henrick Schwarz hook-up 'Chagu': a bouncy Afro-tech take from Schwarz and a warmer, deep Afro-house interpretation by Falcone.

Review: Following a series of tweaked reissues featuring previously forgotten (and unreleased) remixes of back catalogue gems, Masters at Work offer up something even more special: a double-pack containing four tracks rediscovered in their archives last year. They begin with the bubbly, mid-tempo NYC house shuffle of 'MAW Apes Groove' - all warming organ chords, bubbly analogue bass and oddball vocal samples - before serving up the hip-swinging, sub-heavy, sax-laden bump of KenLou's 'Lost I'M Ready (Sax Dub)'. Over on the second slab of wax, 'Virus Ruff Mutes' is a locked-in slab of house hedonism marked out by a tight, looped organ stab, while 'KenLou' thump recalls the inspired, jazz-dance-friendly, Latin-tinged brilliance of 'The Nervous Track', one of their most admired cuts.

Review: Gilberto Gil and Ernie Watt's classic jazz dancer 'Gondwana' gets a big remake here for the main man OPOLOPO. He offers a tweak that brings broken beat funk, with his jazz-fusion keys dancing over the shuffling drums and bass and mad pianos brings the vibes. The vocals are the icing on the cake for this class South American party starter. On the flip he turns his sights to Kevin Moore's 'Speak Your Mind' which is a summery and soulful disco heater with a squelchy boogie bassline that takes off and ensures the dance floor will do the same.