Back catalogue: House

Review: Definitive Recordings throws it back to 1994 for 'Do It' a house classic by Las Americas, which is a legendary project by David Alvarado. Newly remastered for 2024, this edition includes the original version as well as a refreshed Chuck Phulasole remix and two dynamic new takes from Italian producer St. David, who brings his vintage-inspired style in all its glory. He delivers a playful 'Big Tool Mix' with vocal flips and infectious grooves alongside a funkier 'Drum-Tool Dub' packed with sharp guitar licks. The original's hypnotic basslines and soulful vocal hook still shine, while Phulasole's deeper remix adds rich keys and Moog warmth. Lovely stuff.

Review: Fedde le Grand's 'Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit' shocked the world on first release, notably sampling Matthew Dear and Disco D's 1999 classic track 'Hands Up For Detroit'. The Netherlands electro-house cut is a worthy enticement for any floor-hardened modern listener; Flamingo Recordings oversaw its peak at number 4 before gaining traction across Europe. The official lyrics, as confirmed by le Grand, are "put your hands up for Detroit, our lovely city"; and a futuristic music video, directed by Marcus Adams, was filmed in a former Safeway HQ in Hillingdon, London, depicting a dystopian lab where androids are tested for human responses, ending in a system-wide shutdown after one discovers his own artificial identity. There's plenty of visual cultural material to psychoanalyse here, but we've no time; all we can say for now is that this one's a speedy sonic electroshock and a maximal noughts dance record, doing similar vibe mileage as Freestylers, Foreign Beggars or Benny Benassi.

Review: UK-born, Spain-based house head Marlon Lopez faces off with downtempo king Nightmare son Wax here for a pair of dubbed-out cuts packed with soul and classic samples. 'Cancel Dat' rides a choppy groove with bleeping synth sequences and the tightest of pinging kicks, and as it unfolds, you get ever more hypnotised. 'Patang' has a dry, retro-future sound with chilly synth modulations and snappy hits, while a snaking, dubby bassline adds the weight. Two great sounds for back rooms and basements full of real heads only.

Review: French label Cairo Xpress debuts with a first-ever vinyl outing and a fine one it is too, with six stylish house outings from an array of fresh talents. Wilt's 'Beoyon' has lovely gloppy drums and bass looping under harmonic chords - it's simple but effective. Hermit gets more full-bodied with his textured 'Who Dunnit' and DOTT strips it back to bumping drum track workouts on 'Twitching Softly.' There is more irresistible bounce to Lucho's 'Mesh', Artphorm layers in some old school pianos to 'Daown' and HATT D shuts down with maybe the best of the lot, 'Contrasts In Life,' which is a broken beat, analogue sound with celestial energy.

Review: Vick Lavander is a name that has always been a byword for deep house quality. His sound is couched in a classic template but comes with subtle tweaks and plenty of its own musical character. BEYOND is a bumper collection of beats which proves just that. There are silky and cosmically minded sounds like 'Time & Time Again' next to subtly jazzy dancers like 'Sunset BLVD' and dubby, elegant grooves like the life-affirming 'Grace'. The pace picks up with joints like 'Knights' but never at the expense of atmosphere and slows right down with swab-tinged downbeat delights like 'Good Timing'. A magnificently rich work.