Back catalogue: House

Review: Founded in 2023, Category 1 Music (C1M) builds on deep roots in house music, focusing on soulful house vocal productions on a fine international scale. Beyond digital releases, they're now diving into vinyl with a series of exclusive drops; the first is a Category 1 Music Sampler, a 12" of four standouts by Terry Dexter, Michael Gray, Dr Packer, Richard Earnshaw, and DJ Spinna. Organic but still well cooked Ibiza house predominates the set menu, whether by way of the ultrasoul wateriness of Terry Dexter's 'You Saved Me' or the tighter but still dreamy entreaties of Shawn Christopher's 'He's Got It', both translated in exquisite mashup form by the likes of Gray and Packer.

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: The legendary David Holmes returns under his new alias The Light Brigade, with a brilliant outing on Mystic Arts, which follows up his appearance on the Sounds From The Flightpath Estate compilation. Side A, 'Shuffle The Deck,' was made with electro don Keith Tenniswood of Two Lone Swordsmen and is a fiery, bass-driven sermon laced with gospel, acid loops, Arthur Russell-style cello and a sample of the late great Andrew Weatherall reflecting on rave as spiritual ritual. On the B-side, 'Only Love Can Save Us' is an expansive, kosmische-inspired collaboration with Michael Andrews that is chiming, soaring and deeply emotional. A moving and transcendent tribute to dance music's past and future.

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.