Back catalogue: House

Review: If you are a lover and buyer of house music, your almost certain to have a Soulfuric production in your collection. Brian Tappert's label has been writing hits now for over 10 years and in the last two years has launched a couple of subsidiary labels to help with the output of Soulfuric. That's where Device comes in. The Bongoloverz have released a string of dance floor hits including the massive club tracks 'The Power Of Music' & 'La Esperanza' released on Soulfuric. The Bongoloverz get together with Latin Diva Ursula Cuesta to produce their latest offering 'La Fiesta', which comes in two hot mixes, the Balearic vocal mix and the instrumental Nacho Flava mix, plus bonus beats and an acappella. So if you have recently returned from Ibiza or still thinking of the summer, then this is a record for you. The Balearic mix is a peak time vocal track with a Latin Vibe and on the flip a big Latinesque dance floor roller with peak time drops in the Basement Jaxx mould. Both mixes have been getting support worldwide and now finally available on 12" vinyl.

Review: Initially released as part of last week's Record Store Day antics, Juno are happy to get our mitts on some of this limited "split grooves" 12" from the always reliable Kolour Ltd. Mr Frank Booker of Hit It Or Quit It fame leads the way with two A Side productions that sit happily between disco and house; loose, funk laden disco is very much the shape of lead track "Movin On" which features some great drum chopping. Complementing this, "It's Time" takes discoid elements and applies them to a crunchy mid tempo house template. Flip over and rising talent Ugly Drums pairs with Chesney for two soul laden productions, with the dusty Raw Cuts style antics of "Soul To Keep" complemented by the sugary beatdown of "Girls Girls Girls".

Review: Claremont 56's main man Mudd gets busy with two remixes of Holger Czukay and U She's "La Premiere", getting nice and slow to worm a lazy kind of shuffle into the original track from all-round Krautrock legend Czukay. The "Ode To Phreek" remix is a loungey track that hops along with quite a spring in its groove, as muted guitar strikes drive everything along behind U She's mournful tone. The "Garden" mix does slip a more prominent kick into the mix whilst subtly dubbing out certain elements in a coolly executed celebration of eclecticism.

Review: It's a new Palham Music episode, people! The German label has been at the forefront of the house-techno underground for over ten years now, and thanks to releases by artists such as Lowtec and The Analog Roland Orchestra, among others, Dan Bust's imprint has always been given the respect it deserves. For their new, limited Purple Series, it's Cologne's Ugly Drums who comes through with his singular brand of funked-up dance music! "Scorpio Things Related" is a Theo Parrish Kinda tune - jittery percussion and sweet chords - while "Can't Take You Down is deeper and more cerebral thanks to its broken beat and lower-than-low-end! On the flip, "Spend With It" showcases some more of Ugly Drums' inimitable percussion flex, whereas "Stick With It" is pure soulful house magic. Ah, what a load of sweet cuts! Screen-printed jackets!

Review: Take It Easy are a Milan-based crew who love nothing better than the sweet fusion between classic disco sounds and upfront house music energy. Dirty Channels capture that spirit perfectly on this third release on the label, opening up this split 12" with the crisp and strutting "Guava Juice". DJLMP takes things in a more psychedelic, tripped out direction for the more adventurous groove hounds before longstanding champion Memoryman Aka Uovo gets dusty and woozy with "I Wonder". Bugsy completes the set with the feisty stomp and sizzling tension of "Pomiri Dan".

Review: London's Serie Limitee, of course run by Monsieur Cedric, turns in some more of those sultry deep house jams. Strictly limited edition of course and totally underground; just the way we like it! Jordan Fields "Parlez Vous Underground" and Uncle Deep's "Just Do it Tomorrow" are the kind of French style deep house you'd expect from Silver Network and they're awesome. 99 Letters "Room In The Dark" is dark dusty and loopy, definitely one of the highlights and Jemaho's "From Dee To Chee" is one of the most convincing tributes to the legendary Midwest sound we've heard in a while. Nice one!

Review: Tamed Monsters EP is an inaugural release of the new record label Pandora. New imprint will focus on ambient sounds, music for home-listening and unique artwork. The VA includes works from german producer Benedikt Frey, russian producers Shine Grooves, Unbroken Dub, and an ambient group Kurvenschreiber. Each artist offers a different sound, which lets the music evolve like a story and makes a nice combination of dreamy ambience and mesmerizing repetitive beats.

Review: Minuendo keep things interesting on this latest various artists 12", primarily focusing on Owen Jay and Brian James on the A side for two tracks of adventurous experimentation on the wild frontier of minimal house music. The wobbly synth running through "Niko's Groove" is a real head turner, while "Imagery" nudges the grand tradition of dub house into a new pocket of ambience that draws you in immediately. There's a lovely, classic deep house joint from Untitled called "Seafood", and then Blue Vulva & The Electronic Crooner completely flip the script on the B2 with rowdy acid burner "Vulbitch Bazaar".

Review: Transatlantyk are back with more of the finest in Polish deep house. This time by Jazxing and Unitrax on a split EP and it's pretty killer. The former is up first with "KS Gruv" which has that classic NYC house vibe ie: Kerri Chandler. "The Coast" dives well deeper on this emotional and melancholic groove. On the flip Unitrax offers us "Oasis (Water Of Love") a dark and sombre chill-out number with exotic percussion and rich synth work, contrasted by the most evil, snarling sub bass: it's pretty alright! "Another Feeling" however is raw and dusty deep house, woven from dreams, that sounds like an old tape from '92 for fans on current faves Terreke or Florian Kupfer.

Review: Originally released as 13 track digital album earlier this year, here we find Soulab curating a selected soulful four-way for all vinyl lovers. Showing the set at its most embracive and far-reaching, we're treated to a ridiculously cool, sleazy digi-lounge version of "Big Fun" and a super-slamming high NRG take on "Boogie". Further on label mainstays get creative with a very well known Mohawks sample while Guiseppe Storniolo gets deep with a timeless nod towards Detroit. Soul is back... And back for good!

Review: Second release in a week for Christiano Rinaldi, with the disco tinged proceedings of his Small World Disco twelve inch complemented nicely by the straight up industrial acid business of this drop on Manocalda Records. "Million People" unfolds excellently into a fully pumping old school jacker with obvious nods to Chicago, not least when that vocal hook comes in. A further sheen of interest is provided by the accompanying remixes from Chez Damier and Samman, with their Underground Dub take stripping things back to a low slung bump that has delightful little melodic touches swimming around the corner of your senses. Just when you've made yourself comfortable they throw in some killer stabs which signal an upward shift in rhythmic momentum. Their second Balance Dub opts for a chunkier feel with smudgy melodies swinging deep below.

Review: Plastik People are back with another volume of unmissable torch bearers for true-skool garage lovers to rejoice at. Things stride in bright and bold with "Mellow Mellow," which plays a dummy move with its trippy sound FX intro before ripping into a romping, sax-fuelled bumper courtesy of seasoned pro Sinan Mercenk. Templeton Peck takes things deeper on "Sweat Mix 2" - a forgotten gem from the golden age of 2-step. Meanwhile Uschi Classen makes things truly dreamy on the woozy but utterly funky "Take Me High," a seriously deep cut previously only available on white label.

Review: Out on NiteGrooves, 'Mellow' by Muzzaik Productions presents URH is Jazzy house straight out of Hungary with the more clubby/tracky 'Reflex' on the flip.

Review: The Delusions Of Grandeur label has always been a hotbed for quality deep house, and some of the game's best and brightest have graced its catalogue. Another great thing about the label has been its continuity and ability to think forwards, and this new series entitled Delusions 50 does just that. Here we have Part 1 of the collection, and it features the great Nebraska with "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running", a placid house chiller best served cold, no quick mixing on the fly is allowed, please! Ugly Drums bounces his way through funky bass tones and chugging percussion with "Like Its OK", but the undisputed quality comes from Session Victim and the gorgeous soulful swells of "Came To Be Alive" - boy what a corker!

Review: Representing Californian house music culture with its heart on its sleeve, 12 Inches Deep return for a second volume of "West Coast Dance Traxx" that features four up and comers from the underground. Ricky Tinez captures a perfect hazy summer mood on the dub mix of "That Day" - a true product of his environment. Akumen brings a sweatier vibe to "Inner Life (All Of Music)" which captures a little Chi-town pressure and then blows it wide open with some choice organ licks. Le Smoove is on a serious garage tip with "G Groovez" and Urbanite reaches skywards with the utterly infectious "Triple Filtered", spilling good vibes out from every angle.

Review: Seth Troxler follows in the footsteps of Loco Dice and Steve Bug as the third mixer of NRK's The Lab series. Despite not releasing any solo material since the beginning of 2009, Seth Troxler is the undisputable star of today's club circuit, his outrageous yet charismatic character aiding the exciement around his DJing technique and track selections. NRK Sound Division present this sampler, featuring four of Troxlers featured Lab 03 tracks. RadioActive Man's "Fed Ex To Munchen" is new-beat remixed by none other than Andrew Weatherall, while one of Crosstown Rebel's 2011 stars Deniz Kurtel contributes her dark and moody remix of Chaim's "Alive". Ark sticks to what he does best and creates a minimal and twisted journey with "Aquarium", which is followed by the echoed and spooky "Rodeo" from Und aka Marco Palmieri and Terry-Ann Frencken.

Review: Amsterdam production unit U Know The Drill first surfaced last year with some rough and ready contributions to split releases on Slapfunk and Music Is Love that evidently impressed UTTU lynchpin DJ Haus. Off The Chain finds the pair debuting on Hot Haus with a two track of rowdy, dressed to sweat house action that sits nicely alongside recent efforts on the label from Steve Murphy and Palace. The title track shamelessly embraces the art of the banger with some absolutely devilish sub bass manoeuvres, whilst "Like Thiz" initially feels a bit more restrained. Give it a minute or so and the Dutch pair unleashes a killer rave drop that ramps up the overall intensity.

Review: Belgian producer and owner of Entrepot Records, UC Beatz, is the next artist to appear on the San Jose label, Roundabout Sounds.
Coming out on vinyl only, the La Nuit EP features some sublime house, including my favourite track on the ep, Alta Paper, and a remix of the title track by Jeremiah of Grow! Records out of Vienna.

Roundabout Sounds which is now up to release number 14 with this ep, is the label run by Joe 'Babylon' Marougi, co-founder of Plug Research. The label released a great various artists triple vinyl package, Connecting The Compass, that featured such house luminaries Marcellus Pittman, Norm Talley and Theo Parrish, among others.

Review: Roundabout Sounds rounds out 2014 with it's 12th release entitled "Fly Pattern EP". This various artists (vinyl only) release features 4 up and coming artists from around the globe. UC Beatz (Belgium) and Satore (Spain) are EU residents while Kensuke Fukushima and Hokuto Sato are both from Japan. You've got "Walk Free" and "Flying Soul" as floor bangers while "R.A.M" and "Finding the Way" pimp the deep vibes that the label is known for over the last couple years.

Review: Cologne-based selector and DJ Stephen Baldo has been putting records out for a decade now, but has really found his sound since he started to transmit music under the Ugly Drums guise. After an album for Quintessentials and 12" stealth drops on Kolour, Black Key Limited and Fifty Fathoms Deep last year, the Ugly Drums project resurfaces in triumphant fashion with this killer transmission for the ever excellent Faces label. Featuring contributions from Kalakuta Soul System, Chesney and Detroit based MC/Producer Brownstudy, the four tracks here are perfect ammo for any self respecting selector who likes to duck between house, disco and hip hop with lead cut "The Freak" our favourite.

Review: Ugly Drums is a producer from Cologne and follows up his Quite Frankful 12" on Quintessentials with an EP for Black Key Records. The label offers the first release of their Black Key Limited series to Ugly Drums, after already dispatching music by Andy Ash, Chamboche, Flori and Milton Jackson. Rolling synths that repeat on themselves like someone standing up and falling over make for a gentle and relaxed tumble in "Saturn Memories", while the bassline in "2After11" mirrors the tracks loopy chord progression, powered down by smacking snares and celery-crunching claps.

Review: After popping up on a various artists release last year, Ugly Frankie makes good on his connection to the Vinyl Only label with a full fat EP of chunked up, funked out house business for sunny climes. There's a dusty, rolling tone to the tracks on offer here - the crafty edits, nimble sample treatment and inventive layering creates a vibe you can lose yourself in all day. These aren't just straight up dancefloor rollers either - "Cow Boogie" bumps and slides with a low slung swagger that will have you popping at a slower tempo - but they're all prime for the get down. For some dusty, soul-laced cuts produced with flair, look no further.

Review: Making for a formidable partnership with their respective loves of beatdown house and boogie, Ugly Drums and Inkswel link up on City Fly for this marvelous EP that makes a powerful opening statement that will appeal to soul cats as much as house heads. The original version of "Watch Out!" features Charli James on vocals, cooing out a righteous delivery over a chunky, squelchy rhythm loaded with 80s funk signifiers. Inkswel then delivers a tripped out dub of the track that will have all lovers of weirdo grooves grinning inanely, while on the flip "Uglyink Theme" gets into a woozy downtempo house frame of mind. "Fresh Out The Water" slows things down even further with a prime slab of dreamy boogie modernism that would go down smooth next to some Dam Funk.

Review: For their fifth release, Ultra Knites welcome a new family member to the label - Turkish producer Ugur Project. Kicking off proceedings on the A side, "Feeling Deep" is a combination of traditional deep vibes, rolling basslines and subtle vocal snippets. "Works On Dope" truly lives up to the name of this EP with its sultry yet groovy feeling that radiates when it is played - reminiscent of the light , simple, yet also fierce feeling of house music of the early-mid 90's. On the flip, "Wanna Be" is a track reminiscent of the legendary Eddie Perez/Mentalinstrum combined with strong soulful vocals which will remind the biggest house junkies of the likes of Loleatta Holloway and such. "Detroit Groovin", with its thumping bass and simple yet effective chords really give it that real, raw Detroit feeling. In summary, this release shows quality on all fronts and is brought to you on 180g 12" vinyl.

Review: West Midlands pair Ultra Knites touch down with the debut release on their own eponymously titled label. "Got To Release" has already been described as a future classic with its distinctive warm pads, vintage bassline and vocal hook while "NY Sleaz'd" is the choice track for peak time dancefloor destruction. The B side takes things deeper underground providing variety with two more chord driven cuts, flanged synth stabs and harmonised basslines. All delivered on heavyweight 180g vinyl.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record slightly warped, otherwise in excellent condition***


Scandinavian duo Ultraflex boast a trademark sound that, in the words of their label, is "an exotic cocktail of contemporary disco and futuristic boogie". These versions fron Norwegian scene stalwarts Telephones and DJ Sotofett are, however, a little different, with both infusing the pair's vocals and instrumentation with their own trademark sonic styles. Telephones is first up on side A, delivering a gorgeously Balearic, sunset-ready house-meets-nu-disco-meets-yacht-rock take (the 'Big Fuji Ringo Mix'), before offering up an immersive, ultra-dreamy, acid-flecked ambient revision (the 'Jigokudani-Ashiddosauna' version). Over on the flip, Sotofett re-frames 'Secret Lover' as a bubbly, Italo-disco influenced slab of cheery intergalactic electro, before adding waves of raw analogue electronics and TB-303 tweaks on his 'Cosmic Lover' cover.

Review: After a dalliance with Delsin late last year, Siberian producer Unbroken Dub returns to his regular home of Rawax for the Deepfrozen Soil EP. "Mansi Song" places a simple phased bassline and undulating textures in an echo chamber environment, keeping its kicks low in the mix, while "Deepfrozen Soil" takes an even more sedate approach, as a simple kick drifts through a glacier of weeping pads. On the flip, "Low Freq Vibes" offers a similarly placid take on house, but its "Dub Layer" that impresses most, containing some particularly Basic Channel-inspired textures, as malleable chords bounce around inside an increasingly narrow confine.

Review: The Underground Culture Tourist is a new label from the artists of the same, aka Moss Shamshad. He has been making music since the eagerly 2000s on top labels like Classic Music Company but now takes the power into his own hands on this self-releases 12". It finds him back in the heart of the classy deep house underground with a debut vinyl release that will immediately turn heads. 'House Music Anthem' is stylish, stripped back yet atmospheric with its rolling drums and cosmic synth work while 'P To You' has a little playful funk to its beatdown drums and steamy chord work.

Review: Glenn Underground returns with this new 12" for the Gotsoul imprint. "Indians & Bagpipes" keeps Glenn's current hot streak of releases going with some lush late night house, combining a warm bassline with clapping rhythms, shuffling beats, wobbly analog keys, and some great bagpipes. On the reverse, Ricardo Miranda reworks the track nicely, layering in more percussion as well as a stellar vocal sample, looped perfectly amongst the original ingredients.

Review: Zurich based deepArtsounds is a promising young label that has previously brought us the likes of T.C. White, Jenifa Mayanja of Underground Quality through to legends such as Ron Trent and Anthony Nicholson of Prescription Records fame. When you consider that some of the scene's finest purveyors of modern day deepness such as Baaz, The Mountain People and Eli Verveine (to name but a few) all hail from Zurich too.. there must be something in the water! Deep and boompty/feelgood soulful business from the finest of The Windy City's second wave here: none other than Glenn Underground and Boo Williams, who are it again on the super sweet "Stallions" which is eight minutes of pure bliss so check it out! There's a bit of house (mainly) merged with disco and latin vibes all working in perfect harmony. The instrumental version on the flip foregoes those lovely Latin vocals for those who aren't really feeling them: your loss!

Review: Deep, hypnotic grooves float around diced up female vocals and jazzy guitar hooks. Major players are already playing this one, why don't you?

Review: Egypt isn't particularly known for the strength of its' deep house scene. In fact, Cairo-based Unfinished Portraits - who here makes his debut with a 12" for consistently impressive Cologne-based imprint Baroc - could be regarded as a trailblazer. There's much to admire on this three-tracker, which comes smothered in dreamy pads, dusty analogue percussion and Larry Heard style melodies. Of the three untitled tracks, it's arguably the second - a Mood Hut/Future Times style new age deep house shuffler - that hits home hardest, though the chunkier opener and the raw-but-dreamy "Track 3" are almost as good.

Review: Poland's Transatlantyk label has been quietly travelling under-the-radar ever since their first release last year, and while so many labels these days are reliant on already established artists, these guys have stuck with their close affiliates, musicians who are yet to step into the limelight. For their fourth outing, the label have chosen newcomer Universo to lay down some naughty house business in the form of "Amazones", a bumping cut with killer percussion work and a tropical vibe to its tone. "Chrome" is a heavier stepper by comparison, and on the flip, "Yebo" goes for a Detroit house look thanks to its funky groove, while "Sus" is the odd one out, the experimental percussive work amid the floor bombs. Tip!

Review: The Botanic Minds Sunset Series maintains a lovely sense of mystery with its uncredited artists and rock solid concept - there's something mystical about that sunset dancefloor moment which all four tracks on this 12" capture perfectly. There's a little whiff of trance in the mix, but it's delivered in an elegant and poised context, offset by sleek house grooves and peppered with just the right amount of psychedelic sound design to send the mind spiraling skywards. After a day kicking up the dust on a sandy beach or sweaty terrace, this is just the balm you need to bring on the dusk.

Review: The mystery of the Botanic Minds Sunset Series continues to unfold with another bout of surreal and sensual club tracks that balance tweaked minimalism with a warm and hazy atmosphere. "Track001A" is packed with intricate rhythmic interplay, but it's the fluttering guitar licks and displaced vocals that give the piece its unique vibe. "Track002A" is a remix credited to Eastenderz regular Lizz, and it's a particularly spellbinding jam shaped out with lingering chords and a wistful mood. "Track001B" hunkers down around a low, throbbing bassline, but there's some sweet keys hovering up top to keep things from getting too dark. Barut is on hand with a remix for "Track002B", where trancey undercurrents meet with expansive piano and ethereal ambient swells, all strapped to a sturdy minimal house groove.

Review: The mystery of identity disco sniper still kept wrapped up tightly, Schenkelspreizer's spread widens once more with a third volume. "DMIFS" lets rip with a string sample that's borderline ridiculous in its vibrancy and feel-good factor. "LH" blows in the wind of change with salacious slap bass and 70s haze while "EC" brings us back down to reality with cloudy filtered R&B waves. More shots fired.

Review: Italian crew Unknown Collective come correct on this latest Purism joint as they drop some seriously bumping deep house heat to get bodies popping with approval. "Nodi" is the consummate A side jam, all exuberant energy and rock solid functionality, just like a DJs best friend should be. "Virgo" is, on the surface, a slinkier affair, but don't be fooled as there's some serious weight in that bassline which will absolutely rock on a proper soundsystem. "Arya" is the dreamier cut on the record - the groove is still solid, but there's a dreamy tone to the pad hovering in the background and the track is sprinkled with all kinds of extra sonic delights to toy with your mind at the hazy end of the dance.

Review: Untitled Gear comes through with their second release and it's on the ever-reliable Udacha imprint! Much like their debut release for Fields & Forests, this is pure deep house magic with a distinct twist, where tracks like "2306" and "Session03" contain a chimerical edge to them. Although "Away" and "So Fine" are in different in both speed and style, they boast the same playful tone and wide spectrum of sounds in their off-kilter grooves. Lil' tip for ya!

Review: Along with the raft of KMS reissues that have appeared in recent weeks, Kevin Saunderson's label have also decided to delve into the archives of their Eclipse sub label to offer up a timely new edition of some of Carl Craig's early work under the Urban Culture guise. Released back in 1993, The Wonders Of Wishing was the sole 12" Craig released under this name and it's remained a highly thought after release of the Planet E boss's storied production career. Even today it's hard not to lose yourself in the manner in which Craig utilises Paris Grey's looped vocal from the Inner City track "Do Ya" - "The Wonders Of Wishing (For You)" version is a particularly potent weapon for the drum freaks out there.

Review: After that blinding Marcellus Pittman record for Downbeat Black earlier in the year, the Madrid label come through their final transmission of the year and it features some heavily cerebral deep house founders Urtzi and Jose Rico. Urtzi impresses with his two contributions, the undulating, pad-heavy bliss of "Memories From Another Life", and "No Back Memory" - a pensive slither of rich, piano-laden beatdown. Jose Rico opts for a slightly more energetic approach on his two cuts, though both "Small Island" (built around some superb percussion and tumbling chords) and the sun-kissed "Aint" are still lovingly melodious.

Review: INT. BURGER SHOP. SECRET DJ HIDEOUT. NORTH LONDON SOMEWHERE DJ Taylor 'Urulu' Freels speaks to the Waitress behind the counter. URULU Get me a Burger; hold the cheese, and a side of fries too doll face. WAITRESS Sure thing honey Urulu turns around and leans back on the counter, he slowly casts his gaze over the DJs and vagabonds who call this place home. WAITRESS Here you go sugar, number 32, why don't you get yourself a seat, I'll bring it over. Urulu turns and grabs the receipt out from the waitress' fingers, briefly looking down to confirm the number before flashing a wink in her direction. He leavers himself away from the counter and begins a slow walk over to the corner of the restaurant, noticing a free chair on the way. Just as he approaches the free chair a shrill voice shouts out SHRILL VOICE So... we meet again... OOO-ROO-LOOO Urulu, swivels on his heal, a bolt of terror and adrenaline rush through his body. He knows that voice... It's his nemesis... Algorithm Man. URULU Of all the Burger Joints in all of North London, you had to come to this one. ALGORITHM MAN Let's throw down bitch From no where 'Clear' by Cybotron starts playing. Algorithm Man starts popping and locking to its crisp and clean 808 beats... he is so good at 'The Robot' people start applauding and cheering. URULU You've got no game Algorithm Man... let me show you how it's done Urulu launches 3 burgers at Algorithm Man's head, each one meeting with its target whilst perfectly timed with the still blaring 'Clear'. Urulu flips himself into a 'Suicide' landing on a large table; he then propels himself into the 'Windmill'. Fries, Burgers, Sodas and Onion rings from the table get caught up in the updraft of his crazy-quick 'Windmill' and begin to relentlessly pound Algorithm Man. WAITRESS *Screams* Algorithm Man's 'Robot' is no match for Urulu's super human 'Windmill'. The sheer amount of greasy food now stuck to Algorithm Man weighs him down so much he topples backwards like a felled tree. ALGORITHM MAN OKAY, OKAY... You win this time OOO-ROO-LOO... But I'll be back, mark my words... I'll be back With that Algorithm Man flees the Burger Joint, leaving a trail of fries, ketchup and shame in his wake. The music stops. Urulu dusts himself down. Flicking a single fry from his shoulder he sits down in the free chair and eats his burger & fries. Urulu mops his mouth with a clean serviette, gets up and throws a L50 note on the table. URULU That should cover the damage He walks out the door goes home and writes four tracks for Manucci's Mistress. THE END

Review: Londoner-in-L.A Urulu (AKA producer Taylor Freels) seems to have an instinctive grasp of booth groove and melody. Previously, he's impressed via releases on Needwant, Dirt Crew and Manucci's Misstress. Here, he makes his debut for Jacques Renault and company's Brooklyn-based Let's Play House imprint. While the bold melodies and shuffling house rhythms we've come to expect from Freels are still present - most notably on the vivid, synth-laden deep house-goes-Balearic bliss of "Moon Unit" and Ben la Dash's eyes-wide-shut rework of the same track - he also displays an impressive desire to mix it up. So, "Sound Like Sumo" fuses deep broken beats with heady chords and delicious P-funk squiggles, while "Lunar Larry" delivers enveloping chords, soft-focus grooves and baggy soundscapes.

Review: The LPH White series from Lets Play House founders Jacques Renault and Nik Mercer returns with it's second offering, giving newcomer Urulu a wider platform upon which to demonstrate his blossoming skills. The London dwelling Southern Californian of course featured on the debut LPH White, remixing the ubiquitous Waze & Odyssey and the four original cuts on Left Coast expand on the steadfast house approach Urulu demonstrated there. Described as an ode to the home turf Urulu (or Taylor Freel if you want to get personal) departed, there is little in the way of blissful Balearic moods of say Pacific Horizons here. Instead Freel reveals himself to be a blossoming talent at producing high octane house crafted from hooky samples and snapping drum beats.

Review: In the two years since he made his debut with the expansive Kuwa Huru double-pack on Studio Barnhus, Usio has been strangely quiet. Strangely, he's only put out a single track, the wonderful "Galaxy" on Huntleys & Palmers' Chapter 2 compilation. Happily, this belated return to Studio Barnhus was worth the wait. He begins with the classic, Soundstream style disco-house thump of "Gonna Make It", before indulging his funk influences on the similarly chopping and surging "Planet Dust". Flip for the loose-but-dense, acid-tinged deep house throb of "Over The Andes", and the impeccable Balearic deepness of the Afro-tinged "Pamoja". It's probably this latter excursion for which this EP will be remembered, even if it does lack the party-hearty immediacy of the two A-side cuts.

Review: More anonymous beat magic from the mysterious Frankfurt collective. Once again no details or even clues are given to the artist's identity ensuring the full attention is on the beats. "Track One" goes straight in with a crisp electroid breakbeat and a molten echoed effect rattling up and down in the background. "Track Two" is a warm, subtly insistent chugger while "Track 3" closes on more broken momentum, this time with more barbed, jarring samples and a colder aesthetic. Let the music do the talking.

Review: Tartelet have called upon a serious spread of heads for this sprawling selection of funk-infused, loose and lively house jams. Glenn Astro & Imyrmind are wonderfully dusty and downplayed on "Bochum", while Uffe brings plentiful amounts of Rhodes and other such joyous keys to a thoroughly funky conclusion. Max Graef has an equally shuffling, hand-played time of it, while Damiano Von Erckert gets a tighter groove out to get his own party started. Whichever track you plump for the sounds come on organic and soulful in the extreme, while the arrangements will have bodies popping all over the joint.