Defected Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Defected's vinyl series continues to commit the label's biggest digital releases to wax for the first time, and this special twentieth edition has been created in partnership with Shelter, the housing and homeless charity. Together, in July 2023, the label and charity launched 'From House To Home', which pioneers an ingenious idea; taking 'house music' to its utmost logical conclusion, deploying reworks classic house tracks as fundraisers for helping secure actual housing for the homeless. On this latest edition to the series, Germany's Jonathan Kaspar remixes Breach's revered deep house anthem, 'Jack'. Then comes the bubbling Mason Collective and Bipolar Sunshine collab 'People In Love', shortly followed by the recent pop hit by Arielle Free, 'Feels So Good', before a round-off in the form of a generational collaboration between production pioneers Bob Sinclar, A-Trak, and Mele with 'Deep Inside Of Me'.

Review: Some of tech house's biggest names feature on this new Defected 12" alongside a trio of more contemporary talents. Butch & Nic Fanciulli are very much in the first category and they offer the happy hosue and big samples of 'I Want You' before new schooler Hannah Wants rolls out a chunky house groove with blissed out Ibiza vocal energy on 'The One' (feat Ara). Archie Hamilton pairs old school Chicago energy with a fresh vocal on the anthemic 'Let The Light In' (feat HQA) then Dutchman Ferreck Dawn shuts down with the crossover dance sounds of 'Better' (feat Jena).

Review: Get ready for a rush-inducing dose of proper soulful vocal house from the mighty Dames Brown. On this record for Defected, Detroit's foremost trio of Athena Johnson, Lisa Cunningham and Teresa Marbury linked up with the mighty Amp Fiddler and Andres for a rip through house music as real as it gets. The original 12" mix of 'What Would You Do?' is hard to beat for raw, heavy-hitting groove and production, but there are some choice remixes included here for those who have different needs, whether it's the bouncy jazz funk of Two Soul Fusion's version or the smoother sound of Folamour creating a sleek disco house variation for the peak time crowd.

Review: When it comes to gospel-powered 21st century dance music, Detroit trio Dames Brown have been involved in many of the most memorable records - not least Sophie Lloyd anthem 'Calling Out' and Horse Meat Disco hook-up 'Message To The People'. Here they join forces with fellow Motor City musician Waajeed for another arms-aloft classic in the making. In its original form, 'Glory' blurs the boundaries between gospel disco and gospel house, with the trio's powerful vocals rising rubbery bass guitar, loose-limbed beats and riotous organ licks aplenty. It comes accompanied by two fine remixes: a stomping, piano riff-powered gospel house take from Rob and Lyric Hood's Floorplan project, and a stomping, thickset gospel disco 'dancing club dub' courtesy of Kelly G.

Review: Though mostly known for their colourful and soul-drenched house, Defected can also do more physical and tech-leaning sounds as exemplified on this new EP. It features a mix of new school tastemakers with Jansons opening up with the old school breaks and bars of 'Hypnotic' (feat Dope Earth Alien) then American star LP Giobbi layers up the freewheeling melodies and punchy drum loops on 'Giodisco.' Sam Divine gets for a deep and driving house sound on 'Take My Hand' (feat Josh Barry) and Oden & Fatzo X Camden Cox close things out with a more light and airy vocal sound on 'Lady Love.' Some useful variation here.

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: It's a case of old school meets new school on this fresh new slice of house from Defected. Representing the vets is the one and only Louie Vega, while in the contemporary corner are New York's finest, the Martinez Brothers. Marc E Bassy also pops up on vocals for this feel good deep house gem. His part sung, part rapped delivery comes over soul drenched beats and nice singing leads, which have long been a hallmark of the great Masters at Work man, Vega. A TMBLV mix is more pumping, Honey Dijon cuts loose on elastic bass and rugged rhythms and Dom Dolla offers a more energetic and main room version.

Review: The mighty Defected looks back to a 2019 release by The Vision aka Ben Westbeech and Kan featuring Andreya Triana. 'Heaven' is something of a modern house gem that has picked up worldwide plays from tastemakers like The Blessed Madonna, Groove Armada and Eli Escobar. Next to the sax-laced and loved-up original which cannot fail to bring joy to your life are three mixes. Danny Krivit brings out the jazz and soul, Kon keeps funky and the Groove Assassin Supernova edit is all about shuffling garage energy.

Review: Since the 1970s Danny Krivit has been a prolific re-editor. We're used to him cutting up classic cuts - think disco and soul, in particular - but he's never been afraid to turn his talents to contemporary cuts. That's what you get on this surprise Defected release. On the A-side he turns his attention to "Heaven", the killer gospel-inspired modern disco single from The Vision and Andreya Triana, turning in a version with plenty of drops, instrument solos and more emphasis on the righteous, life-affirming vocals. He's in a smoother mode on side B, extended and rearranging the rich and soulful dancefloor treat that is Kai Alce's Original NDATL vocal mix of The Dangerfeel Newbies' "What Am I Here For?" - a gem from 2016 that has previously been criminally overlooked.