Tags: Chicago House

Review: Shout outs to Larry Heard for finally relenting to the numerous requests to reissue his highly prized Gherkin Jerks material through his own Alleviated label with some digitally enhancement help from the guys at Clone. The 1990 EP was the last of the two EPs that Heard anonymously released under the Gherkin Jerks name back in the late 80s as a creative experiment. Notably less unhinged than Stomp The Beat, the six percussively taut tracks here feel like Heard was reacting to the nascent strains of techno emanating from Detroit. Opener "Meltdown" for example is a rolling slab of pitched-down techno with sharp Motor City-esque synth stabs and nagging, incessant keys, whilst the interplanetary connotations are clear as crystal on tracks such as the beautifully chiming "Red Planet" and the pressurised funk of "Saturn V".

Review:  been four years since Chicago producer Andres "Specter" Ordonez pitched up on Theo Parrish's Sound Signature label with the smoky, bleep-laden killer "Pipe Bomb". Here, he returns to the Detroit veteran's imprint, bringing with him three more slabs of fuzzy analogue oddness. "The Gooch" is the real killer, a 10-minute freakout that sounds like a jazz band making murky techno with just analogue machinery to play with - all wonky electronics, subtle acid and loose but relentless cymbals. The bolder "Zodiak" impresses with its 303-driven aggression, while "Body Blow" sounds like Hieroglyphic Being jamming with Buddy Miles. On Mars. That's gotta be good, right?

Review: The Afro Acid Plastik label has been doing a fine job of carrying new and retrospective works from DJ Pierre, with the most recent focus being on extensive remix packages around the iconic 'Acid Track'. This fourth installment comes with a slightly heavy heart as fellow Chicago titan Paul Johnson leads the way with his 'Jack Nation' remix pumping out while his sad passing still weighs on our minds. Elsewhere, Marko Nastic, Shinedoe, Zombie Nation and NUDE all deliver versions which pay tribute to the legacy of one of the most important club tracks of all time.

Review: Tyree is one of the early house artists from Chicago who played his part in shaping the hip-house sub genre, with its big beast, big vocal samples and plenty of attitude. Here his 'Acid Over' cut is served up on a new 12" from Chicago Vinyl with three different mixes. The first finds self-certified House Gangster DJ Sneak serving up a raw and rolling, loopy and frenzied remix that never quits. 'Acid Over' (Acid Over 23) is brilliantly cut up and manic with acid vocals and thudding house drums. Last of all comes Hugo's Piano Re cut version with its woody 909 drum sounds and mad whistles.

Review: Modern Italian deep house legend Simoncino returns for the 'Distant' EP, a fresh seven-tracker once more inspired by the classic Chicago and New York house sound, as is par for the course for this artist. A vintage va-va-voom is heard splayed across the septet, with the opener 'Distant' seemingly lowpassed at at least 16k, and ensuers 'Smoke Channel', 'Fantasy' and 'Tributes' equally revelling in such trace sonic irony. Despite the novelty of lo-fi house, there's a wicked hi-fi remix by Mr Fingers on there, proving Simoncino's thoroughly-rubbed shoulders and proximity to the pulse of history.