Tags: Chicago House

Review: ** Camera's ready. Prepare for the Repress ** Curtis Jones is never one to rest on his laurels, as his staggering back catalogues as Green Velvet and Cajmere can attest but such is the force of his personality that a new release still feels like an event. "Bigger Than Prince" capitalises on Jones' knack for a vocal that lambasts the less earnest quirks of the dance music industry, while creating the hook to make the track a bomb in the same instance. Production-wise, there's a measured strut to the track with some choice growling bass synths and an underlying disco flavour that suits Jones just fine. On the remix front, Circus turn to The Martinez Brothers to hammer out a rolling, percussion focused version perfect for big room mixing, while Hot Since 82 turn out a similar line in boompty peak time damage.

Review: Fred Everything's profile may not be as high as it once was, but he continues to serve up high quality treats - as this surprise collaboration with legendary vocalist Robert Owens proves. The latter is in fine form on the EP-opening 'Classic Mix', a warming, musically detailed chunk of vocal deep house positivity that sounds like it was partially inspired by Dubtribe Soundsystem classic 'Do It Now'. Fred Everything also provides two 'BDTW' mixes on the flip: the fluttering synths sounds and vintage Chicago house grooves of the 'Deep Mix', and a more stripped-back 'Vox Dub'. Best of all though is Martin 'Atjazz' Iveson's rework, which recalls the fluid synth sounds, jazzy flutes and intricate percussion programming that marked out his early 2000s work on Mantis Recordings.

Review: Strap in for this one as Razor-N-Tape have got a booty shaking new EP on their hands here. It's an unearthed and previously-unheard classic by Midnight Magic that has been pulled from a dusty old vault after more than a decade in the darkness. First up with get a bumping remix from the one and only Chicago great that is Derrick Carter. Dimitri From Paris & DJ Rocca also serve up their own heavy Dubstrumental and the BHQ Passion Vs. Desire Dub is the most streamy of the lot with its wild trumpet lines and tribal funk. Last of all Perel pairs it back to pinging drums and toms.

Review: Veteran German producer Sascha Dive is a household name in electronic music. His latest EP 'Deep Inside', is a versatile record that is sure to find a home into many DJ's hands. Kicking things off with the meaty heaviness that is "Dub Chronicles #6". A powerhouse dub related techno track that will push your speakers to the maximum. "International Sun-Earth Explorer" is a deep lush track that gives off a touch of progressive vibes within. Turn the record over for some beautiful house vibes that feature house vocal legend Robert Owens, while closing things out is the tasty offering 'Promise Street'. A seductive B-side option that we feel will be a great alternate choice that really fills out the EP nicely. Sascha Dive is always a name you can trust to bring the quality.

Review: Radio Slave's Rekids remains right at the forefront after decades in the game. That is no doubt in part down to great recruitment of new talent who keep updating its signature sounds. This time out Hilit Kole makes a debut with 'Hot Mess,' a raw and jacking house cut with rugged drum loops and a sleazy vocal that turns into an epic wail. An Even Hotter mix brings more libidinous vocal overtones and then the one and only Mike Dunn remixes. Firstly he keeps it smooth and seductive, then pairs back the vocal to allow his lithe synths to shine. A nice varied package from all.

Review: Chris Gray is one of the US house artists who have never had the headlines of many of his peers but is more than deserving of them. Much of his back catalogue has become expressive and hard to find as the deep-digging heads have devoured it. Well thankfully now he is back with a new album on the Spanish label Saft that offers up four sides of glorious and timeless deep house. It is all material found on previously lost archives, restored DAT tapes and old CDs and it tells the tale of a house artist who always had his own lush and cosmic sound.

Review: Rebirth kicks off its 2024 with a remix EP that serves as "a tribute to the Brescian music scene in its many facets and declinations." The full original project is a complete 12-track album that brings together many different sounds, scenes and generations, with the best bits now assembled on this new 12". The revered deep house master Fred P opens up with some texture spiritual synth depths, K-Lone brings some nice house swing to his version of 'Paline' and edit maestro Rahsaan also keeps it paired back and late night on his soulful take on 'Scent Of An Old Life'. A great reimagining of some moving musical adventures, then.

Review: Deep house pioneer and Balance label head Chez Damier has recently got back into the scene having had his creativity reinvigorated. He has started a new label House of Chez as a way of sharing it with the world and now comes a bumper collection of all the early releases. He has made his with Ben Vedren as H2H and it's fair to say they are some of the standouts here. Elsewhere, Mosis impresses with the delightfully deep 'Pick It Up' and Damian Rausch remixes Sista Sista's 'Baby Don't' into a super low slung and dusty late night beatdown. The legendary Giorgio Morderer even appears with the diffuse synth magic of late night cruiser 'Engery.'

Review: German artist Sascha Dive is a true deepsmith. His house, dub and techno sounds are always for fans of heady grovers only and nothing changes in that regard on this new one for Movida. 'Natural Forces' is the sort of grainy, warming house roller that is perfect for backrooms, especially as it is graced with the smoky vocals of Chicago house legend Robert Owens. 'Dub Chronicles #4' is then an all-out dub techno excursion stripped back to the core essentials and 'Time For A Change' is a soothing rush of mellifluous melodies with a cosmic bent.