Review: It would be fair to say that Roy Davis Jr and Peven Everett's "Gabriel" (originally written "Gabrielle" on early pressings) has become a timeless dance music classic - a track that both soulful house and UK garage DJs reach for in times of trouble. Should it not be in your collection already (and it should be), Large Music has decided to re-master and re-press the original 1996 12". It does, of course, contain the now ubiquitous "Live Garage" version - the groovy two-step, trumpet-laden mix that became popular with early UK garage DJs - plus a trio of lesser-known remixes. The Tambourine Dub, in particular, is something of a tough, warehouse-friendly deep house treat.
Review: It would be fair to say that Studio K7 has pulled off something of a coup in getting Kenny Dixon Jr. to agree to compile and mix the latest installment in the long-running DJ Kicks series. It is, somewhat remarkably, the legendary Detroiter's first commercially available mix set. This triple-vinyl edition features a whopping 19 cuts - all in unmixed form - from the 30 track mix. Musically, it's a blazed, jazzy, soulful and groovy as you'd expect, and contains a mixture of downtempo beats, nu-jazz and hazy house cuts from the likes of Flying Lotus, Dopehead, Peter Digital Orchestra, Nightmares On Wax, Soulful Session and Lady Alma.
Chaos In The CBD - "Emotional Intelligence" (feat Nathan Haines & Dave Koor) (6:21)
Chaos In The CBD & Lee Pearson Jnr Collectiv - "It's Up To Me" (feat K LaDawn & Joe Armon Jones) (5:08)
Chaos In The CBD & Lee Pearson Jnr Collectiv - "It's Up To Me" (feat K LaDawn & Joe Armon Jones - instrumental) (6:07)
Review: On this rare outing on Neroli, Chaos In The CBD has been joined by a wealth of friends and like-minded musicians. They first join forces with saxophonist and fellow kiwi jazz legend Nathan Haines and talented South London keys player Dave Koor aka Modified Man on A-side "Emotional Intelligence", a deliciously deep, positive and melodious affair rich in jaunty Clavinet riffs, simmering strings, smile-inducing chords and groovy, bongo-laden drums. On side B they offer up vocal and instrumental versions of "It's Up To Me". K. LaDawn, Joe Armon-Jones and Lee Pearson Jnr Collective are the guests this time round, and their contributions - hazy, soulful vocals, mazy electric piano solos, jaunty jazz-house drums and so on - help make the track a sensual, slow-burn dancefloor delight. Almost all Chaos In The CBD EPs are worth checking, but this one is extra-special.
The Vision - "Heaven" (feat Andreya Triana - Danny Krivit edit) (6:21)
The Dangerfeel Newbies - "What Am I Here For?" (original NDATL vocal - Danny Krivit edit) (8:45)
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.
You Got Me Dancing (feat Audrey Wheeler & Cindy Mizelle) (6:00)
Come Away (feat Kerri Chandler) (6:06)
Seven Mile (feat Moodymann) (5:56)
The Star Of A Story (feat Lisa Fischer) (5:58)
Change Your Mind (feat Bernard Fowler) (4:59)
All My Love (feat Robyn) (6:01)
Free To Love (feat Karen Harding) (6:06)
Feel So Right (feat Honey Dijon) (6:15)
How He Works (feat Nico Vega) (5:17)
Joy Universal (feat Two Soul Fusion) (6:04)
Igobolo (feat Joaquin "Joe" Clausell) (6:03)
Bebe Winans - "It's All Good" (feat Debbie Winans Lowe & Korean Soul) (5:59)
Touch The Sky (feat Tony Momrelle) (6:04)
Louie Vega & Elements Of Life - "Love Has No Time Or Place" (6:32)
Dreamin (feat Cindy Mizelle) (6:31)
Review: Some of Masters at Work man Louie Vega's greatest full-length projects have paid tribute to New York's 50-year dance music story, as well as his personal musical inspirations (most notably the Nuyorican Soul album he penned with long-time production partner Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez in the 1990s). Expansions in the NYC, his latest epic excursion, treads a similar path, offering a large number vocal-heavy numbers that not only blend elements of disco, boogie, proto-house and house, but also feature some genuinely high-profile vocalists from that era (think Peech Boys' Bernard Fowler, Unlimited Touch). Vega also joins forces with 21st century house star Honey Dijon on the superb 'Feels So Right', while the hook-ups with Moodymann, Kerri Chandler and Joe Clausell are as inspired as you'd expect.
Review: What better way to open your New Year that with a heart swelling soulful house tune that cannot fail to swell you with emotion. Gerald Mitchell aka Los Hermanos's 'Another Day' is just that, a sweet coming together of acoustic string work, a perfect soul sample that is dusty and aching, and claps and kicks that roll for days. From the gospel tones of the opener we head to the electric techno-jazz of 'Binary Funk Infusion' featuring Bob Rogue its finally on to 'The Billy Love Experience (Let Love Live)', a jazzy house workout with Sun-Ra synths and noodling Rhdoes that are utterly life affirming.
Confess To U (The Three Stooges Of Hamtramck mix) (5:30)
Review: Alex "Omar" Smith has something he wants to get off his chest. The much-lauded Detroit producer has teamed up with re-born Italians Do It Better sorts Nite Jewel for "Confess To You", which comes in two distinctive variations. The A-side "Mix" revolves around a tactile, boogie-era synth bassline, late night AM radio synthesizer chords, drifting sax solos and a crunchy, deep house-influenced rhythm track. Arguably even better is the flipside vocal version, which naturally sees Smith, Romana Gonzalez and company deliver a near perfect chunk of '80s soul/deep house fusion. It sounds like a softly spun summer anthem in waiting. Don't take our word for it, though; check out the clips and revel in the track's breezy brilliance.
Review: Sound Signature's latest release is an all-star crew affair, with an impressive cast list of vocalists, musicians and producers joining main man Theo Parrish in the studio. He's at the controls on the sublime A-side mix, a jazzy affair where layered twinkling electric piano motifs, spacey chords, jazz-funk riffs and sumptuous deep house grooves combine on a fearlessly loose and organic dancefloor workout. On the flipside friend of the family Dego offers his interpretation, adding even more warmth and some tasty additional hand percussion parts whilst wisely utilizing most of the original version's intricate musical elements.
Hangin' On A String (Frankie Knuckles club mix) (6:26)
Hangin' On A String (Frankie Knuckles Classic club reprise) (6:07)
Hangin' On A String (12" mix) (5:58)
Review: Put simply, Loose Ends' 1985 hit 'Hangin' On A String' is not only a peerless UK soul classic, but also one of the greatest boogie-era dancefloor cuts full stop. You should really already own a copy, but if you don't, then this South Side reissue should be on your shopping list. Not only does it contain the band's brilliant original extended mix (B2) - a sing-along gem rich in hazy organ sounds, jazzy guitar solos and bustling electro-era beats - but also two celebrated 1992 remixes from Frankie Knuckles. Both are amongst the late, great DJ/producer's finest remixes, with the more instrumental and impeccably loved-up 'Reprise' version, in which Knuckles builds gently before eventually unleashing chorus vocals, being our pick of an incredibly strong pair.
Review: Sneaky remix action alert! We're not sure who DSO is (or are) - internet searches come up blank - but the two tracks on this 12" genuinely hit the spot. A-side 'Love You More' puts a new spin on the Sade classic of the same name, adding the '80s soul star's vocals to a hypnotic deep house groove, dreamy chords and occasional flecks of wine bar saxophone. Over on the flip the shadowy remixer(s) offer-up a radically different new take on Erykah Badu's 1997 hip-hop soul gem 'Apple Tree', reimagining it as a rolling chunk of deep house warmth. It's basically soul-fired, 21st century hip-house with enough depth and atmosphere to please deep house heads.
Montefiori Cocktail - "Gypsy Woman" (Micky More & Andy Tee 7" remix) (4:47)
Jestofunk - "Special Love" (feat Jocelyn Brown - Micky More & Andy Tee 7" Jazz remix) (4:59)
Review: Micky More & Andy Tee's remixes of 'Gypsy Woman' and 'Special Love' by Montefiori Cocktail and Jestofunk respectively are jazz-infused delights that bring new life to these classic tracks. On the A-side, 'Gypsy Woman' exudes Latin disco flair, with infectious rhythms, a stunning horn section and uplifting strings that create an irresistible dancefloor vibe. Meanwhile, the flip features the iconic vocals of Jocelyn Brown on 'Special Love,' seamlessly blending disco and house elements for a soulful and energetic experience. The live instrumentation, including bass and horns, adds depth and authenticity to both remixes, enhancing their appeal to DJs and listeners alike. These remixes are sure to light up any dancefloor with their timeless appeal.
Review: From Kon's forthcoming compilation on BBE entitled Kon & The Gang, this 12? sampler features two cuts taken from the LP and an exclusive remix from Boston producer and mix engineer Caserta, namely "Timeless" (Caserta mix)" a tasty serving of super deep and low slung disco goodness. A more functional edit for DJ use follows on "Timeless" (remix - Caserta mix)". On the flip Truccy (better known as Compost's Rainer Truby and Corrado Bucci) present "Closer", a gorgeous slo-mo house jam with a rolling groove fetauring all the good stuff: swirling Rhodes keys, groovy congas and hypnotic vox.
Review: Theo Parrish has green-lit a couple of back catalogue reissues from his Sound Signature label this month and this one originally came back in 2010 and found him on production duties and Bilal Love on the vocals. The Melloghettomental EP is an archetype Parrish offering - dusty, lo-fi beatdown and house fusions with muted but meaningful chords and aching vocal hooks. You get all that on blissed-out opener 'Can't Keep Running Away', superbly soulful live bass work on 'U Bring Me Up' and heavier, more griding grooves but still sublime vocals on 'Why Wait'. The title cut is an off-grid mix of sci-fi melodies and diffuse chords, shimmering drums and low slub bass. Sublime.
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.
Jayenne - "Love Walked In The Room" (feat Gina Carey) (6:46)
Foreal People - "Raise A Blaze" (feat Xan Blacq) (8:21)
Mistura - "Want Me Back" (feat Jemini) (6:54)
Dave Lee - "Taste My Love" (feat Billy Valentine) (5:58)
Mistura - "If You Ever Need Somebody" (feat Tiffany T'Zelle) (5:55)
The Sunburst Band - "Face The Love" (feat Angela Johnson) (5:45)
Raw Essence - "Do It Again" (feat Lifford) (6:27)
Dave Lee - "Power Of The Mind" (feat Billy Valentine - Power Trip mix) (6:14)
The Sunburst Band - "Let's Do It In Style" (7:11)
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes - "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Dave Lee Philly World mix) (8:33)
Kokomo - "Use Your Imagination" (Dave Lee Re-Imagined mix) (7:18)
Review: DJ, curator and producer Dave Lee (fka. Joey Negro) continues to celebrate his 30-odd year long career in music with his second curatorital comp release. The 'Produced With Love' series charts all of Lee's original productions in soulful house and disco, and this second edition includes choices songs by the likes of Destiny II, Leroy Burgess and Andreya Triana. Always collaborative and with effortless attention to funking detail, Lee brings it once again.
Review: Last time out Andreya Triana and The Vision (AKA KON and Ben Westbeech) took us to "Heaven" and back. For their latest single they've asked us to gape in wonder at some suitably sizeable "Mountains". In its original "Extended Mix" form (side A) the track is soulful, slick and seductive, with Triana's superb vocals rising, mountain-like, above a musical panorama rich in dreamy chords, jazz-funk bass, gospel pianos and club-ready beats that sit somewhere between deep house and disco. Danny Krivit is the man at the controls for the flipside remix. He stretches out the track impressively, making a bit more of the spacey synths, guitars and bass while re-framing the track as a soaring slab of piano house brilliance.
Review: House music's ability to make you feel good is part of its appeal, and artists like New Jersey majesty Josh Milan of Blaze fame, and London broken beat astro Kaidi Tatham sure know that. They link here with Patrick Gibin for an EP that brims with summer time soul, joyous keys and funky bass riffs that are impossibly sweet. Jazz funk, house and boogie all colour the tracks here with "Don't Be Rude" brining the cosmic vibes and "Groove On" making you want to move for days with its killer b-line and disco energy. Gorgeous stuff, for sure.
The Trammps - "I've Gotta Stand Up" (Dave Lee Garage City mix)
Celestial Being & Citizens Of The World Choir - "Raise The Vibration" (Crackazat club mix)
Soul Dhamma - "Flower" (Dave's Boogified mix)
Review: Vintage house and disco don Dave Lee knows a thing or two about serving up irresistible and timeless cuts and that's what he does here with the 24th instalment of the long-running Attack The Dancefloor series on his own Z Records. The man himself kicks off with Maurissa Rose on the loosely chugging, deep and soulful 'Open Me Up' (a first taste of the upcoming album together). He then slips into US garage style with his popular remix of The Trammps' 'I've Gotta Stand Up' that harks back to the glory days of 90s Soulful House. Felix Buxton's Celestial Being & Citizens Of The World Choir's 'Raise The Vibration' gets a gloriously sunny and positive Crackazat club mix before Lee closes the release with squelching synth in the form of his Boogified mix of Soul Dhamma's classic 'Flower.'
Review: We know nothing about DSO, but we do know that this is another syrupy serving of pop, deep house and soul that is pure dance floor bait. The first sure fire party starter is 'Baggage' with its gorgeous r&b vocal sample, airy and soulful house grooves and jazzy neo soul piano work. It's a real heart melter to spread love and joy, then things get more funky on the flip. The catchy 'Involved' has a male R&B vocal this time, with more slinky house beats and natty little chord riffs that permeate deep in your soul. If you can't cut loose to this one, you're dead inside.
What Would You Do (Expansions NYC dub vocal) (7:10)
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: 'Couldn't Love You More' is one of the most iconic songs from one of the most iconic soul singers of her generation. It is such a sweet tune that it is perfect for reworking into a lovely deep house framework. And that is exactly what we have here as some mysterious artist who for obvious reasons wants to be unnamed reworks it three different ways. Mix 1 keeps the lush, lazy chords in place and sprinkles in some deft percussion. Mix 2 is a subtle tweak that has a little more drive and edge to it and Mix 3 completes the package with another deft touch that is sure to get floors all loved up.
Doug Willis - "The Mighty Douglas" (Doug Godbizniss mix) (6:39)
Roland Wrightangle - "In Your Blood" (feat Darcus - Ron Basejam mix) (7:19)
Jakatta - "American Dream" (Atjazz remix) (7:20)
The Pockets - "Work It Out" (Dave Lee rework) (6:45)
Review: Dave Lee's Z Records continues to fly the flag for disco-tinged house, or house-tinged disco, from new school artists and old-school mainstays. One thing you can be sure of with music n this label is that it will be big, crowd-pleasing tackle that never forgets its roots. There is real religious rapture in the thrilling Doug Godbizniss mix of 'The Mighty Douglas' which gets the EP underway in fine style. After that is a sumptuous, string-laced house classic from Ron Basejam, a lush mix of the wonderfully ethereal 'American Dram' from lounge-y house don Atjazz and classy, hip-swinging vocal house bomb from Dave Lee himself.
Review: Three years after it first dropped digitally, J T Donaldson's Classic Music label debut finally makes it onto wax. The EP naturally opens with the long-serving deep house producer's original mix, a wonderfully sun-splashed and warming slab of electric-piano-heavy deep house goodness marked out by a superbly soulful - but also pleasingly laidback - lead vocal from guest singer Liv E. Donaldson's own bumpin', club-heavy remix - think vintage Masters at Work and you're close - follows, before we're treated to two fresh revisions from other producers. Fellow house veteran Sandy Rivera delivers a typically drowsy, soulful and tasteful rework, before Girls of The Internet re-invent the track as a bustling slab or elastic jazz-house complete with layered analogue synth sounds and heady double bass.
Review: British-Nigerian singer-songwriter Sade is rightly celebrated for her sultry voice and timeless hits like 'Smooth Operator' and 'No Ordinary Love.' Her music blends soul, jazz and r&b with its sensual melodies and poetic lyrics and so is a great fit for deep house reworks, A bunch of them have all dropped with us and this one licks off with 'Like A Tattoo', an airy cut with some gorgeous keys and plenty of loved up vibes. Meanwhile on the flip is a new version of the most iconic of them all - 'Smooth Operator' (remix) still has the erotic sax notes and great vocals, but more upbeat drums to get cosy parties moving.
Let It (Give Me Back My Love) (feat AbbieLee) (5:55)
Another Dawn (vocal mix) (5:07)
The Bassline (Kerri Dark mix) (7:09)
The Breeze (7:57)
Review: New Jersey house don Kerri Chandler is rightfully lauded as a hero of the scene. He continues to pour his heart and soul into every record and imbue his music with real-world emotions that elevate his tunes. He is of course a master of a deep but driving sound that borrows from soul, funk and jazz in ignitible ways. The third volume of his Lost & Found EP series on his own label Kaoz Theory is packed with more gold, from the slinky depths of 'Let It (Give Me Back My Love)' to the soul staring vocal work of 'Another Dawn' via more paired back sounds on 'The Bassline' (Kerri Dark mix) and the percussive energy of 'The Breeze.' Yet another essential Kerri 12" for your collection.
The Sunburst Band - "He Is" (Jimpster remix) (7:21)
Joey Negro - "I Recognise" (feat Sacha Williamson - Andres remix) (6:27)
Prospect Park - "The Kinda Love" (Jkriv remix) (8:06)
Jakatta - "My Vision" (feat Seal - The Vision remix) (7:03)
Review: Dave Lee aka Joey Negro has pulled together a fine team of remixers here to serve up their own versions of tunes by him, Jakarta, The Sunburst Band and Prospect Park, all for his own Z Records. Freerange boss and deep house Don Jimspter goes first and brings real sunshine to his take on 'He Is.' Detroit badman Andres then does what he does best to 'I Recognise', that is layering in hip hop slanted beats and nice rolling baselines under lush chords. On the flip are two more positive house vibrations to make this a handy EP.
Review: Michael McDonald anthem 'Sweet Freedom' is an epic of its era and here it gets a special revision from edit royalty The Reflex. It's a a one sided, highly weaponised 12" that fuses disco, soul, and oodles of good time vibes, all together into one killer cut. The vocal is the main draw - its clean and pure, and tugs at the heart. The drums are silky and slinky, the bass rumbles deep down below and there is a real sense of cosmic dust being sprinkled over the whole thing.
Lou Rawls - "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" (Kenny Summit, Frankie Knuckles & Eric Kupper's Brawls Deep unreleased remix)
Kenny Summit, Frankie Knuckles & Eric Kupper - "Loving You" (feat Yasmeen)
Review: This special 12" sampler, part of the forthcoming compilation, taps into the timeless spirit of the Paradise Garage with two unreleased collaborations that showcase the late Frankie Knuckles' legacy. On the A-side, the final production from Knuckles, alongside Kenny Summit and Eric Kupper, delivers a soulful, uplifting remix of Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine." It's pure house brilliance that captures the essence of the Garage sound. On the flip, the trio reunites for "Loving You," a Motown-inspired anthem featuring Yasmeen's powerful vocals. These tracks, which have been staple spins for DJs like Cajmere and Sonny Fodera, form part of a larger collection that celebrates house music's rich history, with remixes of iconic tracks. The cover art, designed by Alexander Juhasz, adds an extra layer of cultural significance to this must-have release.
Review: Beyonce's last album was widely heralded as a triumph by all. It found her diving into house music and working with scene stalwarts like Luke Solomon and Honey Dijon. It won a Grammy for its efforts. Now, even though plenty of the originals were ready to work a club dancefloor, we get treated to some remixes. They all focus on the standout single 'Break My Soul' and we get funky and soulful stuff from Terry Hunter, broken beat from Will I Am, house thumps from Honey Dijon, and filter-heavy stuff from The Queens. Add in the Nita Aviance club mix and the original version and you have a useful package indeed.
Missing You (Eric Kupper Director’s cut Tribute To Fk remix) (6:57)
Missing You (Ridney rework) (6:03)
Review: First released a decade ago and revisited periodically ever since, Arftul and Ridney's collaboration with UK soul queen Terri Walker is a 21st century house classic. This 10th anniversary edition - released in limited numbers for Record Store Day 2023 - pairs fresh revisions with classic reworks. Michael Gray steps up with a funk-fuelled, disco-tinged revision, before the insanely talented Opolopo opts for a deeper, jazz-funk-flecked revision that's as classy as it is soulful. Elsewhere, Eric Kupper's 'Directors Cut Tribute To FK' version is a strings-and-piano-laden treat, while Ridney's own 'Rework' is a tasteful, piano-sporting deep house shuffler.
Review: Some artists are always going to be a rich vein to mine for DJs looking to get instant results with the tunes they play. This 80s soul legend is one of those whose buttery smooth vocals only ever need a little extra weight adding to the drums to make them perfect for club deployment. Here we get a version of 'Nothing Can Come Between Us' with soulful drums that have a nice dusty, lo-fi edge and some smart melodies. On the flip is the more intimate 'King Of Sorrow' which becomes a melancholic groove for cosy back rooms.
Dave & Omar - "Starlight" (Grant Nelson extended mix) (6:16)
Chocolate Fudge Band - "Everything" (DJ Fudge extended mix) (6:57)
Dave & Maurissa - "Look At The Stars" (Dave's Starshine club mix) (7:48)
Opolopo - "Looking For You" (Peter's extended Organ) (6:02)
Review: Soul meets speed garage on this new V/A EP from Z Records, blurring the lines between the genres in just the way we like it. The opening track - Grant Nelson's mix of 'Starlight' by Dave & Omar - is a euphoric, piano-laced uplifter which both sonically and lyrically urges us to reach for the sky. That's followed by the DJ Fudge production 'Everything' by Chocolate Fudge Band, featuring lots of live instrumentation and a Curtis Mayfield style vocal, while over on the flip, 'Looking For You' proves to be a deep and bouncy cut filled with soulful Motown vocal chops and an organ workout worthy of any Sunday service, over a beautifully wonky house framework.
You Got Me Dancing (feat Audrey Wheeler & Cindy Mizelle) (4:04)
Chimi (feat Elements Of Life) (4:15)
Love Has No Time Or Place (feat Elements Of Life - previously unreleased instrumental dub) (4:40)
Atmosphere Strut (feat DJ Spinna) (3:57)
Cosmic Witch (feat Anane) (3:55)
How He Works (feat Nico Vega) (3:54)
A Place Where We Can All Be Free (feat Janine Lyons) (3:53)
Touch The Sky (feat Tony Momrelle) (4:01)
Dreaming (feat Cindy Mizelle) (4:02)
All My Love (feat Robyn) (4:07)
Feel So Right (feat Honey Dijon) (3:56)
Louie Vega & Karen Harding - "Free To Love" (4:03)
Bebe Winans - "It's All Good" (feat Debbie Winans Lowe & Korean Soul - Louie Vega remix) (4:02)
Review: It may come with an eyebrow-raising price tag, but what's on offer here is undeniably alluring: a box set of 10 seven-inch singles containing all of the songs from Louie Vega's brilliant Expansions In The NYC album - an all-star affair in which the Masters at Work man celebrated his love of New York disco, boogie and house. The album itself is incredible, with fantastic musicianship, arrangements and vocals, while the cast list - which includes original electrofunk outfit Unlimited Touch, Peech Boys main man Bernard Fowler, Honey Dijon, Cindy Mazelle, Moodymann, Kerri Chandler and his son Nico - is similarly impressive. It's a great product, packed with brilliant music: a fitting finale to this portion of the ongping 'Expansions NYC' project.
Dennis Ferrer - "How Do I Let Go" (feat TK Brooks)
Rain: A Lil Louis Painting - "Give It Up" (Masters At Work club mix)
Mood II Swing - "Sunlight In My Eyes"
Kimara Lovelace - "Misery" (Lil Louis club mix)
Review: Now under new ownership (international dance music powerhouse Armada Music, fact fans), long-serving New York house imprint King Street Sounds is doing a good job in showcasing gems from its vast archives. This second label sampler contains four more genuine must-have cuts. First up, there's a chance to admire the deep, soulful house wonder that is Dennis Ferrer's 2008 hook-up with honeyed vocalist K.T. Brooks, 'How Do I Let Go'. It's followed by Masters at Work's deliciously loose, disco-influenced deep house revision of 'Give It Up' by Lil' Louis' Rain project (first released in 2000), Mood II Swing's DIY Soundsystem favourite 'Sunlight In My Eyes' (easily one of the greatest deep house jams of all time) and Lil' Louis's swinging garage-house rub of Kimra Lovelace's 'Misery'.
Micky More & Andy Tee, Reverendos Of Soul, Anduze - "Devoted" (6:23)
Serge Funk - "Can't Get Enough" (6:30)
Danny Losito - "All I Want" (Micky More & Andy Tee mix) (6:11)
Micky More & Andy Tee - "Philly Sensation" (6:55)
Review: There is an immediately loveable vibe to the carefree and breezy house music that the Italian label Groove Culture deals in. This is the 15th such offering - a third volume of its Jam series - and again the good times flow from the off. 'Devoted' is a four-way collab between Micky More, Andy Tee, Reverendos Of Soul and Anduze that layers up the soulful drums and disco percussion with buttery smooth soul vocals. Serge Funk's 'Can't Get Enough' is all swirling strings and sunny trumpet motifs over funk house beats and then Micky More & Andy Tee appear to remix 'All I Want' into another future Body & Soul classic. The duo's own 'Philly Sensation" is a disco-tinged, string-heavy house dream to close.
Review: Larry Heard's strain of deep house absolutely lends itself to the album format, and he demonstrated this flawlessly on the 2001 album Love's Arrival. Decades on from his first forays into production at the dawn of house music, Heard's sound slipped into a dreamlike lounge-state which spoke to continued development of his melodic sensibilities. Just stick on 'Praise' and let the sound unfurl around you, full of the aching melancholy which gives his music such power. Like machine jazz funk beaming from another dimension, this is deep house at its very best, as made by one of the true architects of the sound.
Make The World Go Round (Deep Dish vocal mix) (9:23)
Ain't No Need To Hide (Deep Dish Sequel Reedit) (9:40)
Review: For the latest volume in their ongoing series of '90s house reissues, Champion Records has decided to offer-up a pair of classic remixes from Washington D.C duo Deep Dish. They were at the height of their powers when they got to work on Sandy B's 'Make The World Go Round' in early 1996 and their full vocal rework (featured here on side A) still sounds fantastic all these years on. Featuring many of their trademark ticks - think layered, swinging, tribal-influenced percussion, weighty organ bass and cut-up vocal snippets - it's a nine-minute epic that's every bit as good as their similarly celebrated remix of De Lacy's 'Hideaway'. Turn to the flip for a light-touch re-edit of their similarly epic, drum-heavy 1997 'sequel' rework of follow-up single 'Ain't No Need To Hide'.
Review: Caserta is legendary digger Kon's long time engineer, and he sure does have a wealth of tricks up his own sleeve. Here he gets to tackle his own super 7" on the Bridge Boots label and first off he serve sup a lovely take on a Stevie Wonder tune. 'Stevie?' (Caserta Sunday Saint mix) has mid-tempo grooves rolling away nicely beneath exquisite synth work and a well-treated vocal from the man himself. JoDaCe steps up on the flip for a Saturday Sinner mix that is more driving and ready for the club. The bass is rugged, the vocals more looped and freaky, the effect just as brilliant but in different ways.
Review: Former Paper Recordings artist Sophie Lloyd apparently started working on "Calling Out" whilst gripped by the January blues. Her intention was simply to make "happy music". To that end, she turned to her gospel roots. The results, shared here on 7" single for the first time, are little less than spectacular. With collaborator Dames Brown in tow, Lloyd's vocals - accompanied by a gospel choir, of course - simply soar above a jaunty, piano-heavy track rich in live instrumentation. It sits somewhere between traditional gospel, house and disco, with a flipside instrumental brilliantly showcasing the quality of the instrumentation throughout. The piano solos, in particular, are breathlessly good.
Music Is My Life (Masters At Work remix dub) (4:44)
Review: Louie Vega continues to offer up fresh remixes of tracks from his epic 2023 album Expansions In The NYC. The latest cut to get the rework treatment is Unlimited Touch hook-up 'Music Is My Life', a joyous and gently soulful fusion of disco instrumentation and house nous. There are two mixes from Vega and long-time studio partner Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez as Masters at Work: an A-side full-vocal remix that gently beefs up the house elements and adds some tasty Rhodes licks, and an EP-closing dub in which the storied duo reach for spacey synth sounds, rolling grooves and selected vocal snippets. To complete a strong package, British veteran Dave Lee doffs a cap to his popular 'Remixed with Love' series and re-imagines the track as a punchy disco-funk workout.
Review: This 7" record from SNIPS delivers two summer dancefloor gems perfect for hip-hop heads. On Side-1.
'A Spread Called Quest' is a downtempo, jazz-fused instrumental packed with great samples from the legendary A Tribe Called Quest, creating a nostalgic yet fresh vibe. For Side-2, 'Kool Summer' offers a house track featuring the classic 'Summertime' sample, famously popularised by Will Smith's 1991 hit of the same name. This track brings a smooth, laid-back groove, making it an essential addition to any summer playlist. With its blend of jazz, hip-hop and house, A Spread Called Quest is a great example of the 45 community thriving with rare and classy urban gems.
Sacred Church (feat Eve - Jon cutler’s Distant music mix) (5:56)
Shaker Games (7:33)
Get Me Higher (7:01)
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Shaka's new drop on Selections is a delightful one that combines real jazz melodies with authentic deep house. Opener 'Sacred Church' (feat Eve - main mix) immediately wins you over with the buys keys, Rhodes chords and eco-system of cosmic synths that busy about while the soulful vocal oozes cool. Jon Cutler's Distant Music mix pairs things back and makes it more of a smoky late night sound and 'Shaker Games' then blisses you out with dusty drum depths and incidental chords that are magically feel good. 'Get Me Higher' shuts down with some superb US house vibes.
Review: Reel People Music's vinyl sampler series is back with a third offering, this time once again bringing together a fine crew of artists on lovely turquoise vinyl. Up first is a wonderful remix by Opolopo of Adina Howard that brings jazzy keys and heavy deep house drums, then Rocco Rodamaal keeps it deep with a low slung groove topped with diva vocals full of soul. The Reel People vocal mix of Zo! is another heart-swelling and soul-drenched deep house roller with lavish synth work and last of all, Michael Gray closes out with a slinky number defined by funky bass licks and classy vocals.
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