Review: American house don Roy Davis Jnr is inseparable from his cult classic 'Gabriel' with Peven Everett but also has many other delightful deep house cuts in his discography. His Black Excellence EP is one of them. It came digitally in 2022 on the P'oe Records label and now gets pressed up to wax for the imprint's first foray into this medium. It features the single 'Hidden Hebrew' which is a percussive deep house sound with soothing piano chords and plenty of drum fills and splashy cymbals. There are two different remixes of it as well as his own RDJ version of 'Summer La Costa' which is a more humid and horn-laced jam with a soulful topline. Last of all is a Mourad Remix packed with wet hand claps and chopped-up loops and violin.
Review: Rome's contemporary jazz maestro Stefano De Santis is back with his 'New Beginning' EP on the esteemed Quattro Bambole Music. Across four stunning tracks, Stefano's musicianship shines as he explores jazz-infused broken beat, boogie, deep house and lo-fi hip-hop. Highlights come thick and fast and include the mellow jazz landscapes of 'Roy,' the lush blend of slow-motion house and broken beats on 'Lie#3', the emotive, piano-driven 'Paths' and the 80s boogie vibe of 'Tokyo 80.' UK producer Sean McCabe mastered the EP but also delivers a deep house dub of 'Lie#3.'
Review: The third EP on Dutch disc discoursers Runde Ecken, the 'Savoy' EP proceeds the 'Jazzfloor' and 'Another Deep' EPs as the charming third-timer by the label's sole nucleotide, Deejazzid. With an exclusive focus on breezy minimal disco set to vinyl - and paired with a Ben Day comic book visual style - we hear another six soothers round out a swole overall mix here, as 'Deep Control' moves into 'Deeptroit', cranking up the heat under the deep minimal casserole in pigeon step.
Review: Spanish label NeighbourSoul bring a heraldic design sensibility to wildout disco edits on 12", with this latest record taking on a leonine art direction on the inner label and sleeve. A top-up to their enduring vinyl-only series, this one hears a resident editor arride four more most-pleasing disco loops, believably emulating a bygone time in which DJs would sticker and knife their records to create workable tools, in the absence of software.
Review: Enjoy The Silence, Depeche Mode's standout single from Violator, marked a significant moment in the band's career, becoming their most successful UK single since 'Master & Servant' in 1984. 'Enjoy The Silence' captured both critical and public acclaim, peaking at number six in the UK charts and achieving top spots in Denmark and Spain, as well as reaching number eight in the US. The 12" version is beloved by fans with the myriad of great remixes the song provided. This new yellow vinyl version helps meet the demand of an always desirable dance record. The single's success earned Depeche Mode their first Brit Award for Best Single of 1990. This newfound positivity extended to the subsequent reception of Violator, solidifying 'Enjoy The Silence' as an iconic track in Depeche Mode's discography. The song continues to be celebrated for its brooding, tender qualities, and its ability to resonate with audiences globally as well as the iconic video.
Review: A record that crafts a smooth, jazz-infused deep house journey, blending classic influences with a refined musical touch. Side-1 opens with 'Waves', where warm piano chords and a laid-back groove create an effortlessly rich atmosphere. 'Let's Love' brings in house legend Robert Owens, elevating the track with soulful vocals, shimmering keys and uplifting energyiclassic house music with a deep jazz undercurrent. On the flip, 'Move Me' delivers a dynamic blend of funky basslines, crisp percussion and spacious keyboards, keeping the groove fluid and expressive. 'Wistful Melody' rounds out the EP with a driving four-on-the-floor rhythm, yet retains a melodic softness, balancing energy with deep, emotive textures. A beautifully crafted collection that pays homage to house music's roots while pushing toward a more intricate, jazz-leaning sound.
Review: DJ Slugo is a legendary producer who very much helped to define the sound of the equally legendary Dance Mania label back in the day. Now Subterranean Playhouse has put together a collection of his most influential works across the juke and footwork spectrum on one vital 12". 'Bang Dem Walls' kicks off in signature style with hard-hitting rhythms and ghetto vocals. 'Like It Raw (feat DJ Deeon - 2002 remix)' is another hardcore dancefloor banger with jittery rhythms and turbocharged stabs and 'On The Low (feat Double AC & DJ PJ)' is exactly the sort of short but sweet and impactful jam that DJ Slufo is such a master of.
Review: Inhale Exhale bring six full new circular round-trip breaths to the fold, focusing on heartwarming and soulful summer deep house tunes. Intended mostly for outdoor disco BBQs, 'INEX 017' packs a fruitful punch. Opening proceedings on the A come 'Make It Right', 'Understand U' and 'Tears Of The M1', a power-of-three intro tracking a vibeful descension from crystalline waters, synth organs and high string samples down to the chillest of vinyl-crackly, primal mini tech moods. Then there's the unmissable mirror image on the B, podding 'Everytime', 'Clyde' and 'Keep The Stabs', the last of which is an especially delicious, refractive groove.
Review: Oozing with slippery sound design and euphoric exudate, Andrey Djackonda, Etzu Mahkayah, and TooRare team up for a next-gen talent demo in EP form, well and truly showing any other upstart how trancey-prog-minimal house is and should indeed be done. Said to have been designed to create a feeling of uplift and positivity - and yet in our opinion, the record touches on relatively more neutral and trancier moods, ones which could go either way - the likes of 'Que Le Jour Se Leve' and 'Sunrise In Amsterdam' are highly maximised, entelechic tech-trance progressors, highlt reflective of the verve and dedicated so far enshrined in the work of Saint Petersburg label MixCult.
Review: Eight further sonic spirits are conjured on the seventh edition in Damian Lazarus' annual compilation series. Emphasising deep house and techno grooves with a hypnotic flavour, the procurement here is exemplarily brooding; Dino Lenny's 'I Have Sampled Father' marks a sure turn away from the openers' cleaner-cut mesmerisms with a smoky, funk-inflected haze, bringing rhythm guitar and paternal murmurations to a surreal montage. The monologuing mood continues on the equal highlight that is Upercent's 'Where Are You', whilst Enamour's 'Jackpot' rounds out the show with the record's only brightly-lit minimal triller. The record is marked by sensuous, distant, familiar voices throughout.
Review: The debut album from Bahraini-born, British-based musical duo Dar Disku is a celebration of their Arabic heritage and multicultural influences that melds golden age West Asian and North African sounds with a contemporary dancefloor focus. The eight-track record hears the duo traverse their West Asian and North African origins and bring them back to their current place of residence, crossing from disco to Rai, from piano house to Turkish psychedelia, and all manner of other cross-Med import-exports. From the degage Turkish psych prog-house builder 'Sabir' with Billur Battal, to the penultimate piano-breaks rattler 'Galbi', this is a chilled and wavering dance release primed for bridging international gaps.
Review: Francis Harris and Anthony Collins (aka Frank & Tony)'s New York label Scissor and Thread wraps up the year with another sublime deep house release from US mainstay DaRand Land, who first joined the imprint in 2016 and recently collaborated on their album Ethos. Originally from Buffalo, NY, the tasteful producer was a pioneer of Deep4Life, a Chicago-based cult label known for deep, dance floor-oriented productions and he is still turning out just that on new LP Wander Being. It's full of smoky pads, cuddly drums and bottomless grooves that hypnotise mind and body while warming the soul to its core.
Review: Germany's Marvin Dash is one of those house producers who is on the radars of those who know, but should have a much wider profile given his skills. He mixes up Detroit vibes and minimal grooves and has done for more than 30 years. Back in the early days he worked with the notorious Lowtec and was at the heart of the DIY scene in East Germany. Now some of his best work from that time gets reissued on this fine double album which is a quality blend of emotive house groves, loose-limbed tech workouts and immersive downtempo soundscapes.
Review: During the 35 years of making music, Dave Lee has constantly been searching for new singers and writers to work with. A search that's ended up with many fantastic collaborations and releases with the likes of Thelma Houston, Taka Boom, Diane Charlemagne and Seal. More recently this quest led him to Maurissa Rose and the creation of their album 'London / Detroit'. After hearing Maurissa's voice on a Theo Parrish record Dave reached out to her and after a few long phone conversations and mp3 swaps, they both agreed a visit to London would be much more fun than trying to work together remotely. Maurissa made the journey from her home in Detroit to write and record an album with Dave at his studio in March 2022 - as they both feel that creating music together in the same room is always better. The fruits of their labour yielded 11 brand new songs (and 1 cover) tapping into their collective love of Soul, Disco and R&B, with a sprinkle of Soulful House. This album is a special one for Dave Lee as it's the first time in his career he's recorded an entire album with the same singer on every track.
Review: While he's still associated with the club-ready 'French Touch' sound he helped develop in the late 1990s, Etienne De Crecy has always had a much wider musical palette - as the legendary Super Discount series of albums proved. On Warm Up, his first new album for six years, the French veteran has leaned into this, delivering an album of songs designed to be listened to at home during the day. Of course, there are still nods to his dancefloor roots, but more pop hooks, nods to hip-hop, electro-pop and the lower tempo end of the nu-disco spectrum. More significantly, there are vocals throughout, delivered by an impressive cast list that includes Damon Albarn, Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor, Sports, Frank Leone and Kero Kero Bonito.
Rodriguez Jr - "Alraegadir" (Spencer Brown Rethink)
Aubrey Fry - "Begone" (Nick Stoynoff remix)
Weska - "Hawkins" (Soel remix)
Oniris - "Isla" (Satoshi Fmi remix)
John Digweed & Mick Muir - "Futurascent" (Loz Goddard mix)
Madban - "That Ending Track" (Paul Roux remix)
Review: Back in the autumn of 2023, Bedrock co-founder John Digweed delivered Futuro, a four-disc mix made up entirely of new and unreleased music. On this two-disc sequel, 20 of those tunes get the remix treatment, with Digweed presenting them via a pair of typically smooth, evolving journey style DJ mixes. It's typical Digweed/Bedrock fare all told - think deep, immersive and gently melodic blends of 21st century progressive house, tech-house, deep house and (whisper it quietly) colourful neo-trance. There are some surprises though, such as the dub-flecked, tops-off techno hyonotism of Digweed and Nick Muir's rework of David Morales' 'Diridim', Spencer Brown's gorgeous and tactile revision of 'Alraegadir' by Rodriguez Jr, and Loz Goddard's progressive breaks re-build of Digweed and Muir's 'Futurascent'.
Review: DJ Boring emerged as a pioneer of the lo-fi house sound several years ago. It was short lived but his career has not been. The smart selector has since gone on to become a mainstay of the underground circuit with his high-energy party sounds finding favour all across the world. Now he digs deep to serve up a contemporary mix of feel good jams from the house world including mainstays like Sally C and Burnski as well as dropping an exclusive of his own. It's a tasteful entry into this hallowed series.
Review: While he's released music under many aliases over the last decade - Arctic Attack, Fidelio Cubico and Haga Central included - Johan Norling has delivered his best work as DJ City. He's been backed to the hilt by Public Possession, who here serve up his long-promised debut album. Beginning with the dreamy, opiate deep house headiness of 'Cities In Dust', Paris Rome sees the Berlin-based artist wrap bright, colourful and loved-up musical motifs around vintage-sounding drum machine beats and on-point basslines. There are a few rougher and more raw-sounding excursions - see the acid-fired, cowbell-driven jack-track 'Oh Ah' for starters - as well as subtle nods to the dreamier end of the Italo-disco spectrum, but for the most part it delivers an immersive and vivid take on nu-dusco-tinged deep house that sounds as good at home as it does in the club.
Wie Schon Du Bist (feat Arnim Teutoburg-Weiss & The Dusseldorf Dusterboys)
Tu Dime Cuando (feat Ada & Sofia Kourtesis)
The Talented Mr Tripley
What About Us (feat Markus Acher Of The Notwist)
Unbelievable (feat Ada)
A Donde Vas? (feat Soap&Skin)
Vamos A La Playa (feat Soap&Skin)
Die Gondel (feat Sophia Kennedy)
Brushcutter (feat Marley Waters)
Buschtaxi (album version)
Aruna
Umaoi (feat Marewrew)
Review: The new album from the German producer offers a captivating auditory journey, blending unique and genre-defying styles that transcend trends. Described as a 64-minute return trip to space, the album mixes psychedelic, unconventional elements with a rich tapestry of sound, showcasing the artist's ability to create his own musical universe. The work draws on a deep synergy between the producer and collaborators, offering slow grooves, treated vocals and passionate declarations in tracks like the flamenco-esque 'Pure Love'. The artist's approach to production is a slow-cooked, evolving process, allowing the music to transform over time. Known for his career in hip-hop and his involvement in electronic pop, the producer's distinctive style continues to shine, offering a profound and cerebral dance experience. Following a successful collaboration with Roisin Murphy, this new album promises to be another standout project in the artist's esteemed catalogue, delivering music that is both deeply personal and universally appealing.
Wie Schon Du Bist (feat Arnim Teutoburg-Weiss & The Dusseldorf Dusterboys) (3:46)
Tu Dime Cuando (feat Ada & Sofia Kourtesis) (3:38)
The Talented Mr Tripley (3:13)
What About Us (feat Markus Acher Of The Notwist) (4:46)
Unbelievable (feat Ada) (3:31)
A Donde Vas? (feat Soap&Skin) (1:29)
Vamos A La Playa (feat Soap&Skin) (4:35)
Die Gondel (feat Sophia Kennedy) (3:37)
Brushcutter (feat Marley Waters) (5:19)
Buschtaxi (album version) (7:20)
Aruna (3:48)
Umaoi (feat Marewrew) (3:43)
Pure Love Day (feat Damon Albarn) (4:30)
Pure Love Night (feat Damon Albarn) (5:00)
Review: DJ Koze's brings his signature blend of hypnotic rhythms and whimsical, melodic structures into full focus. The opener slowly unfurls, with a spacious, groove-driven beat that evolves into a richly textured arrangement. Tracks like take on a playful tone, using infectious percussion and subtle vocal samples to create a joyful, almost surreal atmosphere. Throughout the album, Koze's production is masterfulieach element serves a purpose, from the deep basslines to the delicate, almost orchestral flourishes. The record's unique mix of electronic dancefloor sounds and emotional depth ensures it resonates long after it ends.
Review: TrioRox is a new project uniting three prominent Italian music figures namely pianist Giovanni Guidi, bassist Joe Rehmer, and electronic musician DJ Rocca aka Luca Roccatagliati. Guidi, a jazz piano prodigy, has recorded for ECM and collaborated with Enrico Rava and Ricardo Villalobos before now while Rehmer, an American bass player based in Italy, has worked with jazz greats like Bob Mintzer. Here they combine their skills with Rocca on a record that is a mix of electronic, dance, jazz and pop styles, all with some sleek underlying grooves and hints of electro, classical and minimalism that add up to a real melting pot.
Review: Chicago's standout beat innovator DJ Slugo is back to reclaim his throne as the self-proclaimed "king of ghetto house" with this new seven-track album. It is packed with some of the most real and raw ghetto sounds of now with hip-house and Miami bass also checked into the mixer and spat out the other side in time for Record Store Day 2025. Killer dance floor weapons are everywhere you listen here - 'Drop It Low 112707' has chopped and screwed vocals and corrugated drums and bass. 'Back Da Fuck U' (feat Missy - remix has tumbling kicks and bass and sleazy vocal samples and 'F*ck These Hoe' is as silly as it is seriously effective.
Teddy Douglas & Ultra Nate - "Searching (For Your Love)" (5:41)
Tonight (feat Richard Farrell) (6:12)
House Music (feat fast Eddie) (5:17)
Star In The Ghetto (feat BDI Thug & "B Mo" Moultrie) (6:40)
Don't Turn Your Back On Me (feat Pauline Taylor) (6:35)
Make It On My Own (feat Richard Farrell & Jasper St Co) (6:33)
Gimme A Call Sometime (feat Richard Farrell) (4:25)
Second Hand Smoke (feat Richard Farrell) (3:43)
I'm Here (5:17)
Review: US house music legend Teddy Douglas is welcomed back onto Nervous Records for a rare full-length album on the label. I'm Here is Douglas' first full-length solo album following his esteemed stints with Basemen Boys and Jasper St. Co., and it's so far been hailed as one of his all-time career-defining greats, bursting will both originality and intertextuality, yet not straying too far from his characteristic Baltimore house sound either. Across the album he's pulled together an array of heavyweight international vocal talent, including UK vocal diva Pauline Taylor; Danish award winning folk and blues artist Richard Farrell; Chi Town hip house legend, Fast Eddie; dance music vocal queen Ultra Nate; up-and-coming Brit soul talent Sipho; and Buckshot from Blackmoon appearing under the name BDI Thug; and through this expansive penchant for teamwork he's conjured up a whimsical record, yet one still respectful of East Coast dance musical tradition, as ever riffing on the afterglows of a golden era yet still finding incredibly compelling fusions between the kicks.
Left & Right (feat Method Man & Redman - instrumental) (5:14)
Spanish Joint (instrumental) (3:35)
Sugah Momma (instrumental) (1:33)
Brown Sugar (instrumental) (3:08)
Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine (instrumental) (4:07)
Cold World (interlude instrumental) (2:27)
Be Here (feat Raphael Saadiq - instrumental) (4:03)
Review: To commemorate the 20th anniversary of D'Angelo's iconic album Voodoo, Amerigo Gazaway had crafted a masterful tribute that reinterprets several standout tracks from the original. Utilising live instruments like electric guitar, synth bass, clavinet, organ and Rhodes, Gazaway breathes fresh life into these classic cuts while maintaining the essence of their grooves. The result is a woozy, silky update that melds elements of hip-hop, gospel, neo-soul and r&b, creating a rich tapestry of sound that honors the source material. With fourteen tracks, including both vocal and instrumental versions, this project captures the spirit of Voodoo while infusing it with new energy. A highlight of this release is the bonus track featuring Raphael Saadiq alongside D'Angelo on 'Be Here', which further emphasises the collaborative spirit of the genre. Gazaway's reimagining not only celebrates the timeless quality of Voodoo but also showcases his talent for blending classic sounds with contemporary influences, making this tribute a worthy addition to any music lover's collection.
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