Review: Esuoh Limited's third outing takes the form of another various artists offering, and it explores an on-point mix of garage, house and tech. Ale Castro gets things underway with the bubbly bass motifs and retro stabs of 'IDWTAD' with a vocal refrain repeating the line 'I don't want to talk about drugs'. Hurlee's 'Spectral Echoes' is a super breezy house cruiser with sugar chords and more widescreen smears adding the oil to the drums while a simple, effective vocal hook brings the soul. There is a darker, more heads down energy to Housewife's 'Jus A Lil Bit' then Midas Field's 'Groover' brings class, jazzy magic and plenty of fist pumping fun.
Anthony Georges Patrice - "Easy To Love" (Tunnel Vision mix) (9:50)
Review: Anthony Georges Patrice's Ausblick label has trod a fine path over the course of its first five releases and the good work continues on its sixth outing which is a new various artists affair. It is Berlin based Ephem who kicks off with 'Dizzy' and all its bumpy beast and raw perc, then Koln's Hidden Sequence follows with 'Optical Drive' that is more stripped back and powered by warming sub bass. Anthony Georges Patrice himself then completes the hat trick with 'Easy To Love' (Tunnel Vision Mix) which over ten sublime minutes brings some more airy, double doit flavoured and has already been getting plays from Mosaic boss Steve O'Sullivan.
Review: Fazack, Not Even Noticed, NairLess and Henrik Villard battle it out on the fourth Terrazzo disc, unleashing a contagious arsenal of acid and proggy tech house in the process. From the opening hip-swangs and filter-pinched laserblasts of 'Slung Low' to the more ecstatic midi-synth plucking ends of 'Zuzswang'; and last but not least, the more overt acidifications of 'Reflective Tears' and 'S11'; there's something on here for every raver.
Review: Foliage has some respectable heritage in the realm of upfront house music for deep-digging heads, having released work from the likes of Mood II Swing, Mark de Clive Lowe, Jimpster and Jesus Gonsev. This new sampler brings together four immaculate joints which reach from a recent Atjazz reworking of Halo's 'Glory' to Moon Rocket's powerful Afro house throw down 'Reciprocity', Jimpster's immersive remix of Funkky to the Fka Mash 'Re-glitch' of N'Dinga Gaba's 'Summer Breeze'. It's all bursting with soul and perfectly tooled for the floor, so slip one in your bag and you'll have four gems just waiting to give your party a proper lift.
Review: Mysticisms continues its global search for amazing music, hitting gold again with an EP of four previously unreleased house meets IDM with a dreamy edges by Romania's HAN aka Dan Handrabur, culled from early studio recordings between 1991-95. After getting into record store culture he began building a studio and eventually gave up studying in favour of production, relocated to Vancouver, Canada, where his debut release (as X Drone with Adham Shaikh in 1993) began to establish Handrabur's role as an integral part its electronic scene. Appearances with Harthouse, Exist Dance, Eye Q Records and many more followed, plus collaborations with the legendary Phil Western. The four tracks here haven't aged at all, with nimble beats, action-packed arrangements and dreamy atmospheres, 'Give In & Resist' coming on like Rising High-era Mixmaster Morris crossed with the playfulness of Air Liquide, and 'Phantasme' revelling in the same cross-rhythmic fun that informed The Black Dog's classics.
Review: People of Earth proudly presents Warren Harris aka . Blessing us with a 4 track EP titled "From the Dark Sky". Delivering his signature bass licks and providing us with a vocal track on top of it all in "Last Forever". Hints of jazz, gospel and straight deep house throughout the record, all beautiful, uplifting and full of purpose.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Burnski's superb Pilot label is back with more club-ready gold and this one is from Hatori Hanso. He opens up by covering the gorgeously deep and soul enriching sounds of a Pepe Bradock classic but reworks the pads into a more thumping breakbeat rhythm. 'My Chorus' is a soft acid delight with surging breaks heading off into the cosmos and 'I'm A Taker' then has a squelchy bassline to die for that dances about between snappy snares and lively kick drums. 'Kraulen' shuts down with some boogie energy, radiant chords and more crispy drum patterns for good time fun.
Review: Hardt Antoine is back on Reculture with a second superb EP that has been rather delayed due to the pandemic. He opens up with a tune that reflects the nature of the year of lockdowns - deep and rolling, tinged with sadness, not in a hurry to go anywhere and stuffed with a sense of self longing for something, anything. 'Are You There' picks up with a more propulsive track that has elements of cold wave's chilly synths, metallic percussion and a motorik kick that never lets up. It's the sort of elevating, tense, trance-including tune that will take any set from one level to the next.
Review: Rupert Hartick made quite an impression with his debut release on Pleasure Zone in 2022, and the eagle-eared out there might have copped his drop on Konfus last year. Now he's graduated to the unstoppable Rawax with a four-tracker of sophisticated tech house for the discerning dancer. 'Sweet Dreams' has a meandering, hallucinatory quality helped no end by the amorphous synth tones shimmering over the top of the slinky, shuffling beat. 'Wiggle System' is an entirely different proposition marked out by snaking electro with a mellow demeanour. 'Smokin Kims' is also electro in its construction, but there's a very different flavour to the synths, which warp and writhe through some exquisite sound design. 'Leftback' maintains the thoughtful, original approach Hartick takes across the release, all while offering a different slant to his productions focused more on brittle percussion and FX tweaking.
Review: Tokyo-based independent label Infodump follows up its inaugural EP with a new release from owner Takuro Hasumi. 'Ticktack' opens his account with lithe, droning synth lines which are layered up next to organic percussion and dark bass energy that keeps you on edge. 'Wilderness' then flips the script with a much more bright and trippy melodic mix over minimal drums and last of all is 'The Fall'. This one is another intriguing mix of silvery synth shimmers and stripped-back drum programming that locks you in the moment. The fresh EP comes with fresh artwork from Japanese outsider artist Pinksk.
Review: For their latest trip into soul-soaked machine music, People Of Earth has turned to debutant Detroit producer Haz Mat, who has been plying his trade as a musician and DJ in the Motor City for at least the last 15 years. There's an assured feel to A-side "My Zania", a rock solid, occasionally driving deep house number smothered in fluttering chord progressions, techno style analogue bass, and rising, intergalactic motifs. You'll find more tech-tinged deep house soul on the flip, where the synthesizer-heavy "Bridge To The Universe" - a fitting title, all told - sounds particularly addictive. He draws an excellent debut to a close with "Groove of Life", where fluttering flute solos dance across a jazz-funk inspired, Andres style deep house number.
Review: We Must Protect This House continues to stake a claim as to why house is worth saving with a second essential EP. It comes almost a year to the day after the debut from the same artist, HDSN, who is well known in underground circles for his work, mostly on the likes of NBAST. His silky sounds immediately get you grooving with 'Cancel The Noise' which has balmy pads, razor sharp hi hats and smooth rolling drums that offer a West Coast sound. 'Resurrection' builds a similar vibe with a little more percussive energy and the flip then sinks into deep and dubby sounds on 'A Fad To Die For' and shimmering synth colours on 'Hypercolour.'
Review: Yay Recordings closes out another solid 12 months with a various artists' EP that showcases right where the label is at. Heavy Mental kicks off with 'Dabro', a colourful and loopy house jaunt for sunny days. Twowi's 'Metaverse' takes off to the cosmos on lithe electro rhythms with ice-cold beats and widescreen pads. Parchi Pubblici & Lucretio's 'Aladdin Sane' brings some wonky deep tech vibes with of-balance drums and muffled spoken words and Rinaldo Makaj closes down with a fresh party sound perfect for cosy floors. There's plenty of variety here, which makes this a great addition to your bag.
Review: After a decade-long break, Herbert returns with 'Part 9', a continuation of his influential Parts series that has been a cornerstone of leftfield house music since Part One debuted nearly 30 years ago. This release marks the beginning of a renewed focus on Herbert's innovative sound, with 'Part 10' scheduled for later this year and a new album expected early next year. Part 9 introduces collaborations with Momoko Gill, known for her work with artists like Tirzah and Coby Sey. The EP kicks off with 'Fallen,' where Gill's vocals meld with Herbert's minimalist, 90s-inspired production, creating a track that's both haunting and deeply rhythmic. 'Find Me' strips things down with an instrumental that showcases Herbert's skill in blending subtle grooves with engaging beats. The release closes with 'Curt,' a track that feels like a nod to Herbert's roots, fusing minimal elements with house vibes that are both nostalgic and forward-thinking.
Review: Luke Hess delivered a stunning, dub techno masterclass with this rather unexpected gem on the FXHE label back in 2017 with fellow Motor City great Omar S on production. The superb title track opens with shimmering dub chords and hypnotic rhythms that evolve slowly but powerfully. 'Renewal' offers a more direct approach by channelling the spirit of Brendon Moeller's Beat Pharmacy. On the flip, 'Sacred' strips things back with a staggered groove, airy pads and a one-note bassline circling deep into the night. Closing track 'Motor Dub' nods to Deepchord with its swirling delays and spacious, bass-heavy mix. For fans of Basic Channel and immersive, textured techno, this is irresistible.
Review: Fresh from delivering a solid three-tracker on Drum Chums, Hidden Spheres returns to Rhythm Section International with what could be his most expansive and hard-to-pigeonhole EP to date. The Manchester producer excels on the A-side with 'Tanzen', a pleasingly nostalgic, warehouse-ready affair available in two distinctive forms: the breezy piano-sporting, summery, analogue-rich deep house gem that is the spine-tingling club mix, and the sweat-soaked, sub-heavy jack-track that is the 'Mate mix'. Elsewhere, he opts for weighty sub-bass, looped stabs and vintage turn-of-the-90s deep house vibes on 'Mind Over Mate' and reaches for sparse electro-not-electro beats on the late '80s early morning brilliance of 'Not Of This World'. To round off the EP, Paula Tape opts for hands-raised acid house nostalgia on her fine revision of 'Tanzen'.
Review: Rhythm Section International, helmed by "Executive Producer" Bradley Zero, has barely put a foot wrong since launching in 2014. Here, the Peckham imprint welcomes Tom Harris AKA Hidden Spheres into the fold. He hits the mark from the off, layering up twinkling pianos, mutant synthesizer lines, bluesy vocal samples and huggable deep house grooves on "Well Well". Another deep, sun-kissed, almost horizontal house excursion can be found on the B, with the intricate and tactile "Your Effect" impressing. Elsewhere, Harris explores the dusty, downtempo side of his repertoire, with the jazzy "Land" sounding like a long lost Ninja Tune jam from the mid '90s.
Review: The enigmatic Hill returns to Hardrock Striker's Skylax imprint with an energetic five-tracker packed full of disco house goodness. Riviera Meets Detroit features the infectiously loopy French Touch vibes of 'Land Of Funk', the sexy and lo-slung Balearic bliss of 'Summer Holidays In Rimini' and over on the flip there's the pure deepness of 'Away' featuring the one-and-only Javonntte. Featured are two versions; the wonderfully evocative Spacey Groove mix followed by the more upbeat Classic mix.
Review: Will Hofbauer returns to Wisdom Teeth for another addition to the label's Hessle-esque vision for the fleshing out the more playful side of 'bassy techno'. Hofbauer is a firm fixture and favourite of the sort of quasi-underground UK DJ circuit that has cut the teeth of the likes of Moxie, Rhythm Section, OK Williams and Ben UFO - and these four new ones are bound to cement that favour, with bare-essentials bits like 'Subtracing The Egg' blending with mischievous audio-hijinks like 'Hiccups' for a humorous, yet no less powerful EP.
Review: The third and final EP from the ten year anniversary series by French label D3 Elements is another one that offers a wide range of excellent grooves. To kick off, Jason Hogans takes us into woozy late night territory with muffled leads and lazy breaks, then Zopelar heads for the cosmos on his radiant synth laced house offering 'Resolution.' Malik Hendricks keeps it low key and slow with his intimate basement sounds on 'Green Mango' then Meftah rebuilds on a dusty Theo Parrish tip with 'Maha Shatki.' Damar Davis offers pure cosmic deep house lushness on closer 'Kiss In The Dark.'
Review: Homebase's latest release 'Everlasting Love' is a joyous celebration of love that transcends time and musical boundaries. The captivating original track is a romantic minimal lullaby with feel-good melodies full of innocence that do a fine job of conveying the moments that make hearts race and memories that last forever. Whether dancing or reflecting, this track connects deeply with the soul. Then comes remixes by renowned artists Phonique, Marc Spieler, and Richard de Clark, each adding their unique touch with some perfect for dreamy after-hours and some a little more ready for the club.
Review: The people behind Ba Dum Tish say they spent months calling, texting and emailing people trying to track down the Hoodrats, but in the end, they did and it was all worth it because it means we now get this reissue of their superb 00s EP 'Tha Whack Messiah'. The title cut is all dusty drums and skipping hi-hats with quiet vocal musings stitched in and swirling pads adding depth and scale. 'So UR The Traitor' on the flip has a more cosmic outlook with smeared synths and tin-pot percussion combing into a sweet tech house roller that oozes early authenticity.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Track 1 (6:58)
Track 2 (7:16)
Track 3 (7:20)
Track 4 (7:43)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Hostom is both an artistic moniker and a record label, controlled by producer and mastering engineer Varhat Veliere, acting under the aegis of their very own distribution company, based in France. Veliere has kept the Hostom arm of their craft since 2015, dropping myriad creative works centring on weirdo atmospheric house. This latest, seventh edition to the imprint hears just four new untitled ones hit the worthy shelves and all of them are unusually serene, off-guard-catching forays into unseen psychedelic worlds, whether evoked simply by the weird, wondrous and bubbly sounds heard throughout; or literally narrated by pop-psychedelic guru Terence McKenna (Track 3).
Review: Last time out, Stefan Ringer came well and truly correct for People of Earth, so the follow up EP was always going to be a tough challenge. French producer Hugo LX proves himself more than worthy of the job, however with this superb deep and spaced out four tracker. 'Freedom House Dance' is the opener, and rides on waves of cosmic synths and deft pads. 'Catching Thunder' is more business like thanks to the chattering claps and more direct and purposeful bassline. 'Track three layers in some doleful trumpets to a taught baseline to make for stylish jazz vibe and lastly, you're cast off into the universe on a wave of infinite pads and meandering leads.
Review: Mole Music branches out for the first time to vinyl here and shows it has a great wealth of talent to call on with a various artists' EP that is presumably the start of a new series. Holy Guacamole Vol 1 kicks off with JHNS keeping it deep and lively with 'Nevermind' while Steve End and Colau hook up for 'Back Spin' and lay down some magnificent drum loops that are silky and infectious. El Funkador's 'Shame' brings some 90s New York vibes with lovely snare sounds and warm bursts of chords. On the flipside, Alben & Laje & Errat, Hot DLVRY and Craftsmanship all cook up more fresh fusions of old and new school house.
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