Vick Lavender - "The LOVE Song" (feat P Jehrico - main mix) (9:12)
Funkey Munkey - "Make Me Feel It" (7:46)
In House II - "Love To Love You" (Heat Of The Night mix) (4:46)
Review: From Chicago to New York via the UK, Freedom Party rack up mega phono-mileage on this retrotextual deep house steamer. The label have set foot on this bold, folk artistic sound-quest since 2023, when the first V/A emerged amid black-and-yellow steams of equably danceable produces from in-house charcutiers Look Once, Mederic Nebinger and Steal Vybe. Now a completely fresh crew is welcomed aboard, with just three new mates added to the original four: Vick Lavender deals in impossible erotism on the long out-of-press vocal jam 'The LOVE Song', with anachronistic beat tech and sampled, 1930s-feel vocals. Funkey Munkey follows up with 'Make Me Feel It', an ambitious retro-rave sound-splay, and In House Ii offers to take us home on 'Love To Love You', a sultrier refit of an all-time-classic, Donna Summer surestarter.
Luude & Bru C - "TMO (Turn Me On)" (feat Kevin Lyttle - extended mix) (3:43)
Luude & Bru C - "TMO (Turn Me On)" (feat Kevin Lyttle - Borai & Denham Audio remix) (3:13)
Luude & Mattafix - "Big City Life" (3:57)
Luude & Issey Cross - "Oh My" (feat Moby) (3:50)
Review: It's time to sweat it out once more with the latest from the label of that name absolutely going for the big time with some classic vocal stabs defining the rip-snorting opener. And that is the extended mix of Luude & Bru C's 'TMO (Turn Me On)' (feat Kevin Lyttle) which is a big drum & bass anthem with ragga vocals, unrelenting and steel plated drum funk and naughty bass. A slightly more sweet and soulful Borai & Denham Audio remix also features as do Luude & Mattafix's anthem and festival friendly jungle anthem 'Big City Life' and similarly epic and accessible 'Oh My' with Issey Cross and some blissed out keys from one of Moby's classics.
Review: It's 10 up for Semi Delicious, a leading tech house outlet that calls together a selection of various artists for this cool new EP. Manami's 'Lizard Den' opens up with a high speed mix of funky bass and squelchy synths that ride on chunky drums. Demi Riquisimo's 'Tutukaka' is defined by a nice Balearic guitar line and sunset chords to melt the heart and Inner Zone's 'Lunar Trick' bangs the box a bit more with a turbocharged space-house sound. Manuel Darquart closes down with 'Track A' which is a more stripped back and cool viber.
Review: The third volume of the Strike Out Series on Bat features Emanuel and the Bionites taking on an Ikadub riddim and delivering an outstanding performance. Following their previous successful releases with Pinnacle Sound, Emanuel again showcases his talent on the dynamic Ikadub riddim and turns out something perfect for playing loud on sound systems everywhere. With 'Rumours,' Marcus I, a prolific songwriter and skilled singer, finds hit potential by crafting a powerful chorus from some new dubs. All five of these cuts have anthem potential and demand to be heard outdoors in the sunshine.
Review: Leeds label Real Interactions aim to facilitate just that - real interactions - by way of releasing just the kind of music that might spur them on, not least in the age of long-circuited digital mediation of the social. Their latest record 'Luminescence' channels four of the Northern city's best underground house hammerers, all of which ironically work in, and do not reject, digitality in their sound. Pete Melba opens with 'Testing', which pairs miragic chords with old-style-sample musings on scientific "hocus pocus" and disorientation. Miles' 'Devils Joint' takes a Mr. Fingers-esque approach to looping house-trance, impressively sating our ossicles with its descendant whirls. Things get increasingly dreamy and emotive from there on out, with Iro Aka's 'Noorad' pairing spaceship-HUD melodi-bloops with low pad-hums and Miles' 'Leaf Grinder' janking things out to brukky, fuzzy-logical effect.
Review: Merwyn and Inkswel's latest is a refreshing blend of deep house and leftfield flair. The title track, 'Eternal Freedom', kicks off with a broken beat groove and a powerful vocal delivering a message about liberation, fusing deep house with an inventive rhythmic style. 'Cloud Eaters' follows with a soulful vibe that channels early 80s funk, creating an uplifting and nostalgic energy. 'Skyline' rounds out Side-1 with its own unique twist on house, pushing creative boundaries in style. On Side-2, Linkwood's remix of the title track injects a spacey disco vibe, layering a deep house groove with subtle funk elements that feel both classic and fresh. Gb's remix takes the track in a different direction, dialing back the energy with laid-back, 80s-inspired electro textures, offering a relaxed and introspective vibe. Together, these tracks deliver a dynamic and nuanced listening experience, perfect for fans of eclectic, message-driven house music.
Review: Vibez '93 is one of the must-check outposts for the Dutch d&b scene and in four years they've shaped up a mighty catalogue of ruffneck rollers and snare-rush slammers for your raving pleasure. This time around they're making space for Minos & InnaSelf to explore a variety of shades, from Minos' catchy-as-hell solo drop 'Jungle Massive' to the duo's fathoms deep soul cut 'Eclipse'. 'Look Good' takes things into even brighter territory facing diva vocals off against mellow ragga toasting, while 'Emerald' lays down rich synth lines for a truly atmospheric trip.
Review: The long-running and always quietly assured Crosstown Rebels kicks off yet another new year with some deep offerings from Oceanvs Orientalis featuring Idil Mese. 'Heart Pieces' is a delightful coming together of organic trumpets and loose percussion with a languid house groove, funky little riffs and heavenly vocal coos. The Mustafa Ismaeel remix brings some grit to proceedings for more of a club-ready sound and then Ibiza-based Leeds man Nightmares On Wax offers his typically laidback and sun-kissed take on things with a deep one to start and a dubby once to finish.
Review: Kompakt Extra presents "Speicher 50" from Oxia and Intus. With "Not Sure" Olivier 'Oxia' Raymond delivers the pivotal 50th hymn. A Speicher Jubilee. On the flip an old friend from Bavaria serenades the 50 Jubilee, under a very fitting project name Intus. There is kicking vodka-techno beats, ingeniously out of tune, and a howling guitar lurching us into the seventh sky of spiritual bliss. Nice.
Review: Prince Chamba joins forces for a superb new roots cut here with Slimmah Sound and Ital Horns. Their 'Secret Light' is a smoky and seductive sound with wobbling low ends and impassioned vocals delivered with a heart-aching twist as the melanotic horns fly up top and rousing chords add some hope. Slimmah Sound & Ital Horns then add their own heavily reverbed dub version and Slimmah Sound offers 'Melody Of Light' which is full of hypnotic harmonica leads. A second dub version once again reworks it into a stoner's delight that will sink you deep into the sofa.
Bruno Pronsato - "When You Ran Away From Home" (7:06)
Iljir - "Ziiik Zaaak" (7:09)
Nikdo - "Confusion" (7:08)
Gjidoda & Gjidoda Jr - "Wish To Be A Movie Star" (7:28)
Review: Gjidoda Music returns with its long awaited third release. It's another various artists affair featuring some right heavy hitters and newcomers alike on the minimal scene. Opening up the first side is US veteran Bruno Pronsato with the typically arcane microhouse cut 'When You Ran Away From Home', followed by some late night mood music by Iljir on 'Ziiik Zaaak'. Over on the flip, Nikdo takes you into a cavernous and glacial realm on 'Confusion' and finally label chiefs (presumably!) Gjidoda & Gjidoda Jr go deep on the swing-fuelled groove action of 'Wish To Be A Movie Star'.
B-STOCK: Torn sleeve, otherwise in excellent working condition
Qeta - "Idream"
Qeta - "Revved Orb"
Qeta - "Redawn"
Inkipak - "Plex"
Inkipak - "Schedule"
Inkipak - "Wetlands"
Review: ***B-STOCK: Torn sleeve, otherwise in excellent working condition***
Qeta and Inkipak show off their respective skills on this fine split EP on Sound Synthesis's Wave Function label. Qeta takes care of the a-side with a serene opener in the form of 'Idream' which pairs lush ambient designs with pristine breakbeats. 'Revved Orb' is a more dubbed-out and trippy post-jungle rhythm with 'Redawn' bringing soulful Detroit techno style to the floor. With his trio of tunes, Inkipak offers stripped-back breaks and celestial chords, heavenly moods on 'Schedule' and a cosmic comedown soundtrack with 'Wetlands.'
Review: Two And Half Records make the decision here to try and rid the A and B-side distinction on records that we are all very familiar with and instead they refer to each face of their latest 12" as 'dance' and 'listen.'' It makes sense frankly and is often how things go anyway. Swiss duo Quismi kick off this one with twitchy and narcotic tech house with an old school bent. French artist Groenogen then gets wild with bright melodies and grinding synths, r&b vocals and high speed tech funk on 'Twinkle Dance' while ILyes offers the tech silkiness of 'Starting Now.' On the flip is a trio of less direct, more experimental sounds that sure do offer plenty to get lost in on headphones.
Review: Intime Anthem is a new label that makes a suitable impressive debut here with a various artists offering that explores a leftfield disco sound. Ramozel's 'Nomentum' has deadpan indie vocals and stark mechanical drums with cold wave synths. Parker Bjoske wars monads with twisted synth modulations and slow, purposeful kicks on 'Tempo.' Naimer then switches the mood with a more playful and 80s-inspired sound, bright retro synths and euro-dance grooves on 'Wildejoe.' There is a supple acid-laced majesty to Ivaj Odnode's closer 'Atillol,' which makes this as vital as it as varied.
Review: Bitterfeld continues to blaze its own electro trail with a seventh outing that again its top draw. This one is a various artistic collection under the title For A Bitter Tomorrow: Band 2 and opens up with Salomo's 'Bodytalk', a crisp and ice cold electro rhythm before Interviews bathe you in gloriously deft sci-fi melodies on 'Let Go' and Qwerty's 'Kisela Neman' then brings some madness with crashing hits and molten acid lines. Jonbjorn's 'Chica' closes with similarly high impact electro sounds and raw textures.
Review: Pi Electronics bring four classy artists together on this new 12". It marks the start of the Limitation series and opens with the deft, moody broken beat techno and unsettling synth ambience of Sam KDC's 'Dominion.' Interviews then ups the intensity with the frosty and rusty loops of 'Crawler' which lurches back and forth with real menace, and Zevla's 'Yours Is Mine' then keeps the pressure on with more tight drum loops, lashing of synth static, corrugated low ends and general dystopian vibes. Slave To Society's 'Biosphere' is the brutalist broken techno banger to close down with.
Review: We're not quite sure about the story behind this EP - Bathurst have not made clear whether it's the first in a series, or whether there's a theme - but the music on show is well-worth checking. Zoe Leonard dons the Simmerdown guise on excellent opener 'Legitimacy', a slowly unfurling affair that craftily combines sun-kissed ambient electronics with cut-up, club-ready beats, gargantuan bass and 140 style vocal cut-ups. David Hanke delivers two contrasting cuts: the shuffling, bass-heavy, spacey-but-sleazy excellence of 'Deep Shit Part 3' as Black Soyls, and the cheerier and bouncier 'Mirrorsides' under his given name. Our favourite though is ITO's 'Citylights', a jazzy, slipped instrumental number full of beautiful piano flourishes and languid bass.
Bessa Simmons - "Sii Nana" (JKriv Fit rework) (7:11)
Vincenzo - "Love Accurate" (6:54)
Ilija Rudman - "Discoteka Parmida" (5:25)
Yasmin - "Real High" (4:59)
Arnau Obiols - "Pagan Mambo" (5:04)
Review: On this sampler EP for the Razor N Tape label's latest Family Affair compilation, the Brooklyn based imprint showcases previously unheard cuts from a mixture of new artists and long-established names. In the latter camp you'll find long-serving deep house don Vincenzo, who delivers the gorgeous, tactile and loved-up deliciousness of 'Love Accurate', and Croatian nu-disco don Ilya Rudman (the acid-heavy dancefloor squelch of 'Discoteka Parmida'). Elsewhere, Yasmin impresses with the neo-soul/nu-disco fusion warmth of 'Real High', Arnau Obiols slams down the Fela-influenced Afrobeat excellence of 'Pagan Mambo', and label co-founder J Kriv turns Bessa Simons 'Si Naana' into an Afro-tinged analogue house treat
Review: Brian Dougans and Garry Cobain, the masterminds behind Future Sound of London, return with The Pulse EP Vol 3, a reissue of their classic work under various aliases on the Jumpin' & Pumpin' label. This highly anticipated 12" features tracks that showcase their 90s techno brilliance. Side-1 opens with Smart Systems' 'Tingler' (Four By Four mix), a dark, sinister track that channels Beltram's 'hover' sound into a hardcore rave anthem. Indo Tribe's 'Owl' (I Can See You mix) follows, hailed by fans as one of the greatest breakbeat hardcore tracks ever made, a retro-classic loaded with chunky, energetic beats and an unforgettable sample. Side-2 kicks off with Indo Tribe's 'Bite The Bullet Baby' (Jacques Reynoix mix), another gem that blends early 90s rave energy with a unique edge. The real highlight, however, is Yage's 'Calcium' (Elementary mix), which first appeared on Future Sound of London's Accelerator album. Even today, it sounds transcendental and timeless, its melodic piano lines and otherworldly ambiance continuing to win over listeners. This EP is a vital piece of underground rave history and an essential listen for fans of early techno and breakbeat hardcore.
Dennis Ferrer & Disciples - "Whisper" (feat James Yuill - John Summit remix) (5:40)
Ferreck Dawn Vs Izzy Bizu - "Life" (5:56)
Ferreck Dawn X Jem Cooke - "Back Tomorrow" (5:58)
Review: Defected gather together some big hitters for this VA release which will appeal to all those who like their house music pitched for the biggest rooms possible. John Summit takes us to the top with 'La Danza' and Dennis Ferrer & Disciples get some epic remix treatment courtesy of Summit once again. Ferreck Dawn and Izzy Bizu face off on the B side with 'Life', which brings some powerful pop hooks into the mix atop a catchy as hell house beat. That leaves it to Dawn to tackle Jem Cooke for a version of 'Back Tomorrow' that's just as anthemic, giving you everything you need to move a massive crowd.
Review: Since launching the Anva imprint in 2019, Tagir has used it as a vehicle for his own productions - albeit one with a notably sparse and sporadic release schedule. Here he continues that theme, offering up an atmospheric four-tracker made in cahoots with Indigo Minds (an outfit he previously worked with as part of the Jerry collective). They begin with 'Meditation Dance', a ghostly chunk of mind-bending minimal house moodiness full of glitchy grooves, weird noises and trippy spoken word samples (horror techno anyone?), before opting for warped bass, jacking tech-house beats and reggae-inspired stabs on 'Bandit'. Over on side B, 'Donut' is a shuffling slab of druggy tech-house insomnia, while 'Jack' is a stripped-back mix of Ricardo Villalobos noises, deep sub-bass, off-kilter minimal techno beats and strange electronic noises.
Review: The impressive musical journey continues for the superb Giano Electronics label with a second various artists outing on vinyl. This one showcases the exceptional talents of Teslasonic who delivers an explosive electro track with the kicking and twisted cyborg energy of 'Nebulosa Omega'. The compilation also features remarkable contributions from Direct Y who impress with the acid-laced rhythms of 'A Ghost In The Head', the acid duo Twisthead Groove, Stefano Rocchi, and iQbit, who shut down with the mid-tempo electro-funk and wispy sci-fi moods of 'The Other Way'.
Review: The bad news? We're all absolutely doomed. There's no way back from where humanity has taken us. We seem drawn like moths to a dystopic light. The good news? If this is anything to go by (or the inaugural one back in 2018) then hell has a ruddy sick soundtrack. Deep, beguiling, disarming; vibes on this black mirror menu range from the pure drama and stern soliloquy of Rider Shafique over 'Iceman' with Karnage and the tribal hypnosis of Sofa's 'Lost' (which is a really interesting departure from the jungle she is best known for) and plenty of dubby reflection rippling throughout. See you on the dark side.
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