LEAVES Vinilo y CD

Review: Ron Wilson's 777 serves up more raw and rusty house jams on a new various artists sampler entitled Internal Affairs: this is serious! On the A side is newcomer Brighton with "Tesla" (Leaves Remix), while Frankfurt's Orson Wells gives us "Ratio" where Saarbruckens finest: Roger 23 gets on the remix and delivers a lush deep acid rendition this side of Tin Man. On the flip, Leaves returns with the impressive "Third Floor" getting an awesome remix by Pablo Mateo; working those drum computers to impressive effect as always. Finally, Orson Wells stays on too; working the nightshift on his remix for Glyn's "Kevin Lomax" and giving it a lo-fi, neon lit makeover that will appeal to retroverts dancing well into the morning at Robert Johnson next Sunday morning.

Review: The Black Key team return for their third various artist release, compiling tracks from an array of talent. The lead track comes from the SMPL pairing of Iron Curtis & Leaves, who deliver a wonderfully subtle journey through murky pads, shuffling percussion and a sparsely used vocal sample, fitting perfectly into the overall feel of this classy number. Proof once again that these two are at the very top of their game. Sharing the A-side Laak delve into late night territory with haunting layered leads & pads rubbing shoulders seamlessly with understated sub-bass and wonderfully panned hit hats - this really is a thing a beauty. On the flip, Terrence Pearce steps up with a track which changes the mood nicely, increasing the tempo with perfectly worked strings, driving bass and lusciously simple keys, delivering a track of real quality for the floor. Finally, Leftback's own Dudley Strangeways rounds off the EP is his usual style, which cannot be described as anything less than true quality. As ever, Black Key have excelled in delivering a package which ticks all the right boxes - this is a release which will undoubtedly appeal to a diverse range of house music fans who appreciate a rather large nod to the underground. Vinyl Only.

Review: The 777 imprint continues to be a trusted source of forward-thinking acid and hardware based manoeuvres, and this four tracker has everything any jaded jacker could desire in the quest for new sounds. Leaves' "Third Floor" is an upfront gem of sizzling drums and chunky square wave bass, and yet the production is finely balanced and delivered with poise, while Pablo likewise keeps a steady hand on the tiller even as "Newkoelln" nudges towards more emotive territory. Brighton takes a less dancefloor focused route into loping electronica with a tasty amount of swing and a rich spread of synths, and then Benedikt Frey finishes the record off with an edit of Potensia's "I Never Really Knew" that heads into ambient breakbeat techno abandon with ease.

Review: After a few years of quiet, Ali 'Nebraska' Gibb seems to have refound his creative mojo and is popping up everywhere at the moment. Here he leads the way with a superb, playful refix of Session Victim on the latest Retreat 12", with his self-styled Soho Samba refix of the German duo's "Good Intentions" living up to its title and showing off Gibb's proficiency on the MPC. Session Victim then open the B-side with a remix of Iron Curtis & Leaves before the 12" closes on a Quarion rework of their cut "Black Cream." Both these are fine deep house numbers straight out of the Retreat text book but this 12" is all about that Nebraska remix!!