SIDNEY CHARLES Vinilo y CD

Review: Hamburg's Sidney Charles has been doing his thing for some 10 years, blazing a trail of fun and fruity house music which has graced the likes of Hot Creations, Moda Black, Relief and Moon Harbour. You would have last caught him on Eastenderz at the tail end of last year, and he's back on the label for round two with more of that freaky tech house gear that gets bodies wiggling. 'Phantom Jam' has fun with some funked up samples which bed down into the sleek modern production like butter on hot toast, while 'Catch The Beat' goes all out on tweaked synth lines and an insistent groove. There's sass and sophistication throughout this EP, marking another stone cold hit for Charles and Eastenderz alike.

Review: Sidney Charles prides himself on making chunky house music that is raw but underpinned by a slick sense of swing. His Heavy House Society label is where most of it arrives but now he takes a detour to Nick Curly's long-running Cecille. 'Sonar Plexus' is irresistible European house music with razor sharp hi-hats, synth curlicues to soften the edges and precise drum work. 'Universal Highway' has a retro 90s feel - a sense of rushing endorphins and bobbing drum breaks that get hands in the air and 'Fearless' then gets liquid and funky with its effervescing rhythms and tumbling synth sequences. 'Turnover' closes out with a soulful US house feel and completes one of Charles's best-ever EPs.