DJs: Most Charted - Deep House - Most Charted June 2012

Review: Mahogani regular Andres comes correct once again with the debut drop on his new label La Vida, with three tracks that flow with that inimitable Motor City soul. Much like previous Andres output, the triplet on New For U draw obvious lines of influence from Dilla and Dixon Jnr, though it's all sprinkled with Dez's own unique touch and style, be it the infectious snap of percussion or deft and subtle implementation of samples. The title track is a gloriously ripe combination of both those elements as thick drums intertwine with the sumptuous waves of strings and warm chiming chords, everything worked into a rhythmic template that weaves with intoxicating energy. "Drama Around The Corner" makes for one of Andres' trademark neck snapping beatdown moments and the level of percussive detail that's apparent when you concentrate is stunning and is the charming almost brief interlude to the B Side magic. Commencing with a short, looped up jazzual intro, "Jazz Dance" swiftly settles into a stripped down procession of bumping drums, low reaching double bass and swift keys - all of which are intermittently complemented by some expertly looped vocal samples. Occupying most of the B Side, it feels like the track could reach into infinity without losing any charm. Rightly the 12" of the year for us and many others.

Review: It's entirely typical of Pepe Bradock that the French producer's first original material in several years should arrive with little prior warning. Since arriving on the house circuit in the late 90s, the Parisian has cultivated an enigmatic presence thanks to a paucity of releases and a disinterest in the self promotional circus that has consumed his peers. This of course hasn't stopped him getting collared for countless excellent remixes over the years, thus adding to the cult of Pepe. A four part Imbroglios series commences in supreme style here, with Bradock's unique production style shining through from the opening bars of "Katoucha?" which accrues all new levels of mind bending texture as it progresses. Few other producers would think to actually sample a cat purring or indeed succeed like Bradock does on the intoxicatingly off kilter "Inconsequent Pussy", and the remainder of the EP is an equally rewarding fusion of eccentric sounds and quirky rhythmic swing.

Review: Bjak and Dubbyman team up to become Twin Beats on the latter's Deep Explorer imprint. This is the pair's first collaborative release, but their studio chemistry is there for all to see as the first few bars of "Do It Properly" ease out through your speakers. It's floaty, jazz-flecked house bathed in pools of gently rippling bass tones, and things are given a sophisticated edge by the adroit vocals of Brian Cullen. This shares the A-Side with the slightly more upbeat "Water Walk With Me", with Cullen matching Marvin Belton in the modern day soulful crooner stakes. Flip over for a remix of the title track from - gulp - Larry Heard, with the Chicagoan legend turning in a typically sumptuous slice of machine soul that naturally hogs the vast majority of the B-Side, before an excellent EP is rounded off by a beatless outro.

Review: The Orbital Bliss EP provides four further expansive journeys into the outer reaches of the techno galaxy courtesy of Mr Patrice Scott, commencing in the ambient soundscape of "Tones & Things", the swaying chord sequences embellished by minor meteor fields of off key hats and luscious textures. From this gently utopian opener, "Oberon" finds Scott in more floor orientated mood, fizzing analogue textures swarming around the gloopy beat, whilst the expanses are filled with similarly futuristic strains of melody and texture. On the flip, the title track locks into a tighter, more introverted groove with simplistic rhythms allowing the gradual rise of hypnotic textural patterns the chance to hypnotise. Proceedings are turned inside out on the subsequent rechord version from Scott, with a much more strident beat relegating the kaleidoscopic textures to the dubby recesses, before the track explodes into blossoming incandescence midway through.

Review: Rush Hour have released some killer reissues in their time, and this mini-album from Ben Cenac of Newcleus fame, released under the Dream 2 Science moniker in 1990 is no exception, sounding like a conscious response to the warm, soul-flecked offerings of contemporaries Bobby Konders, the Burrell Brothers and Lamont Booker. Amazingly, Dream 2 Science still sounds remarkably fresh, 22 years on. The production, in particular, is terrific. While many house records of the period sound clumsy and dated, there's a timeless quality to the intricately programmed drum machine rhythms, the drifting chords, warm analogue basslines and cute vibraphone melodies.

Review: Motor-City legend Norm Talley has had one hell of a comeback since his hiatus at the end of the 90s. Since 2009, he's reignited his peerless talent behind the production desk and London-based Landed Records have come through with what is probably his biggest EP yet. "Ion" kicks things off with style and panache, merging beautiful chords together with Talley's inimitable percussion style - dicing hi-hats all round! The title track, "Travlin" is a sublime jazzed-out piece for the small hours whilst "Analog Dreams" is just pure hardware delight - those gritty drums delivering some serious action alongside the meandering pads and subdued vocals. Get to know!

Review: After stellar contributions to the series from Bakey USTL and Vakula, Unthank swings back into action with a release from a producer much closer to their Edinburgh home, Lord Of The Isles. This Scottish producer has already graced some fine imprints such as Tusk Wax, Ene and American Standard with his music, while perhaps reserving the best so far to the excellent Hot Blobs EP released on his own Little Strong label. His contribution to the still fledgling Unthank canon improves on that release however, arriving in typically attractive cover art and described as "a journey of whiskey, analogue electronics, Scottish landscapes, nostalgia and underground parties". Musically the five tracks peak and dip between the differing emotions inherent in house music and sound as good as anything Firecracker have released to date.