Juno Recommends Funky House April 2020

Review: Louie Vega's forthcoming "Expansions In The NYC" album was apparently created in part as a tribute to the roots of house music as he sees them. You'll find plenty of nods to classic styles of old in this second sampler EP. The A-side boasts two thrill-a-minute, sweat-soaked "Nico Funki" dubs of "How He Works" - muscular and forthright affairs rich in squelchy proto-house bass, righteous vocal samples and a nagging, almost familiar piano riff. The fun continues on side B via the breezy brilliance of "Can't Slow Down" - a fine slab of organic, disco-tinged house in Vega's now familiar style - and the superb "Vince Montana Tribute", a cut in the style of the vibraphone player and Salsoul arranger complete with Candido style disco drums.

Review: Last time out Andreya Triana and The Vision (AKA KON and Ben Westbeech) took us to "Heaven" and back. For their latest single they've asked us to gape in wonder at some suitably sizeable "Mountains". In its original "Extended Mix" form (side A) the track is soulful, slick and seductive, with Triana's superb vocals rising, mountain-like, above a musical panorama rich in dreamy chords, jazz-funk bass, gospel pianos and club-ready beats that sit somewhere between deep house and disco. Danny Krivit is the man at the controls for the flipside remix. He stretches out the track impressively, making a bit more of the spacey synths, guitars and bass while re-framing the track as a soaring slab of piano house brilliance.

Review: Almost a quarter century into his recording career, Mousse T has not lost his ability to create party-starting anthems, even if he's consciously moved away from the heavily compressed, filter-happy disco-house sound of old. "Rock The Mic" - his first release for Defected's revivalist disco offshoot Glitterbox - sounds like an anthem in the making; a cheery disco beast built around live-sounding drums, simmering strings and Plantlife style, P-funk-inspired hip-house vocals. The accompanying remixes come from dusty-fingered crate digger turned disco don Kon. As well as a warm "Remix" rich in warm electric piano riffs and authentic disco instrumentation, the Brooklyn producer also serves up a fine Instrumental take and a handy Acapella.