DJs: Most Charted - Deep House - September 2011

Review: Right, you know the drill. New Firecracker 10". Sumptuous artwork? Check. Killer music? Checkity check. Gavin Sutherland aka Fudge Fingas is the man behind the seventh instalment in the cult series, with A-Side cut "What Works" showing a move away from the soulful strains of his recent long player for Prime Numbers and towards moody, shuffling Detroit house. It seems fitting that remix duties are handed to Vakula - it was Firecracker after all who first showcased the Ukrainian producer's sounds to a wider audience - and despite his prolific form in recent times, his appearance here still feels very special indeed. Unsurprisingly, he turns in a memorable, highly atmospheric remix of "What Works", before another Fudge original, the chiming sea of calm that is "Mass X", rounds off an essential release.

Review: Having impressed all that dress well with his remix of Ali Renault a while back, Perseus Traxx steps out for a debut release proper on the Boe imprint that is nothing less than illuminating! Arriving on thick set vinyl sporting hand stamped artwork; Misspent Emotions presents five raw throwdowns drenched deep in the sounds of pure Chicago machine funk. Despite the multiplicity of records these days offering just this, there's an undeniable quality to all aspects here which lifts the EP far above your average Chi-Town clone. The title track will hit the spot as soon as those haunting pads arise over the rough drum machine manipulations, but crucially the four other tracks provide just as much substance for the mind, body and soul. With releases in the pipeline for Dutch label M>O>S and Abstract Forms, Perseus Traxx is clearly a talent to watch. Big applause to all involved on this beast of a twelve inch.

Review: Patrice Scott signals a welcome revisit of his excellent "Analog Dreams", calling on the talents of XDB and Johannes Volk to add their own thoughts to the track. Volk takes the lead with a dusty revision that saunters across the A Side, retaining key elements of the original but dosing proceedings with gloopy hypnosis via the deep tones and thick bass that seeps towards your inner ear. Whilst the sprawling textures lend the track an expansive quality, the stiff kicks retain focus. XDB takes the track in a pleasantly different direction, sumptuous soundscapes arise in unison with stripped back drums whilst rusty analogue stabs are slowly introduced to shift the impetus towards a more focused second half. Scott's own twinkling "Beatless Dub" seems a fitting way to end this release.

Review: The consistently impressive Dikso imprint returns with label stalwart Daniel Solar taking the reigns of this four track EP. The uptempo vibe, burning chords and occasional acid squiggles on "A Walk In The Park" make it primed for immediate club play, while "Can You Really Know?" featuring Aniya Ouu bumps hard at a slower, sultrier pace. Flip over for two remixes from a couple of Juno's favourite producers - The Revenge and Pional - with the former taking "A Walk In The Park" into deeper, Theo Parrish-esque shuffle territory, while the latter tweaks the same track into a sweetly melodic roller. Quality from start to finish here!

Review: Absolutely sick return to the game for Erdbeerschnitzel after an extended period in the record releasing wilderness. Arising on regular haunt 3rd Strike, the German producer reveals a hitherto hidden talent for working with vocalists on "Always Remain", a stupendously bouncy collaboration with The Drifter. Now the term future boogie gets thrown around far too easily these days, but "Always Remains" is definitely that, the yearningly soulful tones of The Drifter effortlessly riding a day glo procession of multi layered luminescent synths and live drum fills. Subsequent to this, the Strawberry flavoured one indulges in some suitably murky explorations of house music rhythms via "Same Same" which ascends from its dusty beginnings into a deliciously off kilter groove garnished with a suitably pots-and-pans approach to percussion. The point where a soaring piano arrives and the track swerves into some kind of subaqueous treatment of classic Chicago House invocations is pretty much perfect. Check the flip where "A Merchants Lament" switches up the tempo again, bringing intricate MPC manipulations around chewed up vocal samples that unfold with soulful intent - again it's the disregard to sit with one direction across the length of the track that smacks you for six. "Devotion" begins in calmer fashion as delicate female harmonies float in over the rhythmic marriage of swerving piano flutters, cleverly chopped beats and what might be deft sampling of the Seinfeld intro. Just when you think matters will remain calm, the mother of all electric organ lines comes in and signals a huge rise in dancefloor impact.

Review: Such was the excellence of MCDE's entrance into the DJ-Kicks hall of fame that K7! have taken the unusual step of commissioning remixes of "Love", Plessow's trademark original production for the mix. Leading the way is the still far too talented for someone so young Kyle Hall, whose remix sprawls across the A Side in typically claustrophobic fashion, building an intoxicating late night groove around analogue bass pulses, relentless percussion and all manner of strange synth noises. Wolfgang Voigt reaches for the (synth) strings on his pleasingly groovy rework, whilst Smallpeople do their best Lone impression with the assistance of some big piano riffs and jackin' beats.

Review: A new imprint arises from mainland Europe in the shape of the mysterious Rawax with the debut twelve presenting a quartet of Untitled Tracks from Siberian producer Unbroken Dubs. Given the mood present throughout and the location of the producer, obvious parallels can be drawn with the excellent output from Ethereal Sounds, and that should be recommendation enough for people to investigate. Should you require further enticement, this release opens with wormhole traversing rhythms cutting through the sonic ether, though distant chord embellishments add a touch of warmth to the slightly alien tones that circulate constantly. The subsequent two tracks continue in this manner as Unbroken Dubs seeks to flush the stripped down patterns of drums and fuzzed out bass in ever increasing expanses of sonic dust. It's the final track where a more apparent sense of urgency is introduced as the Siberian lays down a tropical shower of percussion over intrusive chords.

Review: Balance Alliance, the fledgling sub-label fo Balance Alliacne (itself affiliated with Prescription Records) continues to carve its own inimitable sonic niche in the deep end. Following a recent killer 12" from our man in Paris, Brawther, we're treated to the mysterious sounds of City 2 City. Pressed up on plush marble vinyl, the Black Planet EP is dripping with the warmth and groove that seems to accompany every Balance Alliance record. The percussive title track and spacey "City 2 City Theme" hog the A-Side, although you'll find our picks of the bunch - "All The Time" and "Ocean Deeper" - on the flip. Fans of Fred P, DJ Qu et al will love this - don't sleep!

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Review: Kerri Chandler returns with four new slabs of heaving house which serve as a sledge hammer reminder that no one can produce thumping kick drums like the New Jersey don. The Kaoz Stressin' Me mix of "We Are Here" contains some smile-inducing jabs at the world of social networking, which ride above pumping chord lines and a 90s-esque female vocal refrain. Sharing the A-Side you'll find the beefy club drums of "So It Begins Again", which will please those who count heavy instrumental jams ala "Bar A Thym" among their favourite Chandler moments. Flip over for the DC 10 version of "So It Beguins Again", no doubt a tribute to the sweat-soaked Ibizan club at which Chandler holds a residency, before "Red Lights" rounds off a killer 12" with a cut that is more Berlin basement that White Isle.

Review: A move to London town seems to have sparked a career resurgence for Chicago house ledge Robert Owens, who has been in ubiquitous form on the DJ, collaboration and production circuit in recent times. Here he joins Sean Brosnan's Needwant stable, with "One Body" remixed by Kaine, Mario Basanov, Nicholas and No Regular Play. Italian producer Nicholas opens proceedings on the A-Side with his interpretation, laying a bumpin' house groove underneath Owens' instantly recognisable velvet croon. Wolf + Lamb duo No Regular Play turn in a typically sparse 'n sultry refix, while Mario Basanov and Kaine offer two more versions on the flip - the latter's piano-heavy version is particularly bewitching!