Juno Recommends Funky House March 2021

Review: Junior Jack is almost as old as house music itself, as is the mighty Defected label. These two giants now come together for a massive new single that would be the toast of Ibiza, if this summer were to happen as normal. First up, Riva Starr brings a big hearted remix that is based on pumping beats and big gospel chords, while Michael Gray also goes big, emotion and heart on sleeve with his version. After a vocal from Junior Jack that has a train track groove, Ferreck Dawn strips things back and makes the drums bang that bit more.

Review: Louie Vega & Joe Claussell together on one EP sure is a thing that's gigs to get house lovers excited. Both are bona fide legends who have very much helped to define their own unique musical niches within the house spectrum and find a real sweet spot here as they tackle Incongnito's 'Wake Me.' The eight minute-plus a-side is all about a dreamy trumpet lead that drifts up top, going into focus before melting away while rubbery drums roll beans with nice organic percussion and warming chords that are all set alight by a superbly soulful vocal. Flip it over for the instrumental, which is just as good.

Review: Cleveland City is the place to go for some of those old school house flavours and Chubby Chunks's Testament One: The Remixes is another fine offering from the 90s. The originals got plenty of plays back in the 90s with their acid, pianos and fluid grooves all finding a perfect sweet spot between warmth and depth but also party time. Cream resident Paul Bleasdale teams up with Mr Jay on the first mix, a joyous one that never lets up, then Loveface ups the disco dazzle and finally the original brings that steamy house heat.

Review: Neroli is always a safe port of call for real, soulful strains of house music, but even by their own standards they've gone further out this time around. The dream team of Patrick Gibin and Kaidi Thatham backing Josh Milan on vocals was a house holy grail when 'Love To The World' dropped last year, but now that magical combination of artistry gets a shot in the arm from the one and only Theo Parrish. On the A side, the Detroit legend lays on one of his inimitable rugged beatdowns, decorated with piano flourishes and punctuated with clattering percussion that takes the track higher and farther. On the flip, the track gets stripped right back for a special acappella version which lets Milan's voice and the light-fingered piano work intertwine in a beatless reverie.