Review: In 1992, a trio of Italian house music producers brought to light one of house music's inherent contradictions: that a genre can be both ex-centric, and hold a stylistic centre. So far, house's haecceity, it's hearty essence, has held firm for nearly 50 odd years. And some records nail the inner sound of a sound, as though experiments need not only take place on the outskirts, beyond the walls, but also using the building blocks kept enclosed within the fortress. On this Groovin reissue, Davide Ruberto, Patrick Duvoisin and Ricky Montanari triply unveil the piano as one of the coremost ingredients of house music, with staccato chords standing right out on the titular 'Alright, Alright', of which there are four mixes here. Here's an unusual kind of rawness, blending as-do building blocks with a minimal but perfectible soul.
Review: Tasteful Scandi label Sakskobing welcomes rising talent Mace, who we're told is a devoted house music enthusiast. This is his debut solo EP and was made in Germany, where Mace has spent years immersed in the dance and now explores all the many influences he has picked up in that time. The A-side is club-driven with the punchy drums of the title cut and space-tech energy of 'Energy', while the B-side embraces a deeper, more atmospheric sound with soothing pads, particularly on the new age bliss out that is 'Greetings From Italy' which more than nods to the great Don Carlos.
Massimino - "Take Me Away" (feat O Jay - Dark Swing mix) (7:35)
MCJ - "Sexitivity" (feat Sima - Deep remix) (5:32)
Sima - "Give You Myself" (Maxx Suite version) (6:07)
David Syon - "Swinground" (Gemolotto & De Point mix) (6:58)
Review: Groovin Italy are the foremost label in our ranks to set their sights upon digging up and refining the very best sonic gemstones out there. Said blood diamond seam is the mythical yet plentiful vein known as deep house; here our local artisanal miners revitalise the precious contribs that especially once made splendid the faded gods of Italo house. From Italian DJ and producer Massimino Lippoli, a key figure in Italy's early house and progressive scene, to MCJ & Sima, Italian house duo, and Sima, who doubled up as vocalist and productive powerhouse, every track here is unerathed in mostly pre-polished, with the end jewellers over at Groovin needing very little work to do. David Syon's 'Swinground' closes things on a naive, part misshapen maccle, with what sound like hand-programmed brasses and pogo-synths played in above a twitchy but happy groove.
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