Review: Cult Edits are specialists in pushing a certain kind of heater, working in a mode landing something between edit and original. Six producers - Mario Bianco, Tomoo Hata, Roe Deers, Radial Gaze, A Tweed and Oltrefuturo - lay down a blend of sampledelic, ecstatic, multi-tempo'd tribal moods. Channelling everything from chic Tulum rituals to the brutalism of Eastern-European underground clubs, and rounded off by doses of Italian rasta and Japanese re-imagining of Hungarian folk song, all come to the label's exquisite brand of mandala-esque vinyl.
Review: The second various artists EP from the Merkwurdig label is another tasteful collection of up front sounds from a clutch of inquisitive underground names. Body opens up with some nice cosmic tech powered by rasping bass and reverberating synths. Nate SU's 'Neutrino' is a busy jam with hooky synths and splashy cymbals that takes on a twisted sense of cyborg funk. OBG very much smooths things out with the heady house roller that is 'With The Wave' and Fabiano Jose shuts down with the rock solid kick patterns and subtly rising joy of his diffuse piano chords on 'Discotale.'
Review: ***B-STOCK: Warped, otherwise plays fine***
The second various artists EP from the Merkwurdig label is another tasteful collection of up front sounds from a clutch of inquisitive underground names. Body opens up with some nice cosmic tech powered by rasping bass and reverberating synths. Nate SU's 'Neutrino' is a busy jam with hooky synths and splashy cymbals that takes on a twisted sense of cyborg funk. OBG very much smooths things out with the heady house roller that is 'With The Wave' and Fabiano Jose shuts down with the rock solid kick patterns and subtly rising joy of his diffuse piano chords on 'Discotale.'
Review: Needs' commendable charity drive continues to bring forth the goods, both in terms of good causes and world class club music. Rallying round in support of World Mental Health Day 2020, Shanti Celeste kicks the record off in style with the rapid fire, deep-diving workout 'Fantasma'. OCB keeps the pressure up with the psychotropic techno of 'RS3', while Michelle works up some delightfully freaky synths on playful jacker 'Aesthetic'. Bobby's 'Free Your Mind' is a 90s-tinged, full fat techno production indebted to Detroit, Peder Mannerfelt keeps things stripped and raw on 'Our Levels' and Yu Su weaves a beautiful tapestry of interweaving rhythms on 'Brittney'. Adam Pits' trippy techno sounds resplendent on 'Wind Tunnel' and DJ Sports completes the set with the inventive, dembow slanted funk of 'Needs Dub'.
Charlotte & Reinhard for WeCanDance - "To Be Free Again" (extended) (5:10)
Ollie Loudon - "LMT" (extended) (6:21)
Lily Ko - "Pure Rubber" (5:58)
Biancolato - "Resolution" (edit) (5:46)
Review: We're promised Mellow Magic and that's precisely what we get, across four tracks emerging from disparate corners of the globe but united in a common mission to provide beats that work on the more relaxed end of the dancefloor. Belgian duo Charlotte & Reinhard of Rheinzand fame kick things off with a slow motion Balearic version of a well known 80s MOR classic. Ollie Loudon's 'L.M.T.' finally makes it to vinyl after long being a secret weapon in Gratts' DJ sets, where handclaps and languid strumming meet a gentle but infectious groove. Flip it over for the more tracky affairs, as Japan's Lily Ko makes an impressive debut with 'Pure Rubber', an original mix of disco foundations and always snazzy but never showy 80s synth play. Melbourne's Biancolato finishes things off with understated deep house shuffling that adds just a touch jazzy keys and dreamy, wispy pads.
Review: Following on from his recent collaborative outing with Jonasclean, James Curd now finds himself working with the deep house legend and Yoruba master Osunlade on a new track for Get Physical. 'Chocolate Puddin'' is a joyous and organic cut with life-affirming vocals that borrow heavily from gospel while Afro-house synths and drums unfold below. Three remixes take it into different territory with Kai Alce offering his signature smoothness, a Yoruba Soul mix going big on the lush chords and FNX Omar getting tribal. All in all, it adds up to a varied package and another great outing for Curd.
Dave & Omar - "Starlight" (Grant Nelson extended mix) (6:16)
Chocolate Fudge Band - "Everything" (DJ Fudge extended mix) (6:57)
Dave & Maurissa - "Look At The Stars" (Dave's Starshine club mix) (7:48)
Opolopo - "Looking For You" (Peter's extended Organ) (6:02)
Review: Soul meets speed garage on this new V/A EP from Z Records, blurring the lines between the genres in just the way we like it. The opening track - Grant Nelson's mix of 'Starlight' by Dave & Omar - is a euphoric, piano-laced uplifter which both sonically and lyrically urges us to reach for the sky. That's followed by the DJ Fudge production 'Everything' by Chocolate Fudge Band, featuring lots of live instrumentation and a Curtis Mayfield style vocal, while over on the flip, 'Looking For You' proves to be a deep and bouncy cut filled with soulful Motown vocal chops and an organ workout worthy of any Sunday service, over a beautifully wonky house framework.
Review: Omar S treats us to a second release in the space of a week, with a much deserved reissue of some 1996 Roy Davis Jnr rawness across the A Side. The Stevie Wonder classic "All I Do" gets chopped up, laid over a killer Chi town beat filled with instantly gratifying raw drum edits and augmented by some evil bass thumps. Relentlessly brilliant and sounds just as fresh some 14 years on. Echoing a current trend this side plays outwards from the inside groove. On the flip Omar S teams up with DJ B Len D for the bongo heavy deep groove of "Da Teys" a track that's characterised by melodic keys which increase with curveball drama as the track progresses.
Review: After years spent serving up tasty, digital-only singles, Polish imprint That's Right Dawg Music finally makes its vinyl bow via a six-track mini-album featuring some of their most-checked catalogue cuts. Demarkus Lewis kicks things off via the carefully crafted disco-house release of 'TGIF', before Federfunk slams down the jazz-sampling peak-time punchiness of 'We Keep It Groovin' and Jazzmik offers up the funky deep house bounce of 'Get Him Outta Here'. Over on the reverse, Oggie B cannily combines mind-mangling electronic stabs, pumping beats and orgasmic vocal samples ('Steady Old Foot'), Makson makes great use of vintage rap and disco guitar samples on the energy-packed house thump of 'Last Man Standing', and Casserta and Jonny C join forces on the bass-heavy garage-house bump of 'Party #1'.
Review: Eris Drew and Octo Octa are one of the hottest couples in dance music. They perfectly embody the modern way which is to make music that is diverse and inclusive, unafraid of wearing its heart on its sleeve and never too far away from damn good fun. Their transcendental ecstatic rave sounds have brought countless dance floors together all over the world, not least fabric. The London club's in house label return the favour by putting out this limited curacao coloured 12" with one track from each of the US artists. Drew's 'Day After A Night With U' opens up with real house warmth and Octo Octa's 'Stars & Water' on the flip is equally deep and delicious.
Review: Aaron Siegel's Fit moniker links up with the considerable talents of Gunnar Wendel (better known as Kassem Mosse) for this killer two-tracker on FXHE, and even Omar S gets in on the action with some mixdown assistance. "Track 1" works around sizzling drums, emotive bass and a diverse spread of melodic sources for a simple and direct slice of analogue house. "Track 2" is a real carpet-burn of a track, taking the quality up to a new level with a gorgeous line in lead synths moulded into a thoroughly sexy concoction while the drums stay pert and primed for all manner of sultry floor action.
Review: Orlando Voorn and Blake Baxter deliver a powerhouse collaboration that channels the raw vitality of house music's formative years. Driven by a relentless bassline and crisp, propulsive rhythms, the production is both punchy and atmospheric, striking a balance between grit and groove. Baxter's unmistakable vocal style adds depth and urgency, weaving seamlessly into Voorn's dynamic arrangement. There's an immediacy to the track that feels alive, capturing the spirit of dancefloor culture while paying homage to the genre's roots. This is a meeting of two titans, where history and innovation collide with thrilling results.
Review: Following up last year's production with Baltimore techno legend Maurice Fulton on 'Jigoo', the next release on Gudu is the first of two songs by label boss Peggy Gou that she will release over the coming months. Her first single in over two years, it translates to 'Butterfly' and is another collaboration. This time with fellow Korean sensation OHHYUK who is the lead singer and guitarist in the band Hyukoh. 'Nabi' is a downtempo, pop-inflected number said to be inspired by '80s synth classics and '90s Korean songs that Gou's mother used to play at home during her childhood.
Groove Armada - "Get Down" (feat Stush & Red Rat - Mark Knight extended mix) (6:15)
Illyus & Barrientos - "When You Gonna" (extended mix) (5:41)
David Penn & Offiah - "Satisfied" (5:18)
Ben Remember - "Waiting 4 You" (extended mix) (5:16)
Review: Mark Knight's epic Toolroom label returns with a four-track sampler featuring plenty more big-room house excursions. First up, the boss himself offers up an extended mix of Groove Armada's legendary 'Get Down' which is full of rave stabs and big vocals. Illyus & Barrientos offer the synth laced and peak time sounds of 'When You Gonna' and David Penn & Offiah combine for the supersized piano house rollercoaster that is 'Satisfied' complete with big hooky vocals. Last of all comes Ben Remember's 'Waiting 4 You' (extended mix) which ducks and dices with some smart filters, chopped-up vocal stabs and raw percussive house energy.
Review: Second time around for Harlem Hustlers' surging disco-house anthem, which first appeared in stores way back in 2005. This time round, the Italian duo have reworked it considerably, placing underground boogie legend Orlando Johnson's lead vocal front and centre while opting for some more organic-sounding instrumentation (the original was more sample-heavy). On their '2023 Rework' they channel the sound of Groove Culture label bosses Mickey More and Andy Tee, wrapping Johnson's vocal, tidy horns, flanged guitars and classic-sounding piano riffs around a warming bass guitar part and crunchy house drums. It's a very classy and far more authentically 'disco'-sounding track than their 2005 original. Their flip-side 'Get On The Floor' mix, meanwhile, has a smoother, more synth-heavy disco-house sound, less vocal and even more of the excellent horn sounds.
Review: Dub techno don Luke Hess has been a mainstay of Omar S's FXHE label for as long as we, or anyone in fact, can remember. The Motor City talent dropped this particular EP, 'Dubout EP #3.13', back in 2011 but it now resurfaces and has aged to perfection with some extra touches from Smith himself. 'Narrow Road' is strident and direct dub techno with signature FXHE chords. 'Leads To Life' is more liquid and paired back with an undulating bassline and a cosmic feel to the swirling pads. 'Unity Excerpt' closes with more icy beats, hi-hats and skittish synths that snake throughout the mix.
Review: Spain's Esuoh White label kicks on here with a sixth outing that welcomes various talents to offer up their own deep house delights. Kid Mark kicks off with 'Need U' which is a big-hearted jam with full-throttle vocals and hefty house drums. Chris Fry & Owain 124 slip into a deeper vibe with the sunny loops of 'Together' and lush guitar trills. Ezequiel G channels the raw jack of early era-Chicago house with 'Soul Enough' then George Feely shuts down with the high energy and hard hitting house sounds of 'Groovin'' complete with an effortlessly uplifting and soulful filtered vocal.
Review: Future Tones hear producers Luis Malon and Omar drop two utter floor-heaters respectively, not holding back for a second in their admission that these are 'Tracks From The Future'. Malon's 'Freeze' and 'Flesh Is Stronger' are surprisingly (at least for a pair of time-travelling tracks) humanistic statements, bringing belligerent bangout beats, rapturously Reesing rhapsodies and even G-funk whistles to a driving pair. Omar's flips are much more vintage, moving seemingly laterally in dimension rather than linearly in time, and finding solace in a more neo-retro-modern vision of the future; 'Niusing' especially entices with its cascader twinkles and sawwing bursts.
Sanderson Dear - "A Place For Totems" (extended version) (6:10)
Review: Sanderson Dear's Stasis Recordings released the original Time Capsule compilation in 2020 - a 20-track exploration of ten different ambient techno artists exploring two ideas each in compact form for a box set of 7"s. Now the label has revisited some of the project's standout moments and offered a chance to enjoy extended versions gathered on a single 12". From Maps Of Hyperspace shaping out atmospheric halls of synth work on 'Beta' to Glo Phase offering some gorgeous, sparkling grooves on 'Fire Flies', there's plenty of ground covered on this release. Of course the mighty John Beltran is a big drawer too, and his typically stellar 'The Descendent' doesn't disappoint in its full extended version.
Review: MK is now a global house star, but it wasn't that long ago that he couldn't even DJ. Instead, he'd pioneered the dub house sound in the 90s then gone off to become a hip-hop super producer. One of those early gems he crafted was his dub of 'Given' back in 93. It got put out by fellow Detroit great Omar S in 2011 and even today is a crowd-pleasing favourite with the muted horn stabs and garage-inflected, dubbed-out beats. Once you add in Omar S's own 'Sarah', a raw analogue deep house cut with plenty of FXHDE hallmarks like dusty hi-hats and wonky synths and you have a brilliant 12" that is now available once more.
Review: Having set out their stall via a fine first collaborative release on Bordello a Parigi a couple of months back, Mytron and Ofofo pitch up on Multi-Culti. As you'd expect from a label with such a strong track record of multi-cultural musical fusion, much of the EP defies easy categorization. Sure, you'll find a chunk of Italo-influenced electro ("Non-Binary Joys on the Venus Holodeck") and a couple of slabs of madcap disco-funk fusion ("Si Jambo" and "2Tac Onana"), but also a heavyweight slab of low-slung punk-funk/post disco ("Czary Mary"). Oh, and the skewed electro-funk-meets-intergalactic synth pop insanity of "Something for Your Mind", which also boasts some notably brain-melting vocoder action. More, please!
Review: It is remarkable to think that Detroit badman Omar S's star has in no way diminished since this record first came out in 2004. If anything, he is ever more legendary than ever right now. His style hasn't changed much over the years - he still favours rolling drums, smart samples and bright melodies - but somehow he continues to mine new moods and grooves within that. This one was particularly special, though - the tinny drums seem to root you to the groove but also float, the melodic hook is buried deep but brings a haunting vibe that never lets yup. And that's about it, but that is more than enough when each element makes such an indelible impact.
Review: FXHE return with the master of the mysterious OB Ignitt! Arriving roughly a year on from the last slab of Ignitt goodness, Mysterious finds OB on imperious form, once more showing off his penchant for excellent track titles and singular slant on bumping Detroit business. The title track is a veritable epic of unquantifiable emotive stakes, emerging from a heat treated fog and easing into a subtle yet beguiling rhythmic framework which coaxes you into a spell that grows stronger as the track charges electrically forth. Face down, "Celestial Salacious" has that same rough edged bass line growl to it, but the skipping percussion and building layers of instrumentation give the track real energy, whilst you can almost feel the funk dripping off final track "Chocolate City" which sounds like DJ Nature hocked up on MDMA.
Review: FXHE remain in outer orbit following that stellar Triangulum Australe 12" from Omar S, presenting their final transmission of a superb year in the shape of Oh Jabba, two tracks of stargazing house music from O B Ignitt. Last seen collaborating with Omar S on the dedication to Eddie Murphy's finest acting role, the impression that Ignitt likes his cinema is only strengthened here on the Star Wars referencing lead track with some deliciously lo fi art work of that slug like character on the inner label dispelling any possible doubt. The track itself is a wonderfully simple yet melodic house track, crunchy drum machine rhythms rippling away feverishly beneath a calming array of swooping Rhodes and Moog flourishes. Complementing this, "Space Age Stepping" is a more searching affair, relying more on the rugged drums and gurgling analogue bassline to achieve lift off.
Obatala Sango Ochun - "The Beginning" (Afrikan Latino mix) (6:24)
House II House - "Into The Night" (5:25)
Bizzy B - "Summer House" (3:20)
Rohan Delano - "Inflight" (5:17)
Montana Orchestra - "Esto Parese Amor" (Tribal Love beats) (5:11)
Uncle 22 - "The Man From" (6:22)
Review: Hotmix deliver another two-track slaying from an aliased ambassador of the label itself, this time the first edition in the new 'Obscure Bad Dreams' series. An homage to Sauro Cosimetti (the Italian house and techno mastermind whose credits include releases on Frequenza, Natura Viva and Beatfreak), six acolytes of the artist bring six, discoic house hosing-downs to the table. Most exciting among the selections are the lively African trad chanter 'The Beginning', the dreamy soulful house 'Inflight' by Rohan Delano, and Montano Orchestra's freestyle-inspired dub-electro-disco 'Tribal Love Beats' version of their own 'Esto Parese Amor'.
Review: Antonio Ocasio is a spiritual house veteran truly embedded in the story of NYC house music since he minted the Tribal Winds label in 1998. There were a few years where things went quiet, but Ocasio has been back in action in 2023 and swiftly following up the Soulciety Music Series release with this stunning 12". On the A-side we get Sugah Lyrics offering her hushed, poetic vocal tones amidst the rolling percussion and dreamlike synth work of 'Sacred Tones'. The flip takes a different path as a mellow, soulful composition lays the groundwork for Nina Hadz Antich's sweet singing on 'That Something', once again affirming Ocasio's gifts as a songwriter and producer as well as an NYC deep house staple.
Antonio Ocasio & Coflo - "Protecting My Peace" (7:44)
Antonio Ocasio & Cee Elasssaad - "Agbara" (6:44)
Review: Although nowhere near as celebrated has his New York contemporary Joaquin "Joe" Clausell, Antonio Ocasio has been offering up spiritually enriching house music on the Tribal Winds label since the late 1990s. Here he debuts the Soulciety Music Series via a 12" containing two ear-catching collaborations. COFLO lends a hand on A-side 'Protecting My Piece', a fine slab of synth bass-propelled spiritual house piled high with Latin percussion, elongated synth solos, dreamy pads and addictive piano hooks. Cee Elesssad joins Ocasio in the studio for B-side 'Agbara', a deliciously positive, sun-soaked number that adds excitable, jammed-out organ solos to a rubbery and life-affirming piano-house groove
Review: Occibel steps up to Hoarder for the label's 24th EP and does so with a captivating sense of colourful sound design across a couple of different styles and sub-genres. It's punchy and cosmic house that kicks off with 'Voyager 1' lit up by zippy snares and chattery percussive grooves. 'Thriller' is another full throttle tech house cut with big rubbery drums and acid laced bass. 'Freestyle' is darker as it marches on beneath rave signifiers and balmy pads. Last of all is 'Hello Users', a wonky cut with hefty drum funk and retro-future vocals. A very useful EP in all.
Review: Occibel cranks up the decibels on this new outing for the fledging label Playful. The artist taps into a fresh tech and minimal sound from the off with 'Behind The Walls' spinning out on disco stabs and phased basslines. The kinetic 'Look Around You' then pangs more prickly drum programming and spaced-out synth work with sensuous spoken words and 'Freak' layers up balmy pads and bright, shiny and sugar melodies for a nice colourful exploration. 'The Mess' shuts down with more menace thanks to its monstrous bassline and snappy drum hits.
Review: KMA60 Prozektiva's exploration of a mutant, electrified take on tech and house continues with Ocean T taking the mantle across four future-facing new cuts. The opener 'Never Enough' has steely drums that slap hard while the twisted, glistening melodies and 90s stabs bring a rave feel. 'KO' is a darker and more gritty sound with dubby low ends and vocal aspirations adding a touch of human soul. 'OBSSSD' has more old school vocals buried in a shimmering mix of synths and snappy drums and 'Been There Too Long' flips the vibe with a much more soft, rounded, warm deep house jaunt with deft vocal fragments and neon colours all making it the best of the lot.
Review: Courtesy Of Balance is the tasteful house label run by Brawther and it was back in 2019 in Lviv during an underground warehouse party that he first made contact with Laconica label founders Ocean and Sasha Pervukhin. They all hit it off and so were invited to showcase the deeper side of the house sounds of Western Ukraine, and the results make up this new EP with the artists taking one side each. Ocean T's opener is a psychedelic, trance-infused cosmic trip while 'What If' rides on crisp beats with some lush dubbed-out synths. On the flip, Pervukhin's 'I Hate This DJ' is balmy, heady deep house from up amongst the stars and 'TR 18 Blues' is a nice kinetic, lithe minimal house cut.
Review: The long-running and always quietly assured Crosstown Rebels kicks off yet another new year with some deep offerings from Oceanvs Orientalis featuring Idil Mese. 'Heart Pieces' is a delightful coming together of organic trumpets and loose percussion with a languid house groove, funky little riffs and heavenly vocal coos. The Mustafa Ismaeel remix brings some grit to proceedings for more of a club-ready sound and then Ibiza-based Leeds man Nightmares On Wax offers his typically laidback and sun-kissed take on things with a deep one to start and a dubby once to finish.
Review: Oceanvs Orientalis and Ilhan Ersahin first entered each other's orbits by chance at a performance at Turkey's Cappadox Festival in 2018. Orientalis is renowned for his fusion of Eastern musical motifs and traditions with cutting-edge electronica, while Ilhan Ersahin has long plowed a unique path uniting assorted musical strains from around the world via an exploratory jazz-improv sensibility. Following two tracks ('Mesta' and 'Pire') co-written by Ilhan and OvO and released as collaborations, as well as two more Ersahin / OvO co-writes ('Revenge Of The Wankers' and 'Television') released under OvO's name alone, a fresh and exciting new song, '1980', now heralds a full-length collaboration slated to land in Spring 2024. The track's title hints at a certain nostalgic bent, all while still keeping its gaze firmly fixed on the future as it evokes sun-drenched, bygone good times. The 10" edition adds several extra versions, one of which spotlights the multi-instrumental mastery of Darkside's Dave Harrington, and the other the mesmerizing vocal stylings of Gaye Su Akyol.
Review: Having first appeared on the monumental Techno 2: The Next Generation compilation in 1990, Octave One swiftly set out their sound to become the Detroit techno icons they currently are with the Octivation EP for 430 West. The rest they say is history. Given the reissue clamour of anything related to the birth of Detroit techno, it's quite strange that the record hasn't been licensed for an official new edition in the ensuing two decades or so, until now that is! Presented here in it's promo edition, you get a chance to here "Sonic Fusion", a track that never officially came out and was replaced by "There and Beyond". Any self respecting Detroit techno fan will know "Nicolette" and "Paradise" and anyone interested in increasing their knowledge of the genre should consider a must have!
Review: This reissue brings a pivotal piece of Detroit techno history back to life. The EP, originally released in 1990, is a five-track journey that showcases the Burden brothers' early sonic explorations. From the sinister, acidic techno of 'Sonic Fusion' to the deeper, melancholic moods of 'Nicolette', the EP captures a pivotal moment in the evolution of Detroit techno. 'Octivate' and 'Paradise' offer driving rhythms and infectious energy, while 'Epilogue' provides a reflective conclusion to this sonic adventure.
Review: Serenity is a mental health charity label that is now back with more sonic gold, this time in the form of a reissue of Marco Bernardi aka Octogen's 'The Journeyman' from 2008 on Soma Recordings. It is an immersive, emotive sound with lush and ethereal pads and a moody bassline that keeps you locked. The B-side offers two original tracks from Bernardi 'Travelling to the Sun' is one to hypnotise floors with its hypnotic chimes and raw drums, while 'Little Tiny Crickets' delivers a fast-paced IDM twist with some killer synth work. As always, proceeds go to charity this time Papyrus UK who support youth suicide prevention and MusicSpace.
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