Review: 'Disco Tape', which launched via a must-check 12" back in August 2023, os Sound Exhibitions' multi-artist EP series. This second volume is a similarly action-packed affair that gleefully blurs the boundaries between reworks, re-edits and sample-heavy original productions. Alexny kicks things off with two sun-soaked treats - the percussive and warming tropical disco tribute 'Caribbean Breeze' and the sax solo-sporting dancefloor shuffle of 'Bada Boom' - before Paride Pavone rounds off side A with the jazzy disco-house celebration of 'In Key'. Phil Disco impresses on side B with two killer cuts (the funky bass-propelled disco heaviness of 'Never Gonna Leave You' and the swirling jazz-funk-house bump of 'Disco Ipno', while disco-funk specialist C Da Afro rounds things off in fine style via the insatiable grooves and fluttering flute solos of 'The Choice'.
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'.
Review: It would be fair to say that Roy Davis Jr and Peven Everett's "Gabriel" (originally written "Gabrielle" on early pressings) has become a timeless dance music classic - a track that both soulful house and UK garage DJs reach for in times of trouble. Should it not be in your collection already (and it should be), Large Music has decided to re-master and re-press the original 1996 12". It does, of course, contain the now ubiquitous "Live Garage" version - the groovy two-step, trumpet-laden mix that became popular with early UK garage DJs - plus a trio of lesser-known remixes. The Tambourine Dub, in particular, is something of a tough, warehouse-friendly deep house treat.
Review: According to the hype sheet we have to hand, the "Home Turf EP" is House of Disco's first multi-artist extravaganza for two years. There's plenty to get the juices flowing throughout, from the bounding bounciness of LPM's rap-sampling disco-house cut "Get With It", to the impeccably warm and sun-kissed jazz-house vibes of Purple Ice's "Adeus". In between you'll find the rolling, synth-heavy warmth of Mix & Fairbanks' deliciously loved-up "Shergar's Revenge" and "Me, You, Us" by Shee, a chunky sample-house number full of swirling strings, looped guitar riffs, hazy chords and righteous spoken word samples.
Vente Pa Ca (feat Jimena Angel, Jah Sazzah & Poirier) (4:34)
Vente Pa Ca (feat Jimena Angel, Jah Sazzah & Poirier - Poirier remix) (3:47)
Review: This is a global single with a great story that starts with an afro-funk groove made by Italian Jah Sazzah. He wanted a vocal for it so turned to Nickodemus who handed his own touches and then sent it Grammy-nominated Colombian vocalist Jimena Angel. The result is a vibrant Afro tune with vivid melodies. Remixer Poirier is a legend in Latin music circles. The Montreal man has formerly been associated with Ninja Tune and is synonymous with lots of classy remixes and fresh takes on a modern Afro-Caribbean sound. This is another one that reworks the ring into a more bouncy and infectious sound with gorgeous vocals and a clean arrangement that allows the drums and perc to shine.
Review: Global Essence Sampler is a new series from Deep Inspiration Show Records that calls upon a fine roster of international producer talent to serve up one track each and reflect on what deep house is today. For Allstarr Motomusic the answer is smooth and cruising house grooves with elastic basslines and distant vocal wails. Barce explores classic Larry Heard-style cosmic melodic territory with plenty of star-gazing potential, and Zarenzeit's 'Zahara' is another one that floats amongst the stars with lush ambient pads. Jank offers a more dusty, rhythmic house sound for cosy backroom parties, and then come the jazzy melodies and soulful bass noodling of Jan Kincl's '3300 Gratiot Ave.' Magic stuff.
Review: CWPT will play home to Palms Trax's original productions. His latest offering is 'Petu', a new single featuring South African vocalist, Nonku Phiri. Originally debuting in dub form (featured for your convenience over on the flip) during his appearance on The Music Locker as part of Grand Theft Auto Online, it is an absolutely emotive number reaching near spiritual moments and complemented by Phiris' wonderful vocal. Masalos' remix takes the track into neon-lit disco territory and is equally worthy of your attention.
Review: The exceptionally named Panty Soaker Sound System bursts onto the scene here with a powerful debut EP on their own self-titled label. 'Hormones' marks the inaugural outing and is a track that ignites the floor while exploring self-empowerment and inner desires. It has picked up early praise from Honey Dijon and is a full-throttle and steamy, erotic house sound that is sure to become a bit of a winter anthem. The EP includes three acid-infused original mixes, followed by the Prosumer HorMoans Remix which is a dark stomper with prickly 303 lines and a heavy groove. For those craving a harder vibe, the LUXE Dark Room Remix delivers a broken-beat reimagining with high-energy that takes you to new heights.
Review: Floorbound body-occupiers from Papa Nugs and The Trip for Tessellate, blanching wildstyle hip electro and irky rave sounds. With the A-side totally taken up by 'Keep Rocking' in two versions, we've a modish street style version in 'Casa Nova' form and a 'Hip House' breakbeat rendition. Then come the underside dread ones: 'Fearsome' tilts in the direction of ever more raviness with tuned, sandstorming stabs and gated voxes, while 'All Night' takes a dash of speed garage to the mishmash, air-raid sirens sounding through held chords all around.
Real Love (Piano Parkside instrumental mix) (4:21)
Review: Second time around for Terrence Parker's 'Real Love' EP, a gorgeous chunk of tunr-of-the-90s style deep house that the Detroit great first released on his Intangible label in late 2017. We get full and instrumental takes on two decidedly different variations. On the A-side you'll find the 'Slave Key' mixes, where tight, early 90s style synth stabs, dreamy chords and eyes-closed vocal snippets dance atop a chunky bassline and typically tough house drums. Over on the flip, it's all about the 'Piano Parkside' versions, a pair of brighter and more life-affirming takes in which piano stabs and solos ride a chunkier house groove and weightier bassline. All four versions sound like Parker probably recorded them early in his lengthy career, though whether he did or not remains a mystery.
Review: Patchouli Brothers and GMGN combine their forces on this double a-side 45 which packs some serious disco heat. Patchouli Brothers go first with the searing and full flavour 'Burnin'' which is a cacophonous brew of bristling percussion and jangling rhythms that will fit right into one of the sets of someone like DJ Harvey. GMGN then takes care of the flip with the much less noisy and intense sounds of 'A Little Bit' which rides a rickety groove and is embellished with some nifty horn arrangements and lung-busting vocals plus some deft synth flourishes.
Review: London-based Pattern Tusk has been active in the game for a while, but this is his first outing on vinyl. 'Navigating Self' is a sophisticated minimal house EP for the curious listener; 'Era''s main synth line sounds something between a cosmic stab and a gamelan hit, and is worked through a mesmerizing array of low-end melodies, which in turn border on the slinky, the psychedelic. 'Beneath The Surface' is deeper, sounding like what would emanate from the corridors of a trippy casino. 'Ever Change' and its closing R107 remix are functional and robotic by comparison, yet they are no less entrancing.
Paul Rudder & Kresy - "Along With You" (Kresy Continuum mix) (6:06)
Paul Rudder - "Her Dream Road" (7:09)
Paul Rudder - "Her Dream Road" (Kresy Mellonized mix) (6:46)
Review: Exploited is one of those ever-present labels that have never made big headliners or had breakout anthems, but that's probably helped it stay relevant rather than getting chewed up and spat out by the hype cycle. Label head Shir Khan is back here to present a 36th Black Jukebox EP, with Paul Rudder & Kresy serving up the tunes. Their first collab is warm Euro-centric deep house which then gets remixed by Kresy into a 'Continuum mix.' On the flip side, Rudder goes it alone with another warm, well-designed and catchy house roller in the form of 'Her Dream Road'. This time, Kresy serves up a heady Mellonized mix to close out.
Review: Pauli brings some class to this tense and effective new EP on Shoyu, a young new label that has already made some great moves with its first two releases. 'FirstH' pairs a driving ow end with some nice sparring synth work and killer bass. 'Bodyrise' is another perfectly reduced sound with effective drums, sleek cosmic synths and a rasping bassline to counterpoint the smooth pads. Add in two more blends of physical drums and emotive synth pens and you have some smart and classy cuts for knowing dancefloors.
Markus Enochson presents Suedojazz - "Sober" (5:14)
Review: TLM celebrates its 50th vinyl-only release with an exceptional offering of jazz-lounge house intonations. Legendary Canadian Mike Perras knocks down the first domino with 'Life Goes On', a jazzy house cut driven by a captive Rhodes groove. Craig Bratley follows with a deep houser featuring Tim Hutton on trumpet, while Mark Turner honours the legacy of Blaze on the A. The AA, meanwhile, introduces DFRA Experience Jazz Band from Argentina with 'Isolation', a smoothened pure jazz cut composed by Diego Ruiz and featuring Pablo Raposso on piano, Hernan Cassibba on double bass, Gonzalo Rodriguez De Vicente on sax, Joaquin Muro on trumpet, and Bruno Varela on drums. 'Sober' by Markus Enochson closes things out on a double bass boomer 'Sober', effecting a truly loose bonhomie.
Review: Low-key but high class UK producer Perseuss Traxx always deals in authentic analogue house jams and this outing on Chiwax is another fine entry into his discography. 'Adriatic Influences' is a dusty and mirky cut with corrugated drums and glistening hi hats all run through with a snaking and enacting lead synth thats burried in the mix. 'Aquatic Adventure' has more nimble drums and synth lines that get you on your toes while 'A Different Approach' is a controlled cacophony of raw perc, pinging drums and warped synth chords. Last but not least is 'Remembering Bari' with its swirling pads bring a more heady vibe to another stripped back and rugged groove.
Elia Y Elizabeth - "Fue Una Lagrima" (Phenomenal Handclap Band 7" edit remix) (4:54)
Elia Y Elizabeth - "Descripcion" (Buscabulla Beatless remix) (3:23)
Review: The Phenomenal Handclap Band combine forces with Buscabulla on this new split 7" for the new Relatin project, a New York-based initiative to reimagine Latin music for a new generation of music listeners. Touted as "sweet sixties soft pop meets funk and club culture", this three tracker comes to us with all the style of a low key Americana acetate found in a thrift store, but surreptitiously works modern sonics into the mix; 'Descripcion' is a beatless meander through mellow Latin vocals and whistles, while more energetic cuts adorn the A.
Review: The third outing from the Do It Now Recordings crew looks to Pigsie's 'Haunted'. It's a perfectly zoned-out slice dreamy and organic deep house for open-air dancing under the sun - the sort of thing that you'd hear at an All Day I Dream party. After that sublime original comes three remixes starting with DJ Jauche who adds some distinctive Afro-house flavours before J. Axel keeps the airy, light melodies and supple drums in place but brings some extra twinkling keys. Last of all is Mattias Vogt whose version is a hypnotic roller with pads smeared across the face of the tune and delightfully innocent melodies floating about the mix.
Review: dO iT nOw Recordings makes its debut in the world of vinyl with a various artists' sampler that shows just what they are all about. First up is Pigsie's wonderful 'Silk' which sets a fine tone with lush jazz-inspired keys, dreamy pads and intricate drum work that make it well suited to those late-night sessions. Wearing Shoes then offers 'Finding Your Words' with buttery Rhodes licks and looped vocals over fat bass, and the B-side begins with Michael Oberling and his deep jazz grooves, trumpet solos and swinging drums. Massive R closes with the lovely, jazzy house of 'This Feeling' complete with snappy drums and a catchy piano hook.
Review: Edit labels never seem handier than when the sun is out and the dancing moves outdoors. There is something about a beefed-up classic or tweaked disco cut that just works when we are all at our most fun-loving. Te Pina label is here to help on that front with a tenth EP of exquisite edits. 'Morrison Hotel' is low-slung house with samples of The Doors and skewed leads all powered by a fulsome bassline. 'Crab' is a funky disco number with chunky drums and claps.
Review: Marcellus Pittman is one of the forefathers of the raw, gritty, lo-fi house sound that we so strongly associate with the Motor City. This EP for FXHE is a perfect case in point. It manages to be abstract and odd but also exude a human warmth and soul that is unlike anything you can get anywhere else. 'Nyrobi Knight' is a rickety drum workout infused with synth glows, 'Dirty' is depraved and dark and delicious and 'Cherry Lee' is dusty deep house with eerie vocals.
The Light (Jesse Bru's Sea Of Change remix) (5:00)
Touch Me (4:14)
Review: Yann Polewka is the man in charge of the GLBDOM label's fifth outing and a fine one it is too. He brings plenty of timeless house vibes to the opener 'Keep On' with its Kerri Chandler style bumping kicks and feel-good piano chords next to subtle vocal chops packed with soul. 'Oblivion' is another upbeat, uplifting house cut with a classic underbelly and rich chords to get those hands in the air. 'The Light' once again layers up well-crafted chords, irresistible drum funk and nice analogue percussion. Last of all, Jesse Bru's Sea Of Change remix of the same tune brings a more deep and late night feel to close out a top EP.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Upside Down (5:57)
Eyes Between Letters (6:30)
Beyond Light & Shade (6:20)
Complementary Senses (6:20)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
A mesmerising blend of organic textures and synthetic precision, delivering a fresh take on techno and house. The title track, 'Upside Down', kicks things off with a clever nod to the glitch and microhouse era of the very early 00s. Its gorgeous melody and intricate layering make it both nostalgic and forward-thinking. 'Eyes Between Letters' follows with a deeper bassline and spacious, intricate production. Side-2 opens with 'Beyond Light & Shade', where Asian-inspired melodics weave seamlessly with a balanced blend of techno and house, offering a richly textured and emotive piece. Closing the EP, 'Complementary Senses' delivers profound depth, bringing an introspective quality to its lush production. A unique release tailor made for fans of innovative, boundary-pushing electronic music.
Review: Before relocating to New York City last year, Pontchartrain invited the legendary Javonntte over to record some material at his east-side Detroit studio. The result was the deep, down and dirty late night groove of 'Keep Dancing' (Detroit mix) while the NYC mix is a more pumping, heads-down affair on an old school electronic disco vibe with a nice dose of 303 acid for good measure. Over on the flip, 'Cirrus' is a deeper, cloudy and synth-heavy house track, which is backed by Delano Smith's dubby and hypnotic Motor City Re-Rub.
Review: DBH welcome Mihai Popoviciu & David Delgado the the Pleasure Zone series with the 'Evolution' EP. Bringing jazzy, sloshy, jerking flavours to the tech house palette, 'Evolution' and 'Shifting' evolve and shift, convoking a delegated moot of propulsive chords and forward-driving janks, conveying the mood of a finely tuned closed clockwork system chugging away like the central engine of a wider contraption. Closer 'Black Light' operates more readily in the lower regions of things, proving unafraid of sounds that lean towards the more peripheral and umbral.
Review: Belgium outfit Premier Regard drop the club-ready house jam 'Tu one' here alongside a versatile array of remixes that mean you are pretty sure to find something that works no matter what spot you found yourself in. The Classic mix has raw analogue drums sounds and wooden hits with a libidinous vocal and warped bass. Audio Soul Project remixes with more heft and urgency, the Coma Du Nord remix is pared-back and allows the elastic groove to hook you in and the Steve Sibra remix is more spaced out and late night, thanks to the tender pads.
Review: Mint Condition, as you probably know if you are reading this, deals in reissuing classic tech house cuts. It has raced ahead in its mission and is now up to a 55th EP. This one brings back Presence's White Powder EP. 'Heart' opens up with dark but well swung drums overlaid with diva vocals while '$10' is a frazzled, slapping cut with bubbling basslines from the 90s. 'Power Chords' is a loved up dee house cut with echoing pads and cavernous grooves and 'Giving Love' is a jumbled of tribal hits and woodpecker bass.
Review: John Digweed remains a hugely influential figure in the dance music world. He was amongst the first to champion The Pressure on his iconic Transitions radio show and now along with Nick Muir they all come together on this new single from Undisputed Music. 'Counting Down The Days' (extended mix) is a far sighted, cosmic progressive house tune that builds in sweeping layers with lush arps and prickly tech edged beats. There is a dub for more dreamy moments and a Strings dub that ups the latent sophistication of the original.
Review: Isaac Prieto is Mexico-born but Detroit based and that is presumably where he hooked up with the Motor City's assured house auteur Javonntte. The pair take a trip through scuffed-up deep house brilliance here with the chattery claps and blurting bass of spaced-out opener 'One Take' before 'Brothers In Rhythm' is a more dance-y cut with pinging kicks and detuned synths stumbling about the mix to make for a brilliant sense of mechanical funk. 'High Energy' brings edgy chord stabs over busted beats and bass and 'Lost & Found' is more kinetic analogue madness with hurried techno hi-hats, spangled pads and punchy kicks all bringing an utterly fresh type of sound.
Review: The best catalogue naming convention in all of music belongs to the Club U Nite label, and the beats they offer up ain't bad either. This latest blue 12" is the third volume in their Dee Tax series and brings an array of fine artists to the fore. The sounds are house with a traditional bent - Purple Kush's 'It's A Feelin'' is deep but jacking with jazzy motifs, Mellow Man keeps it classy with a garage swing on 'Touch The Sky', Manhattan Project taps into a 90s New York dub house vibe on 'Get It Right' and a second Mellow Man shuts down with seductive smoothness.
Review: Putch continues to take sole charge of the music on their own self-titled label. This fifth transmission, which again comes as a limited hand-stamped white label 12" - follows on where the previous four, which all sold out in quick fashion, left off. That is to say with a dusty house vibe that is driven by frayed kicks, well-programmed rhythms and sharp percussion to cut through the deepness. Add in some melodies that range from cosmic and spaced out to trippy and neon, and you have another high-functioning EP.
Review: Seasons Limited made a welcome return in 2024 and now keeps up that good momentum with another big single from French house mainstay Franck Roger with some fine vocals by Paul B. It's a super smooth sound with drum swaying back and forth, molten synth adding late night and tissue soul and the tender vocal adding intimacy and late night romance. Rocco Rodamaal steps up for remixes and first of all he pairs things back to a sedate, seductive deep house roll then fleshes out the drums with some dubby weight to finish.!
Review: Don't be misled by the facetious title, there's no handbag house to be found on Hed Kandi Vol. 1. Instead, you'll be treated to some real proper beatdown vibes by some right legends of the Detroit underground, curated by scene stalwart Norm Talley. The ever impressive Delano Smith gets the Mixmode vibe in effect on the hypnotic back room dubs of 'The Lost Synth' parts 1 & 2 respectively which cover the A side. Over on the flip, Sistrum Recordings main man Patrice Scott gets some emotive Motor City soul going on in his inimitable style on 'Better Days' followed by the heads-down basement beats of Deepset's 'Soltek'.
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