Back catalogue: Deep House

Review: The latest 12" from long-running Sahko offshoot Keys Of Life is the first of two split 'Balearic' releases from Sex Tags man DJ Sotofett and SUED co-founder SVN.. Sotofett's "Current 82" is a thing of rare beauty; an ambient house inspired chunk of lucid, mid-tempo dreaminess full of fluid chords, subtle, loved-up melodies and early Italian deep house bottom end. SVN continue the deep theme whilst doffing a cap to techno on flipside "Dark Plan 5". Their chords and pads are every bit as life-affirming as Sotofett's - even if they are a touch on the bittersweet side - but the accompanying up-tempo rhythm has a more ready-made dancefloor feel. Either way, both tracks are superb.

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: 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: Rebirth invites us to go back, way back, to the Italian underground techno scene of the 90s with this new selection of alternate versions, unheard gems and certified classics. Oneiric & Vortex open up with a tune that brings to mind the warmth of Motor City techno on 'Oasi' before GNMR layer up supersized hi hats and seriously weighty beatdown drums, Populous offers the loopy melodic delight of 'Barragan' and G-Connection heads into the cosmos with the dreamy ambient of 'Free Your Spirit', a perfect mood build if ever we heard one. Two further gorgeously blissed-out post-rave comedown sounds close out this gem of an EP.

Review: Having made a name for herself via a series of fine EPs for Shall Not Fade, Chiwax and Tresydos (the latter in collaboration with Vince Void), rising star Lis Sarroca makes her Smallville label debut with a quartet of typically impressive cuts. The Spanish producer is in fine form on opener 'Atacote', where positive and gently sunny piano motifs and Italian dream house influenced pads ride a smooth bassline and shuffling deep house drums. 'Breaks Reminder' sees her successfully fuse the immersive dreaminess of classic Smallville deep house with shuffling electro-breaks and tight TB-303 acid lines, while 'Early Years' is a sumptuous slab of picturesque deep house dreaminess. To round off a brilliant EP, she serves up the revivalist electrofunk-meets-early European house excellence of 'Might Be'.

Review: Sasha's latest collaboration with Super Flu, 'Astra,' is another example to the magic of collaboration. The track is a rich blend of Sasha's signature sense of melody, drama, and energy, combined with Super Flu's boundary-pushing, rule-breaking sound. 'Astra' is electrifying, with smart effects and filters creating a smudged and stretched vocal over rising synth tension. The heavy drums add to the track's intensity, building towards a dramatic breakdown before setting off again with tightly woven drums and synths. The Sasha Daydream Mix offers a more blissed-out and late-night rework, with soothing shakers, floating drums, and deft synth lines creating a soothing and atmospheric effect. This collaboration is a true showcase of creativity and connection, promising to resonate deeply with listeners on the dancefloor.

Review: Ornate Music has been serving up quality deepness since 2008 but it's been a while since we heard from them. Edinburgh based producer, Rai Scott, returns to Ornate Music, previously releasing on the imprint back in 2014. This long overdue followup to her Innershift EP brings ethereal atmospherics and hypnotising percussion. The opener is a dreamy and celestial vibe with gently rolling beats, while Version 2 is more defined by the smeared chords which spiral to the heavens. 'As Honest As She Lived' is another electric lullaby with well-crafted ambient pads and 'Nina' ends with layers of bells, glistening keys and shimmering melody that soothes the soul.

Review: German duo Session Victim have always been about much more than just club tracks - their music draws on their playing skills and formal backgrounds so comes alive with meaningful melodies and rich instrumentation that elevates each track above the norm. This new EP on their home label Delusions of Grandeur kicks off with 'Screen Off' (feat Ras Stimulant) which is disco house with bubbly basslines and a retro feel. It also comes as an a cappella and on the flip 'Light The Way' is a seductively smooth cut with Balearic synths and floating pads that will levitate you off the floor. An Iron Curtis Illuminati mix brings starry-eyed electro vibes and his reprise closes out a lush EP.

Review: Hanagasumi is the word that is used in Japan for when all the cherry blossom appears in bloom and looks from afar like a white mist. It is a fitting title for this EP of delicate deep house, gorgeous melody and spiritual vibes. After the crystal clean and cleansing 'Above Fuji' there is the perfectly titled 'Naive Piano' and dreamy ambient house of 'Nocturne'. 'Eco Line; heads off on a slender electro groove into a place of astral melody and 'Tune For Relaxation' baths you in lush chords and meditative moods before 'Sydgo' wraps up the whole perfect experience with more delightfully elegant and majestic melodic house.

Review: Pont Neuf approaches its quarter of a century of releases with Shore serving up a fresh blend of the old and the new on this Life Is A Blur EP. It kick off in laissez-faire fashion with some heavenly ambient, then 'Constant Motion' is a synth-drenched house kicker with jazzy leads. 'So Low' is more progressive and a little darker, while 'Thinking Out Loud' cuts loose and slows down from some sunset downtempo bliss. 'Ascent' rounds out with kaleidoscopic melodies that have you gazing off to the stars.

Review: One of the more surprising trends of the early 1990s was the fusion of contemporary club culture - or at least the slow-motion end of it - with what would have once been considered 'church music'. While it was made famous by Enigma's global hit 'Sadness', Sloopey G's 'Domine' EP was reportedly recorded and released first. Certainly 'This Is The Day (Notre Dame Remix)', which naturally heads this THANK YOU reissue, sounds like a prototype of the Enigma sound - think British street soul beats, dreamy ambient pads, sampled monk chants, tactile bass and spoken word vocals. The EP also includes both similarly formed original bonus cuts, 'Victime' and the house-influenced 'Cathederal Dance', as well as previously unheard bonus cut 'Love In Heaven', a deliciously, shuffling and saucer-eyed affair.

Review: Aaron Andrew's Chubby label doesn't rush things. Since launching in 2018 and now only just hitting its sixth release though the music sure is worth the wait and is proof that quality will always win over quantity. Leonid's twin brother, Al Smith opens up with the cuddly and cosmic depths of 'Drama Room' before getting more dark and unsettling with his twisted synth modulations on 'Full Of Music', which then becomes a gorgeous downtempo cut with star-gazing pads and splashy hits within the Specter remix. Dan Piu picks up the pace for some delightfully warm deep house dynamics on 'Days Gone' and 'Snows Of Solaris'. Last of all is the more scuffed up, heads down deep house murk of Rai Scott's remix of Dan's intro tune, 'Day's Gone'.

Review: Soela, the DJ and producer alias of Elina Shorokhova, channels her deep musical roots into Dark Portrait, an album that reflects both personal and global turmoil. Transitioning from her classical background into the electronic realm, Soela crafts a sonic journey that resonates with emotional depth and technical precision. The album begins with 'Unsuitable,' a track steeped in melancholic trip-hop vibes, setting an introspective tone. As Soela navigates the complex emotions surrounding her country's invasion of Ukraine, her music becomes a therapeutic outlet. This emotional intensity flows through tracks like 'Through the Windows' (featuring Francis Harris and Philipp Priebe) and 'Drowning' (with Module One), where intricate beats and ambient textures intertwine seamlessly. 'Spirits' and 'Lost In The Fog' offer haunting soundscapes that draw listeners into Soela's world, while 'February Is Not Going To Be Forever,' a collaboration with Lawrence, brings a dancefloor energy laced with a sense of urgency. The title track, 'Dark Portrait,' melds dubby rhythms with poignant melodies while the lead single, 'Even If I Ask You Stay,' showcases Soela's poignant vocal delivery amid a lush arrangement, addressing themes of escape and healing. The album concludes with 'The Darkest Hour Before Sunrise,' a hopeful and ethereal piece, blending subdued keys and strings with a sense of renewal. Dark Portrait is a deeply personal and powerful album, where Soela's rich musicality and emotional insight shine through, offering listeners both solace and inspiration.