Back catalogue: Deep House

Review: Berlin's Yore Records lovingly reissue Andy Vaz's 2012 release 'Imaginary Beings', originally out on Chiwax. Elevated to the status of "the best authentic Chicago acid house (EP) heard in a very long time" by at least one sovereign tastemaker, we can attest to this assessment. At first, A-sider 'Minimal Acid' only barely teases its charm - its "Chi-style" snap-beats and naked acid line signaling only a minimal investment in the dance - but not long before a momentous vocal line broadens the mix's aural consciousness to shockingly simple but movingly efficacious effect. Then there's the mathematic movements of 'He Used To Be An Asian' and the shamelessly mindful mistral of 'Imaginary Beings', which sound like two sides of the same brain (one calculating, one quelling). Finally, 'Still On Time' returns to the well-planted root and scapular sways of Chicago house, its warping filter cutoffs and salubrious saws serving as only two of many possible glimpses of and over a Michigan lakeside rave.

Review: Long-time quality deep house operator Andy Vaz has a classically inclined sound that is infused with his own European perspective. Never has that been more obvious than with this EP on I'm In Love which assembled some of his best work. A Collection Of Trax Vol 1 is a limited 12" that opens with 'Only', a lively rhythm with jazzy chords and smooth vocal hooks, while 'Balances' strips it back to deep, warm, diffuse basement house. 'Deutz Motorcity (From The D)' channels the best of the Motor City with its balmy pad work and 'Little Acid' brings some raw 303 lines to a twisted house sound for the freaky after-hours.

Review: Andy Vaz shares a fresh Detroit-flavoured deep house EP, fenced through one of many production studio complexes lying in the heart of Cologne, Germany. With slurred streetwise vocals sounding spreadeagled over modal chords and bodying beatwork, this one hits different. A rarefied soul vibe emerges especially on 'The New Germans', which fleshes an immensity of feeling out of a simple kicks n' claps mix alone and 'Hometown CGN' does similarly with its trombone-esque lead parp and brain-fogged puff-around synths.