Byron The Aquarius - "When The Freaks Come Out" (feat Computer Jay) (4:40)
Review: Multi-artist EPs have all been all the rage of late, though few can boast quite as strong a line-up of artists as this one from dependable French deep house label Phongramme. It begins with a gorgeous chunk of detail-heavy, sun-splashed electronic deep house brilliance courtesy of Abacus (an artist whose discography also contains outings on Prescription, Innermood and NDATL Muzik) and ends with a vibraphone-solo sporting shuffler from the effervescent Byron The Aquarius and Computer Jay ('When The Freaks Come Out'). Sandwiched in between you'll find two more must-have workouts: the bumpin', brilliant and spiritually uplifting 'States of Motion' by Fred P, and a typically dusty, jazzy and warming number by Colombian hero Felipe Gordon ('The Gordon Way').
Review: Antwerp's Marius Acke resurfaces via Happiness Therapy with a sharp reissue of four deep cuts from his late 90s Crucial Traxx series-once slept on, now rightly championed by a new wave of selectors. 'Tell Me' opens with dusty MPC swing and warm Rhodes chords, full of space and analogue looseness. 'I Feel So Good' brings a rawer edge, driven by clipped vocal chops and bumping low-end. 'Dance To The Beat' leans into funky organ riffs and tight snares, while 'Everyday Life' closes with hazy pads and a laid-back, hip-hop-adjacent tempo. Carefully remastered, the set captures the soulful, groove-led essence of 90s Belgian house-funky, unfussy, and made for dancers, not algorithms. A reminder that true deep house rarely dates.
Review: While Tony Williams AKA Addison Groove is best known for his sub-bass heavy, rave-igniting workouts, he grew up in Bristol on a diet of funk, soul, hip-hop, electro, disco and early house. That's what his semi hush-hush Groove label is all about: a space for him to rework personal favourites and killer cuts in a re-edit style, rather than a warehouse-friendly rave-igniting one. On this second instalment he focuses on reshaping African dancefloor burners from the 1970s, first successfully dubbing out, extending and rearranging Manu Dibango classic 'Soul Makossa' (as 'Changa'). 'Maruno' is a heavy, percussion-rich take on Afro-disco number smothered in trippy dub-wise effects and smart drum edits, while 'Shango' is a low-down, spaced-out Afro-stomper guaranteed to get feet moving and heads spinning.
Review: French illustrator, producer and owner of Astral Soda Records Albino offers up his second full-length album, Bamboo Night, following up his self-released 2016 album Santa Barbara. Returning to WRWTFWW for the second time now, Bamboo Night reflects something of a more dance-centric revolution in Albino's sound, but still brings his penchant for patented tape hues and ghostly exotics to the fore as ever. These tracks are just as suited for floor play as they are for home eso-chillaxing, fusing whispery dancehall flavours with dark jazz, Chicago deep house, and trembly international flavours.
Review: Detroit mainstay John Beltran is back to present Sol Set having already impressed with their Ola de Novo album. This summery and soul-drenched outing opens with the florid flutes and shimmering rhythms of 'Through Fire' before a wonderful cover of Sade's 'War of the Hearts' with Taylor Taylor on vocals brings tropical percussive delights. South African house vocalist Earl Green brings expressive soul style to the feel good 'Love Revolution' while closer 'Maragogi' taps into an authentic Brazilian sound with feather drums and subtle samba shuffle.
Review: Amsterdam's Beraber draws from Chicago's classic keys and machine rhythms on this return to action on United Identities, which was produced entirely in his Amsterdam studio. Across the six cuts, he weaves atmospheric textures into a personal collection that also features his first use of vocals alongside Barcelona's Ivy Barkakati, whose lyrics echo the journey's introspection. Highlights include the serene opener 'Between Us,' the dubbed-out 'Distant Language,' and the soulful 'Lost in Loops'. The package closes with an upbeat 'Good Company' and a deep remix by Brazilian artist Zopelar.
Black Rascals - "So In Love" (feat Cassio Ware - Atjazz remix) (6:40)
Wonderland (feat Alexander Hope - Jimpster remix) (6:38)
How Deep Is Your Love (feat Alexander Hope - DJ Spinna remix) (8:50)
Breathe (Natasha Diggs remix) (5:53)
Review: Given that they've been operative since the dawn on garage-house in the mid 1980s, there's plenty of material in the Blaze vaults to remix. Re-activated British label Slip 'N' Slide agrees, hence this EP featuring a quartet of revisions of catalogue cuts. To kick things off, Atjazz delivers a smooth, effortlessly soulful and lightly tech-tinged take on Black Rascals cut 'So In Love', before fellow British deep house star Jimpster drops a tactile, musically detailed and impressively soulful take on 'Wonderland'. Over on side B, DJ Spinna's version of 'How Deep Is Your Love' is a superbly summery soulful house wonder, while Natasha Diggs' version of all-time-classic 'Breathe' sounds like Earth, Wind and Fire jamming with a Latin house band in Blaze's New Jersey studio. Undeniably ace!
Review: Milan-based artist Barbara Boeing, originally from Curitiba, made waves with her debut Brasiliana last year, showcasing her diverse influences that reflect her vibrant DJ sets. In this new EP, Boeing offers four fresh tracks that blend 80s and 90s sounds with inspirations from her tours in Asia. Collaborations with Stump Valley and Sam Ruffillo infuse the project with richness and energy. Each track pulses with the colourful spirit of her home, ranging from Balearic and Italo house to disco and Zouk. As a sought-after DJ, she's built a reputation for crafting exhilarating sets that merge eclectic genres. Her upcoming performances at festivals like Gop Tun and Lost Village, along with her own party series, Barbara Boeing Convida, promise to extend her musical journey. "I just love to bring my music to people," she shares, encapsulating her infectious passion for connection through sound.
Review: Robsoul kicks off 2025 with a sharp four-tracker from Italian producer Bress Underground, real name Andrea; the 'Make Love' EP marks his first outing through the Paris label. Though his sinisterly dextrous MPC chops have indeed thus far been brought to a string of recent releases on GLB Dom, Slothboogie and SNATCH!, perhaps no EP so far apart from this one has truly wrought the limit of his talent: though they're born of recycled ideas from goldener days, Bress patches and gussets them together, allowing new forms to take hold in the final cut. 'Chick House' opens with horn stabs and swing, while 'Keep On' leans into lush keys and soft-lit soul, and the flip unleashes 'I Don't Pray', which preaches equal parts ecclesial and dissenting groove, before the title cut lets a 303 line run loose without ever veering into cliche.
Hurry Up (feat Dreamer G - Proton: Kerri's Again mix) (7:03)
I See (instrumental) (6:43)
Joyful Life (feat Mona Lee - Neutron - Full vocal mix) (6:57)
Dirty (No Guitar mix) (6:19)
I See (Electron: Full mix) (6:42)
Hurry Up (feat Dreamer G - Electron: instrumental) (7:01)
Sunrise (Ion) (7:17)
Joyful Life (feat Mona Lee - Vibeappella) (6:49)
Review: Kerri Chandler's Spaces & Places is a monumentally ambitious project for the longtime house legend. With this edition making up part four of its sampler series, the album is just one of many to make up the full-length project, the implied aim of which is to chart Chandler's many appearances at 24 different nightclubs across the world. As with the seemingly cosmic front cover art depicted on the front - perhaps an image of the observable universe in its entirety - this is a remarkably cosmopolitan project, racking up vocal collabs with the likes of Mona Lee and Dreamer G for an eight-track series of shockingly legit, string-led deep house cuts.
Maintaining My Peace (feat Novelist & Stephanie Cooke) (2:59)
Tears (feat Saucy Lady) (2:55)
Brain Gymnasium (3:28)
Wanna Tell Somebody (feat Josh Milan) (5:53)
Otaki (feat Finn Rees) (5:26)
Love Language (feat Nathan Haines) (4:35)
A Deeper Life (feat Isaac Aesili) (8:00)
More Time (feat Lee Pearson Jr Collective) (3:56)
Tongariro Crossing (feat Nathan Haines) (5:17)
Barefoot On The Tarmac (4:11)
Marlboro Sounds (6:03)
The Eternal Checkout (feat Cenk Esen) (5:36)
Review: Given that even their most dancefloor-focused tunes are remarkably deep, immersive and sonically detailed, you'd think that Chaos In The CBD's music would suit the album format - it's just that until now, they've not recorded a full-length. A Deeper Life, then, marks a big step forward in the Helliker-Hales brothers' career. Predictably, it's borderline brilliant. Made with the assistance of a cast of collaborators and guest performers (flautist Nathan Haines, boogie revivalist Saucy Lady and original NJ garage-house hero Josh Milan included), it sees the Kiwi duo sashay their way through enveloping, musically expansive cuts - many downtempo and home-listening focused - that variously mix and match elements of deep house, nu-jazz, dub, 80s soul, hip-hop, trip-hop, Latin soul and much more besides. A genuine triumph, even by their high standards.
Maintaining My Peace (feat Novelist & Stephanie Cooke)
Tears (feat Saucy Lady)
Brain Gymnasium
I Wanna Tell Somebody (feat Josh Milan)
Otaki (feat Finn Rees)
Love Language (feat Nathan Haines)
A Deeper Life (feat Isaac Aesili)
More Time (feat Lee Pearson Jr Collective)
Tongariro Crossing (feat Nathan Haines)
Barefoot On The Tarmac
Marlboro Sounds
The Eternal Checkout (feat Cenk Esen)
Review: After a decade of swirling deep house and understated jazz flourishes, London duo Chaos In The CBD finally drop their debut full-length, A Deeper Life, via their own In Dust We Trust imprint. The 14-tracker stretches their signature dee,p cocktail party effected house palette into new terrain: live instrumentation, vocal guests, and a mellow, tactile depth, now owing as much to 90s Balearic as it does to smoky London basements. Lead single 'Love Language', with Nathan Haines on sax, strikes an effortless tone: wistful, warm, and unhurried. Guests include Josh Milan, Lee Pearson Jr., Novelist and Stephanie Cooke, but the LP is less about marquee names than a slow, wide glow: sun-kissed nostalgia cut with club heft. It no less channels their New Zealand roots (idyllic beaches, waterfalls, quiet mornings) into a drifting house sound, playful and dour in equal parts.
Review: COEO returns to Toy Tonics with a stellar EP that celebrates a decade of collaboration with the label. This marks their tenth release with Toy Tonics, and it's a true testament to their influence on the imprint's sound. The German duo has been pivotal in shaping Toy Tonics' house vibes, and they continue to play a significant role in the label's global events. In this new EP, COEO dives deeper into the realms of Italo and Piano House, delivering a contemporary yet timeless collection of tracks. The lead track, 'Nostalgia,' is a tribute to the countless intimate and euphoric moments shared with music lovers worldwide, characterised by infectious piano chord drops and sing-along horn and synth melodies. 'Breeze' elevates the energy, blending funky bass guitar with progressive house elements, evoking memories of carefree adventures and special moments. On Side-2, 'Meet Me at the Cascades' captivates with its hypnotic Italo house influence, unfolding dreamy synth pads and arpeggios that transport listeners to a safe, serene retreat. The EP also includes a remix of 'Nostalgia' by Stump Valley, adding a unique piano solo that beautifully closes this unforgettable release.
Review: South African producer Cool Affair returns with a fluid, genre-slipping cut that glides between broken beat, downtempo and deep house. 'Motoric Patterns' pulses gently with smoky keys and layered vocal harmonies, locking into a low-slung, hypnotic rhythm that feels simultaneously meditative and sensual. It's a subtle burner, rooted in groove but elevated by harmonic detail. On the flip, broken beat originator Kaidi Tatham delivers a fizzing rework-fractured drums, jazz-funk flourishes and a brightened vocal hook that pulls the track toward the dancefloor without sacrificing its soulful core. Where the original stretches inward, Tatham's remix reaches outwards with sparkle and flair. A seamless pairing of two artists who understand restraint, rhythm, and the soft power of a beautifully voiced chord.
Review: Simoncino unveils his Craig Paradise Cooper guise with this special limited 10". While he's always been synonymous with authenticity, this homage to the Paradise Garage elevates his dedication one step further. Rich, analogue and ultimately loopy, each of these three tracks whisks us back to house music's most formative era. "Trax I" is a breezy, journeyman soiree that's so euphoric it could make Mr Fingers blush. "Trax II", meanwhile, is undiluted ambience, seeped in emotion. For added DJ pleasure he's also thrown in some bonus beats. Full package. No faking.
Review: Amsterdam-based duo Maarten Smeets and Lars Dales - Dam Swindle - offer us their album, Open, prying ajar our otic tract with 14 quixotic tracks. After years of introspection, Open marks a rupture, as the pair break from their preeminent deep house for an even-deeper-down embrace of the lower tempi, with them now incorporating synthwave, hip-house, and ambient elements. A first taster comes with the smoothly lavished 'Girl' with Faye Meana, while 'Bloom' with Joep Beving develops the theme of self-analysis through well-shovelled deep house chords. Still reining in some four-to-the-floor precepts, Dam Swindle have nonetheless presented their most heartfelt and least harried detour to date.
When You Love Someone (Groove instrumental) (7:55)
When You Love Someone (The Reconstruction mix) (8:18)
Review: The latest on-point reissue from Italy's Groovin' label takes us back to 1993, and the Peter Daou/Danny Tenaglia-produced debut single from vocalist Daphne Rubin-Vega. It's a far breezier, groovier and sweeter record than many of Tenaglia's later productions (which tended towards the muscular), with Rubin-Vega's quietly soulful vocal seemingly drifting across a backing track rich in warm chords and baggy, breakbeat-driven house grooves. All of the various mixes hit the spot, with the trippy, dub-style Reconstruction Mix, vibraphone-laden Groove Instrumental and low-slung Never Do Dub standing out. The Acapella Reprise, which features rich chords and vocal snippets, is also rather good.
Review: Auckland-born, London-based duo Manuel Darquart draw from the silkier ends of Italo, house and Balearic breaks on their latest five-tracker for Munich label Permanent Vacation. The opener, 'Sunshine Coast', cruises through airy pads and FM piano with the warmth of a lost VHS holiday clip, while 'Soft Energy' folds ambient textures into a weightless groove built for sunrise slots. Things get tougher on 'Global Business', which hits a sweet spot between acid and electro-funk, and 'Fantacity' continues in a similar mode - dense but clean, with a breaksy snap underlining the chords. 'Forza' wraps it all up with a slow-builder that sits somewhere between high-definition trance and plush downtempo. The palette feels nostalgically late 80s, but there's no pastiche here - just a well-gauged, detail-rich record that knows exactly when to lean in and when to hold back.
Gregory (AT) - "Peaks" (feat Alexander Wirth) (6:34)
Kelton Prima - "Strawberry Cream" (6:13)
Review: Since launching three years ago, Luv Shack Records' 'Disco Biscuits' series has become a reliable and popular source of quality club cuts that frequently blur the boundaries between house and nu-disco. The series sixth missive (and first outing of 2025) begins with 'Padja Banana', an acid-fired, delay-laden psychedelic nu-disco chugger laden with attractive synth sounds and 16-bit electronics. Label newcomer Ubre Blanca steps up next with 'Renzo', an authentic tribute to mid 1980s Italo-disco, before Austrian producer Gregory joins forces with Alexander Wirth on the synth-laden deep house hustle of 'Peaks'. To round off another inspired EP, Kelton Prima opts for a warmer and more sample-rich take on the same hybrid nu-disco/deep house sound ('Strawberry Cream').
Review: Hell Yeah Records sets a super tone for 2024 with a captivating new album from Australian producer Dawn Again. Every Dog's Hotel presents a dreamy, breaks-infused journey into what Dawn Again calls "pubwave." Drawing from his decade-long experience and releases on labels like Houseworx and Enjoyment Division, Melbourne-based Nick Verwey crafts a sunlit, sunset-ready sound perfect for grown-up crowds. Inspired during lockdown by nostalgic downtempo vibes from the 90s and 00s, Verwey aimed to recreate the communal drinking atmosphere of his favorite pubs. The result is a lush, Balearic "pubwave" album, complemented by a charming cover painting by artist Holly Hunt, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in lavish, escapist downtempo sounds.
Review: Bari's Deepshakerz return to key UK label Crosstown Rebels with a tight, percussive three-tracker rooted in the crossover between Afro-tinged house and punchy, early Chicago rhythms. Opener 'Give It 2 U' throws down a sinewy blend of filtered vocal chops and tumbling drums, straddling jacking minimalism and maximal groove with characteristic flair. On the B-side, 'The Beginning Groove' slows the rush slightly, working a heady, looping motif into a more restrained late-night hypnotiser. Closer 'Green Light' features a crisp vocal from Dennis Wonder, building up a more melodic high with bright chords and bouncy swingiless brooding, more pure release. It's the Italian duo's second release for Damian Lazarus' label, and a strong showcase of their versatility within a signature sound.
Review: House music doesn't get much more storied and authentic than that served up by the iconic New Jersey label Nu Groove. It very much shaped the clary sound of the 90s and still has fans excited today whenever reissues drop. This is not that, however, and is in fact a new set of recent cuts from veteran Swiss producer Deetron and underground mainstay Bruise. The sounds are inspired by the soulful techno and house that emerged in the Mid West and build on solid drums with silky loops that look to the future. 'AM_909' in particular is a lush and warm cut of epic proportions.
Review: Salzburg sort Demuja (real name Bernhard Weiss) has released music on all manner of house labels in the past - most notably Let's Play House, Nervous, Freerange, Shall Not Fade and Lost Palms - but tends to save some of his most ear-catching material for the MUJA imprint he established in 2017. This EP, his first vinyl outing for two years, is a pleasingly varied four-tracker that variously draws influence from turn of the 90s breakbeat-house, deep house, formative progressive house, UK garage and Afro-house. All four tracks are primed for peak-time plays, with our highlights being the cut-up, Todd Edwards style vocal snippets, raw acid bass and bouncy house beats of 'If You Want', the trippy, breakbeat-driven wonder of 'Kitchen Table Wisdom', and the rushing intergalactic techno-trance of 'Square One'.
B-STOCK: Slight surface marks, record slightly warped
Disko Junkie - "I Like To Party" (5:54)
Discotron & HP Vince - "September" (6:02)
HP Vince - "Got The Groove" (4:09)
House Punkz - "Music In The Night" (4:23)
Serial Thrilla - "More More More" (6:14)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks, record slightly warped***
Tatsy Recordings is up to a fifth release and it wants you to sample what it is all about with this fine sampler. It kicks off with Disko Junkie's 'I Like To Party' which will indeed get you ready to party with its lavish grooves. A Nu Disco Mix of Discotron's 'September' then brings more good time feels with its colourful synths and vibrant rhythms. Flip it over and HP Vince has got the sauce with 'Got The Groove' with its loopy bass and classic samples, House Punkz then rework another super smooth soul sample into some disco house beats and Serial Thrilla end it all with the slamming 'More More More.'
What Is House Muzik (Ricardo Villalobos What Is dub - Emanuel Satie edit) (7:31)
What Is House Muzik (Jazzuelle Deeper Acid mix) (7:34)
Review: Way back in 1994, while he was riding high with the stomping, raw and druggy Wild Pitch sound, DJ Pierre released 'What is House Muzik?' as Phuture Scope. This clear vinyl reissue from Get Physical celebrates the track's 30th birthday, accompanying the acid house pioneer's original Wild Pitch mix - a typically stretched-out, Sound Factory-ready concoction with raw loops, weighty beats and bass and fizzing synth stabs - with the original spoken word acapella and two later reworks. The most notable of these is Emmanuele Satie's on-point edit of Ricardo Villalobos's epic 2015 dub, which cuts it down to playable length while retaining the Chilean's wonky and out-there mix of barely audible orchestral samples, crunchy beats, weird noises and spoken word snippets. Throw in Jazzuelle's tidy 'deeper acid' mix and you have an essential reissue.
Review: Fango aka Venice-based DJ/producer Nicola Zanetti lands on his feet with 'Cardinals', orienting himself in the zone of subtle post-EBM chug electro while otherwise pulling off many a variation within said style. It comes after a lengthy spate of EP and singles releasing since 2014, mostly through Peru's Digestibus Music, to whom he returns here: 'North', 'South' 'East' and 'West' encompass every woozy humour from choleric tribal wonk to detuned saw "woo!"s, proving the heterogeneity and dynamism of a fun-loving producer with a many-frequencied ear for the weird.
Disco Music (Young Pulse remix - extended version) (6:39)
Disco Music (Elado remix - extended version) (5:01)
Disco Music (5:22)
Drums From The Motherland (5:28)
Review: Fimiani's 'Disco Music', a standout track from the Toy Tonics catalogue, receives a series of dancefloor-ready remixes. This infectious tune, already championed by DJs like Palms Trax and Louie Vega, is reimagined by four talented producers, each adding their unique flavour to the mix. Young Pulse, the Parisian house maestro, delivers a vibrant and energetic rework, while Tel Aviv's edit king, Elado, injects a dose of playful energy. Berlin's Delfonic transforms the track into a soulful dancefloor anthem, showcasing his knack for crafting infectious grooves. Paul Older, fresh off his acclaimed debut EP on Toy Tonics, closes out the release with a remix that blends classic house elements with a contemporary edge. With its diverse range of interpretations and undeniable dancefloor appeal, this release is a must-have for any disco enthusiast.
Review: Flabaire reaffirms his status as one of France's most refined producers with this masterful deep house EP on the no-nonsense Skylax label. Known for leading D.KO Records and contributing to Skylax House Explosion, this latest suggests a new level of artistic maturity across four tracks that channels the spirit of revered house artists like Black Jazz Consortium, Mike Huckaby and Soul Capsule. From the lush opener 'Echoes' to the dreamy closer 'La Haye,' each cohesive sound blends jazzy textures and ambient depth with club-ready grooves. This is timeless, introspective house music of the sort that is always going to appeal to the heads who like their sounds intimate, pensive and slow during for those cosy back rooms.
Review: The enigmatic Florence series continues with a varied collection of dance-focused cuts. The looped-up 'Aphect' features haunting vocals transcending pulsing chords, snappy drums, and deep bass, while the familiar disco flex of 'Bphect' features a beefed-up edit of Melba Moore's classic 'Pick Me Up, I'll Dance'. Crisp rhythms power more wigged-out vocals on the stripped-but-sturdy 'Cphect', before the showstopper 'Dphect' features a boldly tongue-in-cheek (or playful, depending on how you look at it) house version of The Shadows' 'My Blue Heaven,' with Cliff's honeyed vocal spliced over bumping drums. Bags of fun.
Review: Emil Gayles delivers a standout deep house experience with her title song 'Dansons Bougeons'. This gem is a soulful house groove that shines in multiple forms. The Trinidadian Deep vocal remix on Side-1 gives the track a techy, atmospheric spin, blending smooth, melodic layers with a breezy flow, perfect for late-night listening. The instrumental version on the same side takes this mood further, emphasising cascading piano lines and lush waves that deepen the track's beauty, showcasing Trinidadian Deep's skill in creating an evocative, melody-focused atmosphere. To compliment the original, the instrumental is also featured here and allows the production's soulful essence to come through more clearly, with smooth rhythms and light, sun-drenched chords. Together, these tracks capture a seamless balance between emotive depth and danceable vibes.
Review: The mysterious Giralda returns with a new one on their own eponymous label. It's minimal in design but with maximal character and unusual influences. 'Passion' has bright disco colours and percussive energy, then 'No Respect' taps into 90s breakbeats and big piano celebrations with reverse stabs and even raga overtones. 'Hell Or Heaven (5.1 mix - Angel remix)' is another retro future sound with fat drums and sustained chords for the head. 'Feel The Groove' is a critter closer with more pianos, disco house drums, 80s keys and an unusual vibe that is login to level up any party.
Review: Fresh from fine outings on Razor N Tape Reserve, Royal Oak and Nervous Chill, prolific producer Felipe Gordon makes his bow on French label Phonogramme. While the Colombian producer made his name with a jazz-funk-flecked brand of warming deep house, these days his EPs tend to showcase more subtle variety. That's certainly the case here, as he first gives his take on Latin-flecked jazz-house (the superb 'Who's Gonna Be', which makes great use of vintage female vocal snippets), before flitting between gorgeous, piano-laden deep house (the similarly jazzy, sample-heavy 'Wait On You (Say Goodbye)'), bluesy deep house haziness ('Keep Doing What You Love'), and hypnotic excellence (title track 'Phasing The Shit', where warped electronic motifs, woozy chords and crispy cymbal hits catch the ear).
Review: HERO U.D.A. aka Hiroyoshi Udaka is a Tokyo-born DJ and producer who emerged from Japan's underground techno scene after moving to London in the late '80s and being inspired by the UK's legendary acid house wave. Throughout the '90s, he played at iconic clubs like The End and Tribal Gathering, supporting techno legends on tours in Japan and this EP features tracks recorded between 2002-2005 after his return to Tokyo. He draws on broken beat, acid jazz, dub and breaks with plenty of interesting and palpable textures bringing the work to life in HD. It comes on the SAISEI label, which revives rare Japanese electronic music and Udaka's timeless, playful sound is a perfect fit.
Review: Two of Detroit's finest contemporary talents come together here for House of Hits, a brand-new collaboration that cannot fail to get house heads excited. Both Wajeed and Ladymonix have fresh signature sounds and they collide both into something more party-starting than you might expect from each in solo mode. 'Work That' is bumping house with masterfully smeared synth work and edgy rap vocals all getting things going. 'Did You Do A Gig Last Night' is a deep but slamming house sound with traditional chord vamps bringing the heat and 'Extravaganza' then takes it down again into heady, cavernous dub house territory with intimate vocal whispers adding soul. 'Work That' (Winston Dream remix) is a thrilling broken beat version with sun-drenched pads and cosmic leads.
Review: Chicago DJ and producer Ines Aguilar goes most notably by the name Work Ethic, and is responsible for a ream of parties thrown across the Northern city. Their first ever EP inaugurates the Work Ethic label, and emphasises avant-funk of the "what is that?" variety. Early nods from trusted selectors like Darryn Jones of Durty Truth and Tim Zawada speak to the crate appeal here, but this isn't about hype: t's about taste. From obscure boogier 'No More Fighting' to leftfield burner 'Cain And Abel', these are cuts that do the talking without needing to shout.
Review: Lebaron James - read that one carefully - goes big on this accomplished and wide ranging new album on J & M Music Co. It is couched in classic American house and disco sounds and asked with superb samples that lend it a real authenticity and timeless musical quality. 'Please Don't Give Me Up' will soon win over any floor with its upbeat drums and bright melodies, while 'Tequila Sunrise' reaches for the stars with its cosmic keys and live sounding basslines. Interludes add extra derail to the listening experience but it's the club ready tracks that really standout, none more so that the loopy filter house of 'This Love.'
Review: Nick Curly's Cecille label helped define the second wave of tech house in late-early naughties. His Mannheim sound became the hype genre du jour and after only sporadic realms for a few years, the imprint is back and turning out plenty of new grooves on a regular basis, all from new school names. Kirik is one of them and is a much-loved Ukrainian house talent who has great range. He opens with some Detroit soul-infused speed-tech, then gets more funky with the deeper 'What We Luv.' 'Culminating' is a crisp and dubby tech house kicker with hints of garage percussion and 'Gemmy' is big on filters and loops for maximum impact for minimal elements.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.