New releases last two weeks: Funky/Club House

Review: Released in 1994, Deee-Lite's follow-up to their colossal hit 'Groove Is In The Heart' and the World Clique album that contained it finds the trio taking a more adventurous route of funky rhythms, electronic experimentation and blissful psychedelic vibes. Tracks like 'River of Freedom' tap into a carefree dancefloor energy, while 'Picnic In The Summertime' evokes sun-soaked nostalgia, its bouncy beat an effortless backdrop to the dreamy, carefree lyrics. Deee-Lite's willingness to explore genres and sounds is evident throughout, with samples from The Orb and Carl Craig, among others, meshing seamlessly with live instrumentation and infectious grooves. One of the album's defining features is its ability to balance quirk with cool. The smooth transition in 'Somebody,' where the track slows down into a human beatbox rhythm, exemplifies the experimental nature of the band. And then there's the entrancing 'Party Happening People,' a track full of playful vibes, layered synths, and an unmistakable 90s energy. This isn't just for fans of the groupiit's a record that captures the essence of the 90s club scene. A perfect soundtrack to the era's fashion and carefree spirit, its sounds still hit fresh today, reminding us of the euphoric, experimental days of early electronic music. For anyone who has ever found themselves lost in the vibe of house, techno, or the club, this collection is essential listening.

Review: Make A Dance brings their official remix of Django Django's 'Don't Touch That Dial' to vinyl and in the process create a dancefloor bomb. Already a club-ready original, the remix transforms the original into an electrifying body-shaking anthem with Yuuko's vocals taking centre stage but nicely complemented by glitchy synths and acid elements. This version is a full-throttle, infectious banger and on the B-side you will find a vinyl-only dub mix that amplifies the electro grooves allowing Yuuko's vocals to subtly loop in the background. This is one of those records that Das of all genres will be reaching for to get things going to the next level.

Review: Cruise Music builds on their series of highly desiarable 12"s with the first in their "Best Of" series, releasing some hugely in demand and/or previously digital tracks on limited transparent yellow vinyl. On the A-side are two of their biggest and best-selling joints in the form of 'Superlovin' and 'Givin My Love', which are two loved-up and funky disco jams for good times. On the reverse are 'Energy' and 'Strawberry' which bring big, loveable samples to big, loveable beats and cannot fail to ignite any party. Cruise control.

Review: Under his Mild Minds alias, Benjamin David has won plenty of plaudits for his slim body of work to date - not least from the GRAMMY committee, who has previously nominated him for various awards. Gemini is his second album and sees him return to Foreign Family Collective - the imprint which released his earliest work - following a spell at Ninja Tune offshoot Counter Records. Blending elements of two-step, UK bass, deep house, eyes-closed 21st century electronic pop, synth-wave and cut-up vocal sample trickery, the album is accessible, energetic and impressively well produced, with a handful of carefully selected guest and collaborators pitching in to mix things up now and then.

Review: The vaults of Michael Jackson will always provide rich pickings for edit specialists and remixes. The originals were so packed with brilliance that tweaking them for modern ears or club contexts is a fairly easy job. Still, this latest offering does well to flip 'Don't Stop Til You Get Enough' into a house cut. It's a subtle job with filters doing much of the work as original strong flourishes, drums and vocals remain largely intact. Flip it over and it is 'Wanna Be Startin' Something' that becomes a 4/4 jam with soulful but driving drums and more MJ vocal magic up top.

Review: Australia's it-guy nu-disco producer Mo'funk shares another caution-to-the-wind wax piece by way of his native label Only Cuts. His second release on the label following the nominally unspecified 'Only Cuts Vol. 1', this follow-up record has, by contrast, been termed a "slam jam", and prefers irreverent moods and r&b samples. The A2 'Lllove' is especially arresting, sampling LL Cool J's 'Loungin'' and working it into a perpetual firing of choppy, chicken pickin' guitar and lurching kicks.

Review: This is a mega rare 12" version of a classic tune which will never not get big reactions. 'Get Ready For This' is a proper Philly disco soul delight with stirring vocals that are deep and powerful over fine instrumentals and funky bass effects. On the reverse is a flip by the one and only Paradis garage legend Ron Hardy. He upped the drums and allowed the vocal plenty of room to shine while tweaking the synths and melodies to sit not so loud in the mix and allow horns room to shine. A real gem from the glory days of early club culture.

Review: Secret Echoes, the Mexican trio of Estefani Brolo, Diego Cevallos and Marco Balcazar, are back with 'Particles', a release that builds on their promising 'Bring My Beat Back' debut with Crosstown Rebels. The first track is a deep, groovy journey, led by Brolo's ethereal vocals which blend seamlessly with wonky synths and a rolling rhythm. It's a track that effortlessly flows from introspective moments to dancefloor-ready energy. On the B-side, Greek DJ and producer Angelos gives the track a fresh spin. Known for his Grammy-winning work with Black Coffee, his remix brings a new level of drive and emotion, layering pulsating beats with rich melodies, making it perfect for the late-night crowd. Particles is a great follow-up, offering a glimpse into the trio's upcoming LP. With their unique sound and growing presence, Secret Echoes are showing they're ones to watch in the electronic scene.

Review: Serge Funk from Ancona in Italy, a name increasingly uttered in hushed tones within the disco and funky house edit community, unveils two formidable floor-fillers. 'Groovy Theme' and 'Cherry Bomb' showcase his remarkable dexterity in transforming familiar samples into dancefloor weaponry, expertly prioritising rhythm and groove over tired tropes like vocal hooks and predictable melodies. Funk's edits are laser-focused on DJs and discerning dancers, their stripped-back arrangements and undeniable energy cutting through the noise. 'Groovy Theme' builds with a patient intensity, its intricate percussion and swirling synths creating a palpable sense of anticipation before unleashing a groove of undeniable power. 'Cherry Bomb', on the other hand, is a detonation of pure dancefloor dynamite. Its propulsive bassline and fragmented vocal snippets are deployed with surgical precision, a masterclass in controlled chaos. This release confirms Serge Funk's position as a rising force in the edit scene, his ability to transform familiar sounds into something fresh and exhilarating marking him out as one to watch. Expect to hear these cuts dominating discerning dancefloors for months to come.

Review: Track Deluxe Records is based between Barcelona and Paris and this is its first vinyl release. It comes from the eponymous producer and brings plenty of feel good and funky vibes to summery house drums. 'Jackpotes' kicks off with happy piano chords and nicely undercooked drums topped with some subtle vocal swirls passed through a warm retro filter. 'Sing It Back' is an edit of the Molokai classic with plenty of colourful melodies, a new and funky skip in the beats and a hint of garage swing to finish it with a modern touch.

Review: Terry Usher takes things deep on a new outing for Saint Wax that has spiritual overtones and Afro vibes exuding from every beat. '8 Hours' opens up with the sort of spine-tingling vocals and pensive pads that take any floor higher. 'Never Leave You' is a percussive groove with an infectious sense of skip and 'M' Pon' then picks things up with chanting vocals and warrior leads next to rousing horns full of soul. 'O' Wey' closes out with steel-plated drums and soft shakers bringing plenty of late-night magic.

Review: Last year, Spain's DROP Dance Society - a collective initially founded to put on open-minded, inclusive parties inspired by iconic Chicago and New York clubs - launched an offshoot label, unleashing a swathe of digital-only singles. Here the imprint lands on vinyl for the first time via a compilation showcasing the best of their "digi" releases so far. There's predictably plenty to set the pulse racing throughout, from the lightly disco-tinged deep house colour of TeteDe La Course's 'The Light (Soulful Trip Mix)' and ELTE's Soundstream-esque disco-house looper 'Love Will Shine', to the Dave Lee style beefed-up disco revivalism of Katermurr's 'Beautiful Spirit' and the trance-meets-Italodance surge of Alistair Lane's 'Hypnodance'.