Deep Explorer Spain Vinilo y CD

Review: Unsurprisingly, Above Smoke has long been closely associated with his brother Dubbyman's Deep Explorer label, and so it figures that the Spanish artist is releasing his debut album close to home. For those unfamiliar with the sound of Deep Explorer, think of the warmest, soul-inflected deep house rich with natural instrumentation as much as electronic elements and you should have an idea. On the album format Above Smoke has space to branch out into some refined neo soul excursions such as "Don't Stop (Till The Morning)" featuring Kikone's stirring vocal, but as ever it's the exemplary house music that truly defines this album.

Review: Madrid based producer Above Smoke returns to his own Deep Explorer label with his "Time" EP. Ten releases after 2007's "The Gathering" EP, the producer makes a welcome return with four original tracks of deep house with a slow, smooth and emotive feel.

Opening with "Forever in My Mind" Above Smoke drafts in the help of Alton Miller whose soulful vocal hook compliments the jazz inspired, dubby production of the track perfectly. Following simple piano key melodies and building chords the track drops into funky bass rolls with nice breaks and hand claps. There is another collaborator on the following track, "Elevation." This time, Stereociti of Mojuba records joins Above Smoke on this deep and calm track. A nod to the more relaxed sound of Detroit, "Elevation" merges a steady, understated beat with light percussion and hushed piano chords. The occasional soulful vocal adds to the sophistication of the track, turning it into a piece of deep house music in its purest form. "Burning" goes even deeper, this time utilising echoed vocals and stretched synthesizers to create a warm and easy feeling throughout. There is some light bongo action in there and a nice groove weaves and bends itself around straightforward beats. Finishing the package is "Right On" which steps things up a gear with some 4 / 4 beat and waving bass. The 'I Gotta Have It' vocal cries back to the original days of house as Above Smoke keeps everything very controlled in another of his deep house efforts.

As one of the main artists responsible for the sound of Deep Explorer, it is great to see Above Smoke back where he belongs. And even better that the Spaniard has been able to pick up exactly where he left off from to deliver some more pristine, deep house cuts.

Review: The new reference of Deep Explorer brings the different visions in electronic music for the dancefloor of Javier Alvarez (aka Above Smoke) until now habitual in Deep Explorer for his works of mastering and his remixes for different artists within the world of the electronic music. On the A side, 'Hysteria' gives what its name suggests and opens the EP with a cut of electronic house with a solid bass influenced by Environ or Chicken Lips among others. 'Minimal Time' is exactly what title transmits: a subject of clicks and cuts with a marked rhythm for a defined mixture. The B side begins with the reconstruction that makes Dubbyman main subject of 12". 'Hysteria' (Dubbyman remix) is a cut uptempo of electro-house with synthetic low effects for high hours session. Finally, 'Feel To Learn' closes the disc with its dragged rhythm and cool sax. The result is a honest tribute to the present masters of the Detroit sound like Theo Parrish, Kenny Dixon Jr or Rick Wade among others.

Review: Dubbyman's Deep Explorer imprint comes correct with a limited edition white label 10" from Kai Alce. With roots that stretch across America, from Atlanta to New York and Detroit, Alce is tied closest, musically, to the Motor City (he was hired to do lights at the city's legendary Music Institute at the age of 16). The Willow EP positively drips with Detroit machine soul; the title track features floating synths and a subtle bassline working beneath Azulu Phantom's vocals. This leads into the excellent "Track 3", which features some raw, brittle drums, soulful moans and an unforgettably deep bass line. Flip over for the acid-tinged Deep Explorer remix of the title track, which takes the original and spans it out over an entire side of wax with subtly hypnotic results.

Review: A third release for the year from Deep Explorer extends the invitation to Allstarr Motomusic, aka Zurich based producer and DeepArtSounds founder Daniel Piu. Under his given name, Piu has form for house productions dating back to the late '90s but seems newly reinvigorated following the decision to start working as Allstarr Motomusic, with Beauty & Simplicity following a fine contribution to the Minuendo label. The three original Allstarr Motomusic exude an old school feeling no doubt developed by years of record collecting and are augmented by a fine remix from Anthony Nicholson.

Review: Deep House doesn't get deeper than Deep Explorer, Dubbyman's evergreen label transmitting out of Spain. On this latest 12", Allstarr Motomusic makes a welcome return after the first volume of Beauty & Simplicty back in 2015. This time they're working in collaboration with vocalist Sarignia Bonfa and the results are stunning. "Burning (In My Soul)" is a gorgeous, dubbed out slice of deep house with a true Midwest flavour, while "El Sonido Deepex" takes things into even more sultry territory. There's also space for downtempo reflection on "Space Of Life", but also watch out for the deadly remix of "The Whole Hood In My House" by CVO.

Review: Auji Industries represents the most deepness side of the japan scene. In 2011 he droped "Love you more EP" for Pan records, an instant classic for all the real deep followers. Now he joins the Deep Explorer army with this 4 track eo full of frozen emotions and winter sounds. It includes a sick downtempo remix by Man-Drake (the other face of Dubbyman)

Review: Bjak and Dubbyman team up to become Twin Beats on the latter's Deep Explorer imprint. This is the pair's first collaborative release, but their studio chemistry is there for all to see as the first few bars of "Do It Properly" ease out through your speakers. It's floaty, jazz-flecked house bathed in pools of gently rippling bass tones, and things are given a sophisticated edge by the adroit vocals of Brian Cullen. This shares the A-Side with the slightly more upbeat "Water Walk With Me", with Cullen matching Marvin Belton in the modern day soulful crooner stakes. Flip over for a remix of the title track from - gulp - Larry Heard, with the Chicagoan legend turning in a typically sumptuous slice of machine soul that naturally hogs the vast majority of the B-Side, before an excellent EP is rounded off by a beatless outro.

Review: While on this new record he may declare that Deep Is Dead, the notion of Dubbyman turning his back on the smooth, immersive sound he has built up all these years is borderline laughable. Instead what we have is an update on his deep house standards, with a greater emphasis on instrumentation and an embrace of different tempos and grooves. Still, the languid jazzy atmosphere remains at the forefront of this album, whether it's Dubbyman flying solo or welcoming in likeminded souls such as Kuniyuki Takahashi or Allstar Motomusic. Take your pick anywhere on this stellar constellation, the mood is refined and rich with expression, just how deep house should be.

Review: Ten years of Deep Explorer... The celebration started with "The Capsule remixes 10" that was released 2 months ago, now is closed with this "Far & Beyond", a double pack vinyl where the brothers and heads of the label (Dubbyman & Above Smoke) make their own selection of exclusive material into groove and dark deepest house tunes from artists worldwide.

Review: Leo Gunn is an artist that has been truly dedicated to the cause of Deep Explorer. To date all the artist's music has come to light on Dubbyman's bastion of Spanish deep house, and it's no wonder when you listen to the illustrious tones of his productions. Ahead of a new album, this 7" of mystery and wonder starts off in the utterly enchanting world of "Voodoo", a spaced out lullaby of expressive pads and the softest house tick buffeting along the aqueous sounds. There's a slight change of mood on the flip as "Moondub" lives up to its name with a spacious soundworld marked out by echoing piano notes and a rock solid bassline, but still that inimitable Deep Explorer mood prevails.

Review: As an intermittent feature over at Deep Explorer, Leo Gunn makes his second vinyl appearance for the label appearance with some typically astute deep house ponderings, starting off with the lush undulations of "Dancing With Dreams". "Come Down" gets into a tripped-out mind state of a different nature with its soulful key progressions, although still very much in that elegant vein championed by Deep Explorer. "Open Spaces" brings equal amounts of wistful atmospherics, although over a slightly more pronounced beat, while "Quiet" sees Dubbyman getting in on a reconstruction that lets cheeky synth flutes amongst other things dart into the blissed-out mix.

Review: With a story intrinsically woven into the fabric of the Deep Explorer catalogue, Leo Gunn presents his debut album in a sultry haze of natural, heartfelt deep house with all the soul the genre has to offer. The LP begins in a laconic fashion with the slow-ticking "Leo & Leo Jr" before "Journey Inwards" presents a more focused kind of track for steady warm ups and hazy mornings. "Digital vs MIDI" is equally a subtle kind of party starter with its solid rhythmic foundation and "Home Base" fixes its gaze on a more lively time of night, but here and throughout the mood is predominantly mellow, as it should be with a release on Deep Explorer.

Review: After their contribution to "Far & Beyond" compilation, Owen Jay & Melchior Sultana get back to Deep Explorer finally with a full EP, where they combine different styles in just 4 tracks. Deep instrumental, vocals and even electro vibes.Everything under the smooth shield of the Batti Batti team. The circle is completed by the remix of "Make me feel" (the track that opened the doors of Deep Explorer to the Batti Batti family) by the legendary Mike Grant (Moods & Grooves).

Review: There aren't many outposts in Europe quite as deep as Dubbyman's Deep Explorer, while the selector himself is well versed in communicating with the soul. Here on The Remix Capsule it's deep, soulful overload as Jersey Real Estate and Ex Friendly both get the remix treatment from the label boss, with both cuts featuring life-affirming musings from Jovonn and Rich Medina respectively. "What Is House" is the most blissful of trips, all sumptuous pads and keys drifting into eternity while the beat listlessly rolls out on a refined consortium of bongo drums. "Journey Man" is a more punchy track (well, by Dubbyman standards) as the synths look more upwards and the beat sports a funk injection that should make it work on smoother dancefloors.

Review: After the summer break, the explorers leave the coast to get back to the sea. The new adventure is called "Greener EP" and is signed by Kemetic Just (Nite Grooves, NDATL, Pooled Music..) 4 track EP that includes remixes by Volcov, Above Smoke and a Dark Deep Explorer mix with Brad Peterson on the keys

Review: 'Ocean Species EP (Vol 2)' is the killer three track 12" on Deep Explorer. On the main side, a deep dubby track with cool
percussion, nice keys and vocals by The Lady Blacktronika, inspired by Mike Huckaby as the label suggests! On the b-side
a jazzy house track called 'Dubbyman', remixed by Alton Miller and a mid tempo track by Anton Zapp. Recommended!

Review: Mahal hasn't been seen for a while - their previous and only appearance was on the excellent Rough House Rosie back in 2015. Now this lesser spotted artist makes a welcome return on Deep Explorer with some sophisticated adventures in the realm of truly dreamy house music. "Alternate Dimensions" creates a beautiful, swirling concoction out of diva vocals and gilded piano chords, which Man-Drake slows down and funks up in a seriously tasteful way on the remix. "Parallel World" finds Mahal digging into a trippy, hypnagogic wormhole of a track underpinned by a sumptuous acid line, which Brad P does away with for a more airy version before Rai Scott tackles "Temporary Zone Complex" in a beatless style.

Review: Imperious Spanish imprint Deep Explorer reached release number 26 this year, with a split EP featuring Altered Moods boss Malcolm Moore alongside long time Explorer Bjak (real name Brian Cullen). Bjak's two cuts - "Rhythm Of Love" and "Purple Fire" - are both produced with typically immaculate poise, but it's the sultry nature of the latter cut that had everyone at Juno HQ swooning. Malcolm Moore meanwhile served the swooping chords and rock hard bump of "Love (A Perilous Thing)", which features an ethereal vocal contribution from Debra Jones-Davis, who talks about the dangers of the "L" word while the lush arrangement works deep below in the mix. Jenifa Mayanja rounds off a consummate package with a shuffling, Latin-influenced remix of "Love (A Perilous Thing)".

Review: For their latest trip into ultra-deep house territory, Spain's Deep Explorer imprint has turned to South African producer Ofuren, co-founder of the Roots Go Deep imprint. Predictably, he delivers a trio of cuts oozing with smoky atmosphere and intoxicating dancefloor warmth. The bongo-laden "Ancestry' kicks things off, with evocative pads, whispered vocals and a delicious bassline wrapping themselves around a bongo-laden afro-deep groove. Somehow, he manages to eke even more depth from the machines on "Mind Jazz Exploration" and "The Deepness (Ode To The Soul)", a Ron Trent style chunk of dreamy dancefloor bliss. Finally, Man-Drake and Afrikan Sciences join forces to turn "Ancestry" into a loose, appealing slice of midtempo goodness, complete with hazy melodies and a yearning, early morning feel.

Review: Dubbyman's Deep Explorer label eases into their 31st release with Sounds From The Void a celebration of the production palette of Deepblak founding father Armon Bazile. All four tracks here are pulled from the Deepblak digital archives, with a pair of Orion 70 productions complemented by an Aybee cut and refix of Dozie. First up is the rattling, broken flex of "The Little King", an Orion 70 production from 2007 that's been pressed on vinyl for the first time and sounds just as fresh! "In Every Way" presents Aybee at his most soulful, with a restrained production that gives Omega's vocal the centre stage it deserves. A similar mood pervades Aybee's Midnight Creep refix of Dozie's "Superstar" whilst the taut and punchy "Technoir" from Orion 70 rounds out proceedings in a steadfastly futuristic vein.

Review: Trinidadian Deep delivers his first EP for Dubbyman's Deep Explorer label and he blends murky filters with warm waves of musicality to create an impassioned EP of tender, yet zealous sounds. Delicate flutes and scuzzy synths waver like shimmers or light cutting through tropical water in "Mind Fluid", while the aquarian keys of the EPs title track push the production closer to a sun drenched surface, yet it remains submerged by a fathomless bassline and diluted pads. Above Smoke, who runs Deep Explorer with Dubbyman, reworks "Vision & Sound", reducing the originals higher tones of musicality, while calming its percussive elements and adding a part-hummed part-sung vocal line.

Review: W&P Hgg is back to Deep Explorer since his last release on the label in 2010. This new EP contains "Edit gospel #5", a hard to find old classic tune by W&P Hgg and two new versions of the song by the Deep Explorer heads, one killer club cut by Dubbyman and another downbeat take for chilled moments. Is crurch time...

Review: Spain's Deep Explorer has always operated on the edges of the deep house universe and now they turn there again with this heavyweight 12" from Gregor Yan. It's the sort of classic sound that made first rave deep practitioners like Larry Heard and later Glenn Underground so well revered: musical, lush, layered. Drums feature but are often soft and subtle, with the chords and hi hats doing much of the work to get you in a groove. Highlights are plenty, but the serene and sombre shuffle of 'Garage' takes some beating.

Review: Just one step before the 40 releases on Deep Explorer, the label dives into jazz waters with this "Jazz City" Mini LP by Gregor Yan. Six cuts for those that like to swing. Includes a reshape version by New Jazz Fakers.

Review: George Btp has many strings to his bow, from his work as Dan Piu to his Allstar Motomusic aliases and his deepArtSounds label. His Zarenzeit band with Robert P has been quietly cruising since the mid 90s, although first surfaced on deepArtSounds in 2016 with the Black Inside album. Now the project returns with a limited 7" release for fellow deep house traveler Dubbyman's Deep Explorer label, and the results are as seductive and subliminal as you would expect. "Before Midnight" fuses swirling galaxies of high end synth work with a snappy electro funk backbeat, which Dubbyman reworks on the flip into one of his trademark deeper than deep dancefloor cuts.

Review: Five years on from their lauded debut album, Dan Piu and Robert P. return with a second trip into luxurious deep house, this time moving from deepArtSounds to Deep Explorer. It's a logical step given their closeness to Dubbyman and his particular world of serious, soulful deep house, and their new album sounds right at home on the label. Dubbyman himself has a hand in a number of tracks on the album, not least the stunning, fired up club cut 'La Experiencia Tribal'. Meanwhile Owen Jay and Chris Gray guest on the melancholic downtempo jam 'Where Do I Go From Now', while Grant and Bjak lend some heady vocals to 'Honesty'. This is a proper deep house album, teasing different tempos and exploring beyond the confines of the club.