Tags: Detroit House

Review: Here two of Situationism's compilation strands combine on one 12": 2up 2down, which focuses on high-grade deep house, and the In The Bag series of floor-friendly catalogue favourites. There's naturally plenty to get the blood pumping throughout, from the thrillingly off-kilter Afro-house rhythms of Mike Agent X Clark's 'My Journey Thru Africanism', and Javontte's sensational 2021 single 'Soul People', to the liquid jazz-funk/deep house fusion of BRS' fantastic 'A Night To Remember' - all rubbery bass guitar, huggable chords, glistening guitars, fluttering flutes and swinging beats - and the driving, gospel-influenced peak-time brilliance of Laroye's 'Best Girlfriends (Soulful Mix)'. To cite an old cliche, this genuinely is "all killer, no filler".

Review: Johnny Malek is a Detroit-based fashion designer-turned-producer who makes a strident arrival on Yoruba with this EP of gospel-infused deep house. It's a potent approach which chimes perfectly with Osunlade's esteemed label, reportedly prefacing a larger project to come. There is an abundance of Afro house drums on 'I Promise', an anthem in the making with a vocal which will lodge itself in the hearts and minds of any assembled throng it's faced with. 'Venus Rising' maintains the vibe, confirming Malek's arrival as an artist to keep tabs on in the new wave of deep house artists.