Tags: Detroit House

Review: Most of the cuts showcased on the latest EP from Kai Alce's NDATL label - released in cahoots with Makin' Moves - have previously only been available digitally, while the others have never appeared at all. For that reason alone, the 12" is well worth checking out. Alce begins by offering up his warm, soulful and groovy vocal revision of Emdee Brown's "Again", before treating us to two versions of DJ Kemit and the Lounge Lizards' "Wake Up Stand" - a righteous vocal take and a "Hardubb" that brilliantly recasts it as a rolling late night bumper. Over on side B you'll find the broken beat/deep house fusion of Alce's rub of Malik Alston's "Promise Me Love" and a baggy, soulful and lilting rework of "Rise Up" by Wipe The Needle.

Review: Theo Parrish is a world-renowned name in the global Detroit house and techno game, and he's thrown a fascinating curveball as the latest entrant for the acclaimed DJ-Kicks series. Mr. Parrish has gone above and beyond the duties of most invitees - rather than just licensing tracks from his favourite artists and big-name-friends, he's asked his own community from Detroit to each produce their own mixable tracks, exclusively for the comp. What's more, these are hardly established names - they're organic connections to Parrish, not occupying the top layer of attention and recognition. Bits from H-Fusion, Jon Dixon, Donald Lee Roland II, Ian Fink and Raybone Jones all dominate this anarchic new deconstruction of the otherwise exclusivist mix series.

Review: Patrice Scott's long awaited debut album, Euphonium, was arguably one of the most underrated full-lengths of 2015. Happily, he's kept the quality threshold high for this follow-up EP. "The Detroit Upright" is particularly potent, with effortlessly smooth keys stretching out over rich chords and bumpin' deep house beats. On the flip, Scott doffs a cap to the hazy, jazz-funk influenced styles of 2000 Black, on the impeccable broken beat/deep house fusion cut, "Who We Are". Weighty at the bottom end, and blessed with both starry keys and delay-laden synth lines, it's the kind of track you could imagine Theo Parrish losing his shit to.

Review: 'Wanna Dance' is the new jam by deep house heavyweight Sean McCabe (Good Vibrations) and Last Forever chief Turbojazz. Said to be conceived during the lockdown period, the track recalls the energy of classic Detroit deep house and even features one of the city's favourite voices in the form of Javonntte. On the flip, the spiritual vibe of Moondance's rework calls to mind the work of Motor City legend Alton Miller, while EVM128 aka Evermean Beats really soaks up the vibe of his new hometown - London - on his nu-jazz broken beat perspective that would make even Kaidi Tatham stand up and notice.

Review: Detroit native Jason Hogans will not be a familiar name to many, despite the fact he has been putting out music - albeit sporadically - for 20 odd years. A release on Theo Parrish's hero-worshipped Sound Signature will always put you in the spotlight, though, especially when it's as good as this. The artist explores deep Motor City house, percussive broken beats and that shamanistic, off-grid sound that label head Theo Parrish is such a master of. Standouts include the airy, spacious beat work of 'Favorite Coffee Mug' and steamy post-jungle concoction that is 'For My Solids.'

Review: Theo Parrish is a world-renowned name in the global Detroit house and techno game, and he's thrown a fascinating curveball as the latest entrant for the acclaimed DJ-Kicks series. Mr. Parrish has gone above and beyond the duties of most invitees - rather than just licensing tracks from his favourite artists and big-name-friends, he's asked his own community from Detroit to each produce their own mixable tracks, exclusively for the comp. What's more, these are hardly established names - they're organic connections to Parrish, not occupying the top layer of attention and recognition. Bits from H-Fusion, Jon Dixon, Donald Lee Roland II, Ian Fink and Raybone Jones all dominate this anarchic new deconstruction of the otherwise exclusivist mix series.