Deep House Recommendations Best Of 2012

Review: REPRESS ALERT: Deep house emporium Ornate Music cast their worldly gaze to the Far East, calling on Japanese producer Sai, a graduate of Agnes's STHLM Audio imprint, for a killer four track EP entitled Bedroom Eyes. The sultry, suggestive nature of the title is translated into the tunes on offer, with opening cut "2AM" offering the most subtle of acid lines alongside piano flourishes and a spoken word vocal snippet. Better still is the afterhours bump of "Blue Lingerie", while "MR" toughens things up on the flip with a analogue grit and cooing vox. The 12" is rounded off with another original cut in "Another Myself", which is dripping in classic Motor City house vibes with gently oscillating bass tones reaching deep down inside.

Review: Andres' return with the second La Vida 12" reaffirmed our belief that there's no-one out there doing it quite like the former Slum Village DJ. Second Time Around has the same insouciant, dusty charm that characterised New For U, the first drop on the Detroit deity's La Vida imprint, with the title track instantly entering the canon of house classics that change the shape of a party as soon as the needle hits the groove. The shimmying beats and cooing vocal snippets on "Skate This Way" work alongside captivating string samples. Flip over for some eloquent beatdown ("Second Time Around") and shuffling deep house exotica ("Hart Plaza").

Review: After more or less owning 2011 with a surprise album, a collaboration with urban crooner Colonel Abrams, an ahead-of-the-game reissue of Marc Kinchen and the all-conquering "Here's Your Trance Now Dance", FXHE don Omar S kicks off a new year with Wayne County Hills Cops Pt 2 (where, we ask, was Part 1?), a hook-up with the mysterious OB IGNITT. The eponymous A-Side is characterised by the kind of glistening synths last seen on "Here's Your Trance...", with a rugged analogue bass line giving the track with the requisite bump. A tired cliche it may be, but this could easily soundtrack an 80s cop movie: clearly Omar has this in mind given the 12"'s title and the fact the record's centre label features a doctored image of Eddie Murphy from Beverly Hills Cop! On the flip, Omar S provides his own remix, drowning the synths in dubby textures and showering them with shuffling hats for a more heads-down take. Another killer 12" - business as usual at FXHE, then.

Review: Waze & Odyssey are dealing in a lean kind of old-skool flavoured house music which has made its way onto Southern Fried and Wolf Music in 2012. Launching their own imprint to put out their cool and deadly deep house, "Love That (Burns Hot Enough)" kicks things off with a straight-up pumper full of DX7 bassline vibes and light and summery piano chords. It's a simple trick finished off with a snappy diva vocal hook. "Ma Body" is a marginally moodier affair, focusing more on the rhythm section and keeping excessive elements held back until a Casio keyboard line comes in, shredding everything down to pure bliss.

Review: It was certainly a big year for DJ Steaw, having released on Traxx Underground and Local Talk amongst others but "Rhubarbe" was probably his most infectious collection of house tunes. "Holing On" is one of those classic beat tracks that just takes you on a journey, with those bumping kick drums accompanied by the seductive female vocals and its smooth, Chicago-filtered bass lines. "Got To Be" is similarly addictive, bringing you Steaw's crunchy percussion and dreamy synths but "Dirty Karma" was our favourite here at Juno HQ - that muffled bass drum scorching its way through lo-fi melodies and chopped vocals is just too awesome.

Review: Rush Hour did us plenty of favours this year but by far our most cherished was the reissue of James Mason's timeless, proto-house excursions on the infamous "Nightgruv" EP. There's really not much to be said about these peerless productions, the original mix is a stunning voyage through glimmering synths backed by a chugging beat groove, but the unreleased longer edit is the one - voyaging through those gorgeous drums and piano keys like there's no tomorrow! "I Want Your Love" is another masterpiece - slo-mo hip-hop beats mixed in with those killer funk bass lines and the infamous vocals taking you to another dimension.

Review: It was another huge year for Mr .Bashmore, the Bristol kid who surpassed all expectations and he also started his own label, Broadwalk Records on which to release his own material, the first of which was the massive Au Seve. The title track is a perfect fusion of London and Chicago, where hefty doses of sub-bass meet slicing hi-hats and 4/4 kicks, while "Troglodytes" is a peculiar beat workout, where steady drums go head to head with nostalgic flute implementations and a cheeky vocal sample hopping in and out. On the flipside, "First Odyssey" enters more unexpected territories and the regular kicks are now re-shuffled into a two-step inspired anthem - leaving enough space for delayed guitar chords and melancholic vocals to come in and break things down.

Review: Motor-City legend Norm Talley has had one hell of a comeback since his hiatus at the end of the 90s. Since 2009, he's reignited his peerless talent behind the production desk and London-based Landed Records have come through with what is probably his biggest EP yet. "Ion" kicks things off with style and panache, merging beautiful chords together with Talley's inimitable percussion style - dicing hi-hats all round! The title track, "Travlin" is a sublime jazzed-out piece for the small hours whilst "Analog Dreams" is just pure hardware delight - those gritty drums delivering some serious action alongside the meandering pads and subdued vocals. Get to know!

Review: The newly established London Housing Trust label inaugurate proceedings with a various artists 12" featuring contributions from Cynic artist Jamie Blanco alongside the previously unheralded Alphonse, Fx Mchn and Facade. It's unclear who the latter are but inside info suggests it's three well known artists operating incognito, but don't let this wilful obscurism put you off as each track here is optimum analogue house at its finest. The Fx Mchn contribution "Jackie" is particularly beguiling, touching on jagged punk funk as much as late 80s house with echo laden vocals smudged deep beneath a delightfully rubbery bass line and buccaneering, malfunctioning drums for six minutes. A promising debut from the label!

Review: It's rare that a Theo Parrish release arrives on a label based outside the US, but when that happens it always tends to be a bit special, see the Peacefrog released LP First Floor or that humongous Carl Craig remix of Falling Up on Third Ear for evidence. Running Back seems like a perfect European outlet for Theo to grace; indeed the Sound Signature boss has already contributed two stunning revisions for Gerd Janson's label and this oh so aptly titled Hand Made EP is pretty special. Firstly it features a special extended take on "Black Mist", a track that originally formed part of Parrish's highly prized Sketches triple vinyl set from 2010 which is listed with some ambitious prices on Discogs. Cut loud at gut punching 45rpm by Dubplates and Mastering, this prime slab of Theo fonk is worth the admission alone, but you get spoilt with two new cuts from Mr Parrish in "Pop Off" and "Wild Out" that are as wilded out as his recent "Any Other Styles" cut. Running Back quite superbly describe the latter track as "a Theo Parrish demo for Dance Mania after he came back from listening to Lil Louis at the Bismark Pavilion".

Review: Such is the prolific nature of FXHE at the moment, which ever pressing plant Omar S uses must be pretty happy with their contract. Following swiftly from Omar S's ode to the Axel F sound comes the debut missive from Aaron "Fit" Siegel. Named so thanks to his work at the helm of Fit Distribution, Siegel is a key figure in ensuring the ongoing healthy output of Detroit's house and techno militia and "Tonite" proves to be an auspicious debut. Featuring the vocal talents of L'Renne, the track is one of those eminently soulful house tracks with a sparse approach to production, all the elements sounding so crisp and distinct in the mix but judged perfectly. Such a track and the tougher B Side Detroit Mix just demonstrate how on top of their game FXHE are right now - big tip!

Review: At first glance, the pairing of Forest Hill resident Andrew Ashong and Sound Signature boss Theo Parrish would seem strange. But the duo have worked together previously with the Ghanaian born vocalist (and supposed owner of a vinyl collection that would make most record shops look like a car boot sale) lending his soulful tones to Parrish's excellent nine minute plus translation of the Hot Chip and Spiritualised affiliated About Group. Whereas that collaboration was more about Ashong's voice being just one element of a production that was undoubtedly Parrish, the three tracks present on the Flowers EP look to showcase what a talent the Londoner is. Those trademark dust filled stacatto rhythms are present in the opening title track, but they never swamp Ashong's killer vocal delivery, while "Take It Slow" is bonafide D funk of the highest order. After the brutal, divisive nature of Theo's kung fu experimentalism on the Any Other Styles EP, these three tracks show him in a wholly new light and hopefully Parrish and Ashong will be making much more music together.

Review: FXHE maintain their monthly heat emission for 2012, with label boss Omar S displaying all aspects of his production prowess (as well as skill for a humorous track titles) across four productions - one of which features the button bashing assistance of one Patrik Sjeren. There's something icily brilliant about the restrained "Income Tax Refund Dance" melding a dark piano riff with snapping 808 kicks and rippling lo fi rhythms which only further justifies the title of Omar S's killer 2011 LP. It's complemented by the far rowdier box jam "The White Castle Song" which jackhammers a simple yet highly flammable key riff over low rent percussion for FXHE's most potent ode to the perfect warehouse moment since the all conquering "Here's Your Trance..." Given the lack of additional info, we presume the Patrik Sjeren that produces the B Side "Untitled" track is the same Patrik Sjeren that released in the mid 90s under a multiplicity of aliases, and his contribution is every bit as incendiary as the track preceding it, whilst "3c 273" sees Omar S slip into pensive utopian electro mode with aplomb.

Review: The mysterious Crue returns with two body-twisting floor-burners for the peak-time hours. Thumping drums and old-skool chords are the main ingredients here, with the A-Side bringing some ruthless bass kicks into action alongside smooth but seductively off-kilter keys - not forgetting those ringing 90s vocals to wrap everything up nicely into a Head High reminiscent power bomb. Over on the flip, similarly ferocious bass drums pounce heavily against a wall of nostalgic but euphoric female vocals. All we know about these slabs of wax is that they originate from Spain and, oh, they come in lovely transparent marbled vinyl. A definite tip.

Review: Rush Hour have released some killer reissues in their time, and this mini-album from Ben Cenac of Newcleus fame, released under the Dream 2 Science moniker in 1990 is no exception, sounding like a conscious response to the warm, soul-flecked offerings of contemporaries Bobby Konders, the Burrell Brothers and Lamont Booker. Amazingly, Dream 2 Science still sounds remarkably fresh, 22 years on. The production, in particular, is terrific. While many house records of the period sound clumsy and dated, there's a timeless quality to the intricately programmed drum machine rhythms, the drifting chords, warm analogue basslines and cute vibraphone melodies.

Review: Firecracker offshoot Shevchenko has put out some of the finest house records of the last two years thanks to the inspiring work of Vakula. This time, however, the A Side - "No Music" - favours a more techno-leaning approach than usual. Swarms of industrial scratches are engulfed into a psychedelic arrangement packed with enough crunches to make your jaw wobble! On the flip, the aptly named "Vermona" pays a clear homage to the power of analogue beat arrangement and we're back into more familiar territories as smooth chords and effect-driven rhythms glide over the track. "Hand Made Beat" sees Vakula excel his capabilities and creates an intricate network of sloppy beats and ghostly melodies which grow and then dissolve with ease. A great addition to an already scintillating catalogue. Tip!

Review: There's little if anything we can find fault with on Hybrid Minds, a triumphant debut on the Electric Minds imprint for the prolific, if latterly quiet, Move D. This EP proffers the sort of nuanced deep house you've come to expect from the German producer after countless well received releases across Workshop, Running Back, Underground Quality and his own Source Records. Many will instantly fall for the charms of "Got 2 B", a superbly fizzing concoction that fluidly grooves through several glorious movements including a brief organ motif that would be rapturously received at the Electric Minds warehouse parties. "Say I" proves to be just as infectious, the tight clomping drum arrangements complemented by a real sense of textural space and a instantly recognisable vocal loop, while "Useless" ends proceedings with a dewy eyed vocoder led slow jam of the highest order.

Review: My Love Is Underground celebrates their landmark 10th release by going back to where it all began. Those of you with good memories - in dance music terms - will recall fondly the hubbub that surrounded the arrival of The Resurrxion EP in 2010, which announced to the world that Jeremy 'Underground Paris' and Sammy Brawther's label was one to keep an eagle eye on. Here that killer four track 12" is reissued with four slices of House Music Done Properly. "Gotta Get Over 2010" was an instant classic: all yearning vocals, dubby bass, sumptuous keys and judiciously used organ stabs, while "Jer & Iz" featured a clipped, teasing horn that immediately brought to mind the work of Marc Kinchen. "Move Ya Body" was just about our pick of the bunch here at Juno HQ, while "The Nathaniel X-Tract" rounded off the EP with perhaps the most uplifting jam of the lot.

Review: Amongst the many new albums to get excited about in 2012, those of a gallic house persuasion will surely list Megamix, the forthcoming 4th studio long player from veteran French producer I:Cube highly on their want lists. More so once your ears have soaked in the three tracks on this Lucifer En Discotheque 12" - all of which feature on the forthcoming album on regular haunt Versatile Records. I:Cube fans will be familiar with the multi faceted sounds that feature here with lead track "Transpiration" a gloriously sweat filled paean to various stages in dance music history, seamlessly combining 90s era rave stabs with the percussive swagger of punk funk and his own leftfield inclinations. Alongside this "Jah Menta" proves to be equally experimental in its melodic approach as it does subterranean and scratchy in its rhythmic directions, whilst the title track is a driving synth wave oddity of the highest order.