New Jersey house don Kerri Chandler is rightfully lauded as a hero of the scene. He continues to pour his heart and soul into every record and imbue his music with real-world emotions that elevate his tunes. He is of course a master of a deep but driving sound that borrows from soul, funk and jazz in ignitible ways. The third volume of his Lost & Found EP series on his own label Kaoz Theory is packed with more gold, from the slinky depths of 'Let It (Give Me Back My Love)' to the soul staring vocal work of 'Another Dawn' via more paired back sounds on 'The Bassline' (Kerri Dark mix) and the percussive energy of 'The Breeze.' Yet another essential Kerri 12" for your collection.

Swiss producer and DJ Lea Lisa gathers together some of her favorite tracks to play out with in a double pack compilation for Favorite Recordings. As you might be able to tell from some of the artists and tracks on here, Lea likes her house music deep, tracky, sometimes soulful and verging on proper techno. Featured here are key tracks like 'Ekeyz' from Pure Science, the club mix of 'Be There' by Kerri Chandler and 'Blax Thanxs' by Abacus. One very desirable addition is the early 90s gem 'Emotional' by Think. This very strong gathering of deep house tracks may be one of the best this year. Act quick and grab a copy.

US label Planets is back with a third outing and this time they have a superb blend of roots and digi-dub with a cover of a Michael Jackson classic. AJ Brown is a noted vocalist who here serves up a rare street soul lovers' version of The King of Pop's 'Human Nature.' It's a passionate and emotive vocal work over a nice rolling beat and on the flipside it comes with an excellent instrumental dub version that allows the synth work to shine more and the funky bassline to come to the fore as the vocals are drenched in echo and reverb. Limited press on this one so move fast.

This new one from El Triangulo Records is the debut single from North Satellite's 2023 album, Past Life Half-Lived. It features several different and equally good versions including the original LP vision by the legendary Metro Area man Darshan Jesrani and alternate versions by Eugene Tambourine and Conrad McDonnell of Idjut Boys fame. The 12" is limited to 300 copies and for our money features some of the best cosmic disco and analogue drum grooves we've heard in a while. Of all the highlights, the opening Cosmic Freestyle is the one we love most.

New Jackson delivers the much-anticipated successor to 2017's From Night To Night in there form of OOPS!... POP on Permanent Vacation. This concise triumph in techno pop comprises nine tracks that elevate his signature electronic sounds to anthemic heights. David Kitt, a sonic polymath with a colourful career, has been working as New Jackson since 2011. This full length showcases Kitt's evolution over five years and three countries, distilling his studio methodology into a leaner, more euphoric body of work. Collaborating with a stellar cast, including Rita Lynn and Donnacha Costello, Kitt crafts an album that effortlessly combines dynamism and spontaneity, drawing from a century of influences. From the mesmerising opener to the climactic "With The Night At Our Feet', this album is a testament to Kitt's widescreen approach.

Hailing from Japan, the Cat Boys is a lounge funk band that has earned praise from Gilles Peterson. In 2023, they rose anew as Super Cats and unleashed their debut album under the same name. Inspired by 90s acid jazz, Sly Stone, and gospel, the album offers a soulful and funky journey while Yuima Enya's vocals, which come both in Japanese and English, add extra layers of enchantment. Tracks range from funky rap compositions to soul tunes, a psychedelic dub of Chaka Khan's hit, and a Japanese rendition of Roberta Flack's 'Feel Like Makin' Love.' With synth-driven disco and crossover house, the album explores melancholy and purity in alluring fashion.

Aussie soul boy and soothing crooner Jordan Rakei is a profile songwriter, producer and vocalist who has put out plenty of great records in recent times. They have made him a firm festival favourite over on these shores and as such he was tapped up back in 2021 to make his entry into the esteemed Late Night Tales series. As per the MO, he takes a deep dive into his record collection to soundtrack a session back at his once the sun has gone down. It's classy and sophisticated from front to back with jazz, soul, folk, deep house and plenty of his own tracks all adding up to something beautifully escapist.

Nu-tone introduces the debut single from Lulada Club here - a superb New York City based all-women salsa orchestra headed up by band co-leader Andrea Chavarro. After two years of live performances, they're finally sharing their music for everyone to dance to and dance you will to these most intoxicating mixes of funk, cumbria, salsa and more. It was recorded live and all-analog at NY Hed Studio by producer Rocio Verta-Wray, and the single comes on random-colour vinyl. Lulada Club emerged in 2022 to fill the gap for women ensembles in NYC's live music scene and co-leader Katherine Ocampo has said their aim is to "provide access to live music, culture, community, and representation for women in music festivals and other spaces."