BUSHWACKA Vinyl & CDs

Review: Following an upsurge in interest in his pioneering mid 1990s UK tech-house tracks, Bushwacka has been serving up some scintillating new music of late, most notably a fine four-tracker on Nu Groove. Here he contiunues his welcome renaissance via a fresh EP on REKIDS. He begins with 'Heaven On Earth (Main Mix)', a chunky and driving affair in which a gnarled American spoken word vocal, raw stabs and swamp funk samples ride a particularly heavy groove. He then beefs up the driving and druggy flex further on the accompanying 'Instadub', before delivering two takes on 'Roger That'. 'Version 1' sees the London veteran pepper a rubbery acid bassline, unfussy beats and dreamy chords with delay-laden proto-house vocal samples, while 'Version 2' is a more driving and intergalactic affair.

Review: Bushwacka is one of the UK's most accomplished underground players. From DJing to production via label ownership and promotion he has done it all, and with a lasting impact. His early days saw him as a key part of the fresh and emergent tech house sound and he has been vital ever since. Here he digs into his roots with a new EP for the iconic New York label Nu Groove and serves up just the sort of sounds the label is known for - deep house with chunky drum programming, smart synth work and warm basement vibes. A superb EP from a real veteran.

Review: Bushwacka deserves any plaudits that come his way. He was there at the birth of acid house and went on to foment his own take on tech house. He held a legendary residency at the End in London and of course dropped countless seminal tunes alongside Layo, not least their epic 'Love Story' mash-up. Now the acclaimed but still relevant UK veteran dives back into his roots to serve up the sounds that came before tech house with highlights that would have been heard at the time at parties like Heart & Soul, Release, The Drop, Vapour Space, and at venues like Heaven and The End. Skippy, dubbed garage and driving house all feature in a fine collection.