GARI ROMALIS Vinyl & CDs

Review: Detroit legend Gari Romalis is as productive as ever, offering up a strain of deep house that feels classic without trading on past glories. In a year when he's collaborated with DJ Minx on Women On Wax, landed on Just Jack, Wild Circus and Secret Society, he's now rubbing shoulders with Boo Williams, Orlando Voorn, Vincent Floyd and more for breakthrough Italian label NICEPEOPLE. There's quality oozing out of every bar of this EP, but 'Black Diamondz (Africa Mix)' is especially classy, capturing a subdued but purposeful mood which rightly turns the mind to the empowered theme of the record. Don't sleep on 'Purpose Reprise (Motivate Mix)' either, in which the pointed speech samples give you food for thought atop another of Romalis' impeccable groove.

Review: Bristol party and label Just Jack welcome unsung Detroit hero in the form of Gari Romalis. He brings all the sounds you'd expect of a Motor City artist - depth, soul and warmth. 'Panic In Detroit' (Goos Life Mix) is a mid tempo jam that will warm up early evening floors. 'Final Fronteer' (Brain Block mix) is a deep and cuddly cut with hip swinging claps and splashy hi hats and last of all comes the best fo the lot, 'Hard Rain.' It has smooth drum loops that rock back and forth and draw you in beneath balmy cosmic pads and far-sighted sense of melancholy. This is tasteful, subtle dance music for the heads.

Review: With label staple Divinti making an appearance this week on Stump Valley's latest EP, we're very happy to see Women On Wax Recordings serving up a new release to follow up last year's Violet Groove EP by label owner DJ Minx. It's an entirely Detroit affair once again, where she teams up with local scene veteran Gari Romalis (aka DJ SCSI) for this split release - Tronic D. On the A-side, Romalis serves up some serious attitude on the late night basement wall shaker 'Stomp Da Yard', followed by more sensual mood music on 'Goin' Down'. On the flip, Minx does deeper with the hypnotic chords of 'Stiletto Stroll' and the jazzed-up minimal house groove of 'Cocktail Or Two' where she nails that perfect afterhours vibe once again. Tip!

Review: Upstairs Asylum Recordings is one of the many seminal Detroit labels run by local legend Norm Talley. It's right in the middle of a busy run right now with no fewer superb run with three new EPs all dropping in quick succession. This one is a split EP with US duo Solid Gold Playaz taking care of the a-side. As always with this pair, their sounds are deep and dusty house with exquisite melodies tugging at the heart. On the flip, Gari Romalis steps up with the slick percussive skip of 'Detroit After Dark' then 'Panties' from Brian Neal brings jacked up analogue groves that lean into techno with a big fat bassline.