Rick Wade

Review: Does anyone in the house scene turn out more high quality material than Rick Wade? Answers on a 7" to Juno HQ, if you have any, because we're stumped. Anyway, this time, the US track making machine finds himself getting remixed on Belgium's Elypsia with each getting more gritty and cosmic minded than you might expect from the deep house stalwart himself. Tresilo certainly grits his teeth for the pixelated melodic workout that is the opener, while things get more smooth and cuddly with Pezzner at the buttons. The Vintage Future Planet D mix is a thing of meditative beauty ad last of all Pezzner reappears with a second fine remix.

Review: Eat More House's second salvo of 2019 comes courtesy of Rick Wade, a producer who seems incapable of making poor or mediocre music. His particular brand of Motor City deep house is always on-point and the four tracks here are every bit as atmospheric and groovy as you'd expect. Check first the foreboding analogue bass, punchy beats and simple melodic refrains of "Bmore Banger", before moving on to the deeper and more sedate - but not less dancefloor friendly - warmth of "NY". Over on side B, Wade reaches for the hypnotic beats, raw acid bass and enveloping chords of "Deep Sweet Dreams", before wrapping us in a blanket and offering up a steaming mug of hot chocolate via the wonderfully huggable deepness of "Too Deep". A master at work.

Review: The peeps behind the People Of Earth label claim that Rick Wade is on top form on their latest release. While that's undoubtedly true, the Detroiter has incredibly high standards and rarely puts out anything mediocre. The four tracks here are all deliciously deep and fluid, with the Fender Rhodes solos, meandering organ lines, warm bass and chunky beats of "Never Give Up" delivering just the right blend of instrumental goodness and dancefloor-ready weightiness. "Seen At Night" is an even deeper and hazier treat, while "Forever Alone" sees Wade wrap bongo-laden beats and eyes-closed electric piano chords around a ludicrously warm and heavy bassline. Solo-laden closing cut "Rooftop" is also superb - a proper sundown selection of the highest calibre.

Review: Following the recent dip into the Theo Parrish archives that was The Twin Cities, Phil Weeks' Robsoul imprint looks to another one of Detroit's adopted sons in the form of Rick Wade. Like that recent Parrish reissue, Weeks re-releases another three tracks from Wade's bulging discography. The upbeat disco loops of "Players Theme" was originally released on French label Funky Chocolate in 2002 and still sound fresher than anything being plied by the Soundcloud dwellers today, while "Can't You See" from 2003 provides a more soulful take on house music. On the flip, the tracky funk and cascading string melodies of "I Feel Good" originally graced Wade's own Harmonie Park imprint in 1998, but sound no less vital today. Essential.