VICK LAVENDER Vinyl & CDs

Review: Back in 2020, Vick Lavender unveiled his 'Time Traveller Mix' of 'Set Fire To Me', a superb cover of Willie Colon's Latin classic of the same name. It never appeared on wax at the time - it was, sadly for vinyl enthusiasts, digital-only - so this 12" is sure to be in demand. Naturally, it kicks off with that fine re-imagining - a brilliant blend of layered Latin percussion, intergalactic electronics, sunset-ready chords, jammed-out Rhodes motifs and rolling deep house grooves. This time round, he's also added a more stripped-back, drum-heavy version (the 'Beats N Life Vinyl Mix'), while the EP also boasts another previously digital-only treat: Kai Alce's deep house-meets-broken beat tweak of D Millz collaboration 'There It Is'. In a word: essential!

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Vick Lavander is on fire right now having recently minted Brett Dancer's new label Ethnic Blend Music and now comes back with more of his humid and authentic deep house. This one is also to start a new label - Sophisticado, his own new imprint - and first up is 'Deep Root,' a cosmically included deep house cut with gospel-style organ chords and chunky drums that work you into a lather. 'Hustle' then picks up the pace with more superbly warm chords and this time some Balearic acoustic guitar riffs and impossibly sunny grooves. Life-affirming tackle for joyous dancefloors.

Review: Vick Lavander is on fire right now having recently minted Brett Dancer's new label Ethnic Blend Music and now comes back with more of his humid and authentic deep house. This one is also to start a new label - Sophisticado, his own new imprint - and first up is 'Deep Root,' a cosmically included deep house cut with gospel-style organ chords and chunky drums that work you into a lather. 'Hustle' then picks up the pace with more superbly warm chords and this time some Balearic acoustic guitar riffs and impossibly sunny grooves. Life-affirming tackle for joyous dancefloors.

Review: Strictly Jaz Unit member and Glenn Underground collaborator Vick Lavender is enjoying a successful year, with this outing on the freshly minted Forbidden Dance label following excursions on Local Talk and Visions Inc. He starts in fine fashion via "Habano", a shuffling, soft-touch skip through Latin-fired deep house wonder rich in fluid vibraphone solos, layered beats, spacey synth doodles and squelchy synth bass. Over on side B, he first reaches for the Clavinet motifs, clattering timbales and intergalactic synth-chords on the jazz-funk/deep house fusion of "The Definition", before channelling the spirit of Ron Trent on the impeccably dreamy and positive closing cut, "NiteFlyte (Jessie's Journey)".

Review: This soulful, busy, heated and sultry 12" vinyl record features the work of two of Chicago's most eminent producers around today. On production duties comes Vick Lavender and Carlos Mena, and they're complemented by vocalist Amma Whatt (who appears on the cover), with respect to making a funky housey tribute to soul and jazz and bossa nova, producing a steamy whirlwind of a track that is hard to place, yet stellar. The various mixes are up-front and mega-roomy, but Whatt's vocals hit softly despite.

Review: Sole Aspect's fifth release brings together some of deep house's finest with some stylish grooves designed for the club. Chicago's VickLavender goes first and brings all 20 years of experience to his gorgeous 'Stratosphere'. Miami-based Electric Pickle resident Puma then offers pad-laced deep house daydream 'Defining Moments' which has a nice sombre feel, and hugely consistent Melchior Sultana then lays down more of his sunset sounds with shuffling drums and melted pads on 'Arcade'. The fast-rising, Brawther-tipped Daniel Chavez then shut down with 'FM Freeez' which is classic Detroit house with a late-night twist.

Review: Spanish label Mate is back with more excellent Deep House cuts from different corners of the scene. Vick Lavender repeats on the label this time with a vocal song feat. David Glen, simply magical. Italian finest Reekee which has just been released on Patric Scott's Sistrum presents a fusion of electronica and jazz with solid and elegant drums. Shaka from Switzerland offers us the groove and house vibes straight to the dancefloor. Nicola Alteri is The Mechanical Man, broken beat with sharp chords and R&B vocals combined perfectly. Don't let it get away!