Juno Recommends Deep House March 2021

Review: First released way back in 1998, The Mood EP has long been regarded as one of Kerri Chandler's most essential EPs - and given his track record, that's saying something. It remains a must-have for fans of NYC deep house and U.S garage, as this yellow-vinyl reissue confirms. Check first the mazy, spacey synth solos, squeezable synth-bass and delay-laden beats of 'Just Livin', before admiring the classical deep house warmth and positivity of 'Dream Scape'. 'Union City Lights' peppers and warming US garage groove with more fluid electric piano solos in Chandler's trademark style, while EP highlight 'Rain' is a bumpin' vocal number that sounds as fresh now as it did way back in the 1990s.

Review: There's very little collaborative work by Chez Damier and Ron Trent, especially the cuts they made during the days of Prescription Records, that isn't timeless and top-drawer. You could certainly say that about the four tracks that make up 1994's now reissued Hip To Be Disillusioned Volume 1. The untitled opener is loopy, deep and hypnotic in their trademark early morning style, while the track that follows - a version of Primitive Arts LP cut 'Sometimes I Feel Like' - is a little warmer and more positive in tone but no less chunky and locked-in. The flipside opens with a rolling, early morning loop jam (think deep, chunky bass, delay-laden synth stabs and crunchy drums), while the closing cut is a wickedly stripped back version of previous single 'I Feel The Rhythm'.

Review: Taken from the Joaquin Joe Claussell highly praised Raw Cassette series.

Review: There is a heavyweight selection of names on this first release from Norm Talley's promising new label Upstairs Asylum. Firstly, the man himself is a Motor City heavyweight who links with fellow luminary Omar S on the opener 'Muggy Detroit Heat.' It's an intense and steamy house track that bristles with raw melody. On the flip, French house icon D'Julz reworks a tune by Norm in cahoots with the one and only Moodymann. This one is all cuddly chords, romanic vocal chops and warm, rough edged house beats for those cosy basements.

Review: Maxi Degrassi's 2020 output, which included melodious, must-check EPs for Sag & Tre and Melody of the Soul, was largely impressive, so hopes are naturally high for his All Day I Dream debut. The Argentinian producer begins by adding South American percussion, chiming lead lines, ethereal female vocal samples and spacey synth sounds to a chunky beat on 'The Love Goes First', before reaching for the pianos on the deeper, warmer and hazier dancefloor bliss pf 'String of Feelings'. 'About Energies' is a smooth, string-drenched treat, while closing cut 'Keep Moving' is dreamy, tactile and wonderfully hypnotic. Undeniably one of All Day I Dream's best EPs of the year - and that's saying something.

Review: It's a case of old school meets new school on this fresh new slice of house from Defected. Representing the vets is the one and only Louie Vega, while in the contemporary corner are New York's finest, the Martinez Brothers. Marc E Bassy also pops up on vocals for this feel good deep house gem. His part sung, part rapped delivery comes over soul drenched beats and nice singing leads, which have long been a hallmark of the great Masters at Work man, Vega. A TMBLV mix is more pumping, Honey Dijon cuts loose on elastic bass and rugged rhythms and Dom Dolla offers a more energetic and main room version.

Review: This is the second edition of a four part series by Detroit icon Omar S called Record Packer - a new video game score as part of his pop-up exhibition in the Motor City, in collaboration with Red Bull Arts. On the A side, we have the dusty dub techno explorations of 'Storm', followed by the raw percussive funk of 'No One Can Stop Me'. On the flip, enjoy the deep and mesmerizing groove of 'Trac 45' followed by a lovely late night boogie-down vibe on 'Mystery Man'. Originally conceived as a physical exhibition, Omar S: Conant Gardens Party Store now lives online as an interactive web environment.

Review: You'll struggle to find any deeper or more alluring tracks in Norm Talley's catalogue than 'Powder', the wonderfully hypnotic, locked in and subtly spacey opener from the Motor City producer's 2011 EP on Mixmode, Tracks From The Asylum. It's a good thing, then, that Talley has decided to reissue the sought-after EP on his own label. The Detroiter doesn't put a foot wrong throughout, with the chugging, beatdown-inspired brilliance of 'Lost', which boasts some sublime piano solos, and the up-beat hustle of 'Private Party' being equally as essential as 'Powder'. Speaking of that track, Delano Smith's 'More Powder' version is also worth a listen, featuring as it does slightly bolder synth riffs and a tougher, techno-influenced groove.

Review: Few labels have been as definitive for house music as Nu Groove, and now they tap up a pair of artists who have also done their far share to shape the genre at large. On one side is American mainstay Jovonn, who offers a spritely tune in 'Random' with skipping drums and edgy chords, while 'Get Over It' (Soulfrican Soul Bass dub mix) is a more warm and heady tune for cosy back rooms. On the flip, Swiss craftsman Deetron offers some peak time tackle with the big piano chords and incendiary hi hats of 'Dr Melonball' while 'V-NRG' brings some jacking old school disco sweat to close out a useful EP.

Review: Honeycomb Music serves up a tune as sweet as the label's name here. The original 'Girl You Need A Change Of Mind' is actually a 1972 hit from soul crooner Eddie Kendricks. Last year, though, the super-talented Josh Milan took it and reworked it into a soothing and smooth deep house jam with golden production skills. The equally skilled Lamone resung the vocal with his own unique style and the track is a heart melting groove with horns, pianos and loose perc all getting you into the groove. A vocal and instrumental is included, with the flip being a more late night and loungey affair.

Review: The Jasper Street Co are well known in house circles for their uplifting, gospel tinged house sounds. Pure, unadulterated joy oozes from everything they touch - it doesn't sound particularly new, but neither does it sound dated. Here the longtime house label Nervous save up a massive package of no fewer than eight remixes across a bright yellow double vinyl Tensake does a fine job of going big, Dr Packer simmers down the groove to something steamy and Teddy Douglas goes for an old school and funk licked vibe. Micfreak & DJ Spen serve up the most party ready cut of them all.

Review: It may have taken him 25 years and countless 12"s, but finally, Silverlining has delivered his first ever artist album. In keeping with his trademark style, the album's seven cuts - which explore themes of dependence on misrecognised digital identities, and the importance of real world tangibility - are smothered in spacey synth sounds, chunky, dub-fuelled bass and warped electronics. Interestingly, it's a lot more musically diverse than many might expect. There are a number of typically intergalactic excursions powered by punchy electro beats (see 'Observa (featuring Ntem)' and 'Contraculture'), cuts that doff a cap to classic deep house and US garage ('Aura', 'Schema'), an acid-flecked deep space proto-house jam ('Tundra'), and even a head-nodding trip-hop workout ('Recognitia'). Terrific stuff, all told."

Review: Seriously authentic vibe son this one from Billy Lo, which is a trio of artists from Detroit's Motor City. Bill Beaver is a Sound Signature and Mahogany Music alumnus, Darren Abrams wrote the classic 'Loose Piano' on Third Ear Recordings and Darryl Tis is the third piece of the puzzle. This EP features a repress of 'Its The Life,' a forgotten classic from the D that first came in 2002 and now costs a small fortune on Discogs. As well as the original, NDATL's front man Kai Alce remixes and two additional jazzy tinged, deep house gems are also included on this gold standard EP.

Review: Here's something you don't see all that often: high-grade Motor City deep house pressed to a seven-inch single. It comes courtesy of Brian Garrett AKA Javonntte, a veteran Detroit producer who rarely fails to deliver. He's certainly on form on this release, smartly adding sci-fi synth sounds, manipulated vocal snippets and elongated chords to crunchy drums and jazzy bass on A-side 'Abstract Love'. Equally as impressive is flipside 'Star Talk', a deeper, warmer, smoother and more soulful number rich in immersive synthesizer chords, eyes-closed vocal phrases, distant piano riff and mid-90s, US garage style Korg M1 lead lines. It's deluxe retro-futurism for those who like their deep house toasty and comforting. We're down with that.

Review: All Day I Dream has a very focussed sound that continues to turn out plenty of absorbing grooves from a range of producers old and new. This new EP brings back Victor and a selection of his friends for three collaborative tracks that make for perfectly escapist sound tracks. He links with Bross first off for 'La Caminata,' a playful melodic cut with sustained chords for far off gazing. Victhor & Alex Twin's 'Amaru' then bathes you in spring-time synths meditative beats while the collab with Christian Lepah has a more Middle Eastern and exotic feel thanks to the vocal samples. Finally, Victor goes solo for 'Walk Away,' which is the most heady, balmy, and expansive of the lot.

Review: All Day I Dream is one of the most consistent labels out there. It's a bastion of house to day dream to, or meditate to, or practice yoga to, and now it serves up a winter sampler filled with more such sounds. There are airy delights such as the opener from Somelee, deeper and more cuddly grooves from Evren Ulusoy and those more deriving cuts that are suited to slightly more energetic moments from LEGATO. There is nothing here to surprise anyone but plenty of good quality, reliable house tracks for sets that go deep.

Review: The long time Local Talk label has a mini modern classic on its hands here. 'Speak To Me' by the soul Renegades has a steamy and gospel feel, with rolling Chicago beats and bass and natty keys dancing up top. The vocals, singing synths and big claps all make it a pure, soul enriching house gem. The James L'Estraunge Orchestra remix is a brilliantly classy and stirring rendition which then explodes into a tropical disco house bomb filled with life, colour and good time grooves. Honest, effective, catchy, house music doesn't get much better.

Review: The Classic label has an assured place in the history of house music and its legacy only grows with each new release. This one features the boss man Luke Solomon first off with 'Love. Hope. Happiness' (feat Amy Douglas & Queen Rose). It's a glistening vocal house and richly musical track that brims with the sort of old school joy that brings smiles to faces on any dance floor. Newer talent Jaden Thompson lays down more of his punchy drum programming on 'To The Light', a tight and kinetic house jam for sweaty workouts. Austin Ato's 'Heat' brings rugged, funky bass to loose drums and Jansons & Liz Cass offer some more twisted tech vibes to make this a superbly varied EP.

Review: Leeds-based producer Kepler has been equally busy dishing out garage heat as 0113 in recent times, but he comes to Constant Sound with a supercharged tech house sound steeped in 90s punch. Just listen to the lately bass and tough beat driving 'Contact' and you'll know exactly what we mean. There's a melodic consistency that comes through on follow-up track 'Afterglow', but here the beats fall lighter and the synths get more space to sparkle. On the B side, 'Movement' reaches for the peak time once again, but with a gloriously melodic sensibility at its core, and then 'Pulse' rounds the EP off with another uptempo workout offset by illustrious lead lines and pads.

Review: Kalahari Oyster Cult is not only one of our favourite label names but also a damn good outlet for innovative deep house. This one comes from Helium, who has a sound that is well versed in the old school but always with its own added sense of freshness. 'Try Me' is gloriously positive and upbeat with a nice female vocal and lush melodic bassline. 'Clouds' (Captain mix) is then an interlude of suspensory pads that will keep you afloat above the dance floor and 'Out There' (Jody mix) closes down with an impossibly smooth and catchy house groove, spaced-out synth smears and future vibes.

Review: Theo Parrish's 2001 re-imagining of Recloose and Dwele's "Can't Take It" - renamed "I Can Take It" - remains one of the highlights of his illustrious career to date. A near 17-minute exploration of dusty, jazz-flecked deep house in his inimitable style, accompanied by Dwele's impeccably soulful vocals and some killer Rhodes action, it's arguably the one Theo record you need in your life. Happily, he's decided to repress the original 12", making it available to those unprepared to pay silly princes online. The often-forgotten B-side, "Sawala Sayale", is almost as good, delivering 10 minutes of relentless African drums, tribal chants and restless drum machine handclaps.

Review: Imogen Recordings continues to serve up dreamy, deep and emotive house that is heavily inspired by the 90s Italian scene here. The spirit of Balearic legend Don Carlos certainly looms large in this one, with opener 'I Wanna Do You' all filled with steamy pads, sensuous vocals and retro rubbery beats. 'A Deep Touch' is another perfect heady cut with drums straight from a Dream 2 Science record and more balmy, late summer pads all layers up beneath gorgeously twinkling keys. Closing things out, 'A Deep Trance' is a perfect record to lift the spirits, with its new age flutes and celebratory pianos all tied to a nice crisp beat.