Deep House Recommendations March 2016

Review: Since 2010, the My Love Is Underground imprint has done a stellar job in rekindling interest in the more soulful, New Jersey-influenced end of deep house. Credit must go to label boss Jeremy Underground, who here continues his quest to champion overlooked and forgotten house with a second collection of slept-on gems. With 12 quality tracks stretched across three slabs of wax - with accompanying detailed sleeve notes - there's much to enjoy, from the thumping, rave-era stomp of DJ Tools' Cleveland City classic "Hey Mr Shy One (Not Too Shy 2 Sample Mix)", to the hard-to-pigeonhole genius of Expectations' in-demand 1992 obscurity "Techno Soul". Naturally, the more soulful side of US deep house is represented, via killer selections from Groovestyle and Dionne.

Review: Superconscious, the Australian label overseen by the most evocatively named duo Francis Inferno Orchestra and Fantastic Man, returns with a fifth offering and the welcome sight of some fresh material from Andras Fox. Last spotted on a Dopeness Galore 12" alongside regular sparrer Oscar Key Sung, this fresh 5 track 12" sees the Foxmaster taking subtle cues from Cajmere, Pal Joey and some lesser known Australian house producers from the '90s. There is a DIY, lo-fi sheen apparent throughout but it's complemented by a refreshing sense of humour in some of the little production touches. See the 'horny-Australiana disco' of "Soy Boy" for an example of this. A great 12"!

Review: Bristol imprint Banoffee Pies comes at us with their third release. This time they've handed the reigns to Swedes and Junk Yard Connections alumni Adam Stromstedt & Art Alfie. They give us the deep and soothing "Drum Off" and like the name might suggests: there are some pretty crazy drums going off in there. Jaffa Surfa's (aka Zoltan Pal/Zee) "Souled Out" is early noughties style filtered disco house; always a worthy addition. While on the flip we've got "KO Bad (Hansel Edit)" a bit of dusty, smoked out, hip-hop inspired deep house that fans of Glenn Astro and Max Graef will well dig!

Review: Back again on board the deep man Four Walls with 2 fantastic deep tracks driven by a mix from the Atlanta-man KAI ALCE!!

Review: Italian duo Nu Guinea has previously proved adept at creating humid, sultry deep house and tropical-infused electronics. Here, they focus a little more on the latter with a concept album based around the distinctive Afrobeat rhythms of legendary drummer Tony Allen. With his blessing, and that of the Comet label on which he's been releasing since the 1980s, the Early Sounds Recordings pair has cut-up and re-constructed Allen's drums, combining them with their own steamy electronics, vintage synthesizer lines and classic drum machines. It's an intoxicating and hugely entertaining blend that sits somewhere between their previous outings, Danny Wolfers' material under the Nacho Patrol guise, and the dreamy late '80s/early '90s work of forgotten Italian producer Mr Marvin.

Review: The story of how this record on Wolf Music came to be is a shining beacon of how the underground works at its finest. Booked to play Dortmund venue Oma Doris last year, the Wolf lads were handed a CD of demos from young resident DJ Mr Fries which had them very impressed. Soon after label and artist shook hands, and now Mr Fries becomes Wolf Music's Dortmund correspondent with this blissful 5 track EP. The young German is a fine fit for the Wolf cause, brandishing a deep take on house that's got just the right amount of dust and plenty of soul in the samples used. We'd wager Mr Fries was signed up on the strength of lead track "Get Together" alone! Money $ex Records alumnus Hodini and long-time Wolf affiliate Garth BE provide extra sweetness on remix duties.

Review: Last year, Joe Clausell delivered the first album from the Afro-centric Bolla project he begun way back in 2005, following it up with an essential 12" of extended, dancefloor-friendly revisions. Here, he delivers a follow-up EP along similar lines. There's naturally much to admire, starting with Clausell's own "Personal Boiler Room version" of the jaunty, saxophone-laden "Makusa". He takes a trip to the farthest reaches of the galaxy on "Basement Seance", whose sparse African rhythms and delay-laden vocals work magnificently with the track's decidedly spaced-out synths. "Downward Staircase" is a breezier, jazz-flecked Afro-house jam blessed with luscious Latin piano solos, while the Sacred Rhythm version of "Sangre" is a highly charged, uptempo romp through percussion-heavy, Afrobeat-influenced territory.

Review: Having initially made their name as off-kilter disco producers, Simple Symmetry first ventured into the world of melodious deep house with last year's Near East Confusion on Low Budget Family. Here the Russian duo delivers the second EP on Holland's XXX label, unveiling a trio of new cuts. They begin with the curious but entertaining Italo disco-deep house fusion of "Chemical Wedding Of Christian Rosenkreutz" before moving into deeper, more tactile territory with the Steve Hillage guitars, dreamy chords and chugging grooves of "Best Ice Cream In Guwahati". The latter is remixed by Public Possession's Marvin & Guy, who emphasize the track's sleazier elements. Arguably best of all, though, is "Whip Me In The Saloon", which sounds like a cracking tribute to mid-80s Chicago house with added piano solos.

Review: The fourth instalment in Djebali's Reworks series sees Tuccillo and Mandar offer their interpretations of the French producer's deep house treats. Tucillo's version of "Original Rude Boy" is particularly potent, with a bumpin', bouncin' groove influenced by classic garage underpinning drifting, dubby guitars, watery synth flourishes and occasional vocal samples. Mandar's remix of "Juicy Street" has a more obviously locked-in vibe, with a walking bassline combining expertly with thumping beats, cut-up samples and urgent groans. Both mixes have a "tried and tested" feel, suggesting that they'll do serious damage if dropped at the right time.

Review: Love Notes from Brooklyn is proud to present a brand new and promising young American artist in the form of tape_hiss. These three moody and emotive tracks fit in perfectly with the label sound Love Notes has been developing over their last few release. The Panic in Needle Park, the clear standout track, begins the EP with gloomy synth washes at a chugging, pitched down speed. That track is then ably reworked by fellow Brooklynite, Willie Burns, of LIES and WT Records, who breaks the beat up for a stunted and unique reinterpretation. On the flip, Love is a Dog From Hell brings a little acid to the proceedings, and Traces to Nowhere closes it out on consitantly dark and moody note. Literates will note the Bukowski references throughout. Another winner for this label.

Review: Fierce, new wave hip-house and garage vibes from Utrecht's Anil Aras on DJ Haus' imprint for serious house heads only. On the A side is "Dance MF" a wicked DJ tool that features one brutally booming 909 kick you'll ever hear, supported by funky breaks and hip hop vocal samples. On the flip it's the kind of Jersey sound that'd make Todd Edwards stand up and notice on "Shake Dat Ass" with its hissing, swing fuelled shuffle, more hip-house samples and 909 boom taking it all the way home!

Review: Smart Bar resident Garrett David previously impressed with the bumpin' Queen Tracks EP on Stripped & Chewed. Here, he returns to the Chicagoan imprint, this time working alongside fellow Gramaphone Records employee Adam Rowe. For the most part, the duo sticks to a hazy, warm and melodious sunrise deep house blueprint, melding attractive melody lines, sugar-sprinkled electronics and toasty chords to grooves that shuffle loosely, rather than bang hard. There are notable diversions, though; the standout "Summit (Smashed Mix)" adds a little old school Detroit flavour to the percussion for an altogether more rolling vibe, while "Space Jam" is as atmospheric and intergalactic ambient cut as you'll hear all year.

Review: After over 26 years at the forefront of Parisian nightlife, Rex Club expanded their remit in 2015 with the launch of an eponymous record label; typically, it was inaugurated with a dash of Gallic flair by a 12" sporting the collective talents of D'Julz, Phil Weeks and Trus'Me (the latter on remix duties). Fast forward to 2016 and Rex Club present their second 12", turning to one of the most respected names in deep house, Mr Fred P. Last year was perhaps the most productive so far for Fred P, and this creative drive continues apace on this Expressing Dark Matter EP. Holding it down on the A-side is "Wave Patterns" where a restrained groove plays second fiddle to some delightful pads and oh so deep chord work. The B-side pairs up the loose percussive "Continuous Sensations" with standout cut "Unbroken Circle". Vintage Peterkin through and through.

Review: Chicago house master Ron Trent is back on his own Electric Blue stable, surfaces back onto our shelves under his iconic RT Factor alias. No introduction is needed for this man and what he's done for house music since the early 1990's, so we'll just go straight to the music, and see what he's onto in early 2016. The A-side is populated by "Who Are We?", a bumpy, energetic house lick with a full groove made up of layers upon layers of pads, rich melodies, and euphoric vocals - a true house beaut. On the flip, "What Does It Mean" is harder and a little deeper, but Tren't sense of music still heavily features thanks to a gorgeous line of piano keys. The good shit.

Review: Since releasing his debut on Tasteful Nudes back in 2014, William "Royer" Thurman has more than proved his qualities as a producer. Here, he follows fine singles for Material Image and Lobster Theremin with an outing on Closer. His take on deep house is warm, evocative and soft focus, recalling the similarly minded style of Smallville stalwarts Christopher Rau and Moonin. Of the three tracks, it's arguably opener "Way Silent" that stands out, with its' glistening harp melodies and hazy horn samples wrapping themselves around a chunky groove. The more fizzing, Detroit influenced "Eloge De L'Oisivete" is almost as good - if a little more clattering in the drum department - while "30min" sounds more obviously influenced by early Floating Points productions and Inkswel style, MPC-house warmth.

Review:  It's been nearly three years since Letherette announced their arrival with a widely acclaimed debut album on Ninja Tune. Here, they return to Coldcut's legendary stable for the first time since. The duo begins in confident fashion, delivering a hazy, jazzy take on dusty deep house ("Rayon"), before going deeper into UK deep house/classic US house fusion with the similarly wavy and quietly positive "Look No More". They're often at their best when including post-dubstep production techniques within their garage-influenced deep house tracks, and that's exactly what's delivered on "Without You". Best of all, though, is toasty, floor-friendly closer "Don't Think About Me", which layers soulful vocal samples, twinkly samples and fluttering chords atop a deliciously warm groove.

Review: Andrew Morgan's Peoples Potential Unlimited label may well have been founded to document the lost and forgotten funk, disco and boogie that peppered the DIY and private press labels of 1980s USA, but their contemporary releases are just as good. See 12"s from the likes of Legowelt, Beautiful Swimmers and Pender Street Steppers for evidence. Fried Chicken Skin adds to this small but deadly canon of contemporary PPU releases, presenting one of two records on the label from Stefan "Rekchampa" Ringer, a Stockbridge, Atlanta-based producer who got his break in late 2014 thanks to Kai Alce's NDATL label. "Fried Chicken Skin" is a bumping, rough US house delight replete with ad-libbing vocals from Ringer himself, whilst "Ride" sees him collaborate with Personal Trainer for a more reduced, deeper cut that will appeal to Sound Signature fans.

Review: "We are happy to welcome Ghosts of the Sky in the family, 65th & Lawndale is a deep and strong track sitting in A side, magical chords, stomping bass and lush drums are the secret of this beauty, a future classic. On the other side, Melanin is a bit darker with its flowing pads and acidic bassline, really personnal. Acieeed, like you might imagine is a pure acid jam in its most classical form. A fantastic EP we are proud of."

Review: French minimal house maestro Le Loup has taken time out from working with close collaborator Seuil as Hold Youth to get into some solo action for Parisian institution Concrete's in-house label. "Champagne Magnum" is more on the deep house tip than usual, it's tres chic! But it's the remixes by Berlin tech house hero DeWalta that really shine on here. The "Michigan rework" injects the track with more shuffle and bounce than the original, but still keeps those dreamy Rhodes and funky bassline intact. Likewise, his "Windy dub" on the flip is rolling and percussive deep house reminiscent of The Mountain People; properly dark after-hours stuff on offer here and highly recommended. Finally second original track "Chateau d'Eau" is dusty, hip-hop inspired house that calls to mind even more tres chic sounds, just of the Berlin kind ie: Gleen Astro or Max Graef.

Review: After starting as a digital label, Chicago based Groove Access Music makes its vinyl debut! Groove Access has multiple releases by label owner and Chicago's own, Ed Nine, and is set to expand with more Chicago artists and others outside of the city. The label's focus is simple; to represent a music culture that just feels right & brings positive dance floor vibes. The debut 12"release "Timeless" also comes from Ed Nine. Ed creates his own unique flavor with each track while simultaneously paying tribute to his city and its diverse house sound. Join in on the journey from deep to acid house and celebrate Chicago's timeless house sound!

Review: Max Graef and Glenn Astro's Money $ex is back with one Kickflip Mike, a young, presumably Berlin based artist making his debut for a label that is very much in harmony with his interests ie: dusty, hip-hop inspired deep house on the sampledelic tip! The wonky cassette fuzz of "Intro" soon leads into the rusty MPC jack of "Vanilla Selbt" and the deep soulful funk journey of "The Green One": we'll give you one guess what he's hinting at on that one! On the flip there's more blunted deepness in the form of the truly woozy "Wizard Island (feat DJ Mettigel & Luds)" which is just seven minutes of complete and utter bliss: need we say more?

Review: Volcov's Neroli is definitely all about the classic sounds as much as it is about emotive deepness and soul. A label where Domu, Dego and Kaidi Tatham have all appeared in recent times so you know how serious they are! This time around it's over to NYC producer Trinidadian Deep who has served an apprenticeship of sorts under legends of the craft such as Ron Trent and Osunlade. Speaking of which, the spiritual Afro vibe of "London Steps" is very reminiscent of Osunlade or Ron Trent's African Blues Project. "Spirit Speaks" is pure bliss amidst a wash of rich synth textures and swirling pads with hypnotic conga drums. Finally "Lil Love" is driving deep house for heaving dance floors featuring yet another execution of fine elements, no doubt honed by his time with NYC's finest. Tip!

Review: "It's not often you get to work with vocalists of Sarah Jay's calibre (Massive Attack/Presence) so here at PFT we decided to enlist some heavyweight talent to make the most of this opportunity. Kicking off the second EP we have the one and only Rob Mello (Classic/Defected/Crosstown Rebels) on remix duties. To say we are excited about this is an understatement (we are very excited). The No Ears Vocal mix is a proper anthem with elements of deep house, 80s boogie and nu-disco to these ears. Matt RiVEM aka Goshawk is up next with a 110bpm disco mix complete with chunky drums, Chic style live guitar (thanks Martyn Bentley!) and signature chord progressions. Real nice warm up/calm down tackle with enough oomph to be played LOUD. Ant Plate turns in a phenomenal YSE Saint Laur'ant reversion that channels house (obviously), punk funk and dub disco into a floor filling underground monster. Some particularly interesting drum fills and percussion take the track to another level. Finally, Situation come complete with a delicious live broken beat number in radio edit format. Think Schmoov/Atjazz era DIY and you are there or thereabouts."

Review: Remastered and expanded edition of Derrick L. Carter's seminal 1994 album originally released on Chicago imprint Organico. Starting out with the smooth and ultra deep "Tripping Among The Stars (A Necessary Journey)" featuring Carter's brilliant vocals, the fierce acid techno of "Mars" reminiscent of his Tone Theory days, the funky liquid tech house of "Cruisin' With The Top Down (Lazy Sunday Edition)" which probably lay the foundations for the west coast sound which came soon later, or the funky soulful techno of "Cantina Benny's (Underground Extravaganza)" which honours more the sound of the neighbouring Motor City than his native Windy City. Comes with four bonus tracks not heard on the original. What a timeless piece of history this is.