Deep House Recommendations June 2013

Review: The Thunder EP is the first release from Chicago Skyway, aka Sean Hernandez, since his collaboration with DCook on M>O>S Recordings in 2011. It is also Skyway's first release on Altered Moods Recordings, offering the Californian label three tracks, with an added remix. "Pink Donut" is a wall of ethereal noise, undulating in sound before breaking into a concussive mix of percussion. "Wet Flood" chimes with sharp triangle hits, as lo-fi chords wallow in the background, omitting an analogue vibe likened to much of L.I.E.S output. The EPs title track, with its warm piano keys and italo synths, harbours a muted aggression, while Altered Moods boss Malcolm Moore doesn't hesitate to rough things up with his Tsunami Punani remix of "Thunder", boosting the synths original presence by powering in more amplitude, adding some noise and a new harsh bassline.

Review: Big manoeuvres as usual from the Wolf Music crew on their 18th release! Session Victim must rank amongst the most high profile inductees into the Wolf Music series so it makes perfect sense for the German duo to open proceedings with the classic slab of European deepness that is "Random Blues". Worthy of a Raw Cuts release, Session Victim weave dusty drums, sweet vocal intonations and the warmest of basslines together with the resultant laid back track likely to be much played in Croatia over the summer evenings. Complementing this, "Carry It" from Wolf Music regular Medlar adopts a similar hazy house tone whilst the flip holds a pair of newcomers in Squarehead and Ishmael - the latter's cut is particularly special!

Review: A long-overdue reappraisal of Steve O' Sullivan's efforts as a producer is underway with this bumper release from Sushitech. Collating the myriad aliases of the Mosaic boss and drawing on some on his co-conspirators such as Mark Ambrose and Jorge Zamacona, this triple vinyl beast of a package is overflowing with high-grade house music powered with the attitude of techno. There's a classic feel to all the tracks here as they carry the torch for Basic Channel and the original dub techno ethos, but attaching the spacious, mysterious tones to a funkier template. That possibly oversimplifies the majestic quality to this breed of techno, but then of course the devil is in the details.

Review: Standing cannily for Second Hand Audio Gold, the SHAG Edits Vol 1 12" is the third release from Jamie Trench's blossoming Roots For Gold imprint and features plenty of that jacking house vibe from the man himself and some close friends. Trench sets the tone with "Velvet Curtains" which pairs crisp, forthright jacking rhythms with a procession of vocal samples, whilst close friend and fellow DJ partner Daniel Dalton opts for a more funk laden approach with "The Party People". Trench appears again on the flip, teaming up with Angus Jefford for the bumping "Bringin' Tha Heat" and Mike Gill rounds out the EP with the more reflective "Inflatable Doll".

Review: Maison Profonde sees the inaugural release for Parisian producer Fulbert's Rawthenticity label - no doubt a cheeky reference to the Rawthentic City EP he put out on Soul Notes last year. Continuing to develop his tough take on 90s house, "Track 1" delivers some satisfyingly crunchy kicks and some vocals delivered in a hip-hop scratch style while "Tokyo" flips the script for some classic organ chords and a deep boogie bassline to go with its bumping hi-hats. "Last Shot For Tonight" takes things on a moody late night trip, with a rippling acid line floating across its dubby backdrop of soft bass and slowly drifting chords, something repeated on closer "Spirits", whose slightly pitched chords end things in suitably reflective fashion.

Review: ** MOVE D REPRESS ** After signing up to the Electric Minds crew last year, Move D is back at the label to drop a fresh track and offer his last EP up to the remixers. "To The Disco 77" is a pitch-perfect slice of laconic house music with all the tenderness you would expect of Move D, with a notable bass synth coming on feisty and reserved all in one breath. Jay Shepheard takes to "Got 2 B" with a more straight up flavour of house music, piling the chord riff on bright and bold and moving ever forwards. Endian's version of the same track is decidedly different slipping into a heads-down shuffle punctuated by dubby pulses and micro house snippet-funk. Duff Disco completes the package with a positively smacked-out slice of slow motion disco groove that struggles to lift its lids through the smoke in the room.

Review: Having made his debut on Prime Numbers earlier this year with his titular contribution to a split release alongside Truss and Massimo De Lena, Adesse is granted a full release with this all killer no filler Untitled Love 12". For someone who came to the fore with a version of Theo Parrish's "Sky Walking, it's unsurprising that the title track here has a rugged charm reminiscent of the outspoken Sound Signature boss - it's all about that thumping snare son! On the flip "Supernal" veers into deep steppers territory and contains some ingenious looping of a Laurie Anderson standard, whilst "Metachemistry" highlights Adesse's talent for loose, freeform arrangements.

Review: Yes! Detroit fixture Raybone Jones gets the chance to showcase fully his production style with this Right Of Passage 12" for the Moods & Grooves label. A DJ since the age of 11, Jones has risen through the ranks in the D, honing his skills and introducing his famed nephew Kyle Hall to the art of mixing records. Examples of Raybone's talent as a producer have thus far been restricted to a couple of contributions to illustrious compilations such as Still Music's In The Dark or the Rick Wilhite curated Vibes - New & Rare collection on Rush Hour. The three cuts here are hopefully the first of many more Raybone Jones 12"s, with the producer locking onto that soulful, driving end of the Detroit house spectrum with "Kendal's Journey". On the flip "Ronnie's Affair" belongs in the Mahogani school of thought, with deft samples, hooky disco lines and the finest in percussive grooves. "Call It What U Want" ends on a much deeper note and has a sublime vocal breakdown.

Review: Having welcomed the likes of Citizen, Ejeca and Rhythm Operator into the W&O Street Tracks fold on the last two releases, label bosses Waze & Oddysey return to helm this fourth edition. Their irrepressible formula for classicist referencing house music is very much on display with lead track "Hold Up (Yeah You)" deftly matching emotive pads with a bumping groove and one of those simple yet oh so very effective vocal hooks. Another potential W&O hit in the making. Flip over and "I Feel Your Worth" might sound more restrained to begin with, but the duo are just teasing; filtered swathes of synths and vocals gradually come to the fore with explosive results

Review: The Deep Down Slam label has Alex Agore supply some Rhodesy house for their third release. Swooning organs and various clatters of hats and percussion rattle "Show U Love" while stretched out synths lay spread over a syncopated bassline and cut vocals in "Get Dub". "No Name 3" sees more luscious Rhodes and chimey organs play out a dancey house melody, while "We Can't Talk" adds more chordal riffage to an EP which screams house music.

Review: It's hard to describe Waze & Odyssey as anything but relentless in their release schedule with this debut turn for the Dirt Crew label following a twelve month period where the duo have racked up appearances on Throne of Blood, Disco Bloodbath, Southern Fried Records, Body Work and their own Street Tracks label. Leading the way on the Please Don't Dance EP is "All For Me" which brandishes an accoutrement synthesised horns stabs and vocals that sound like they're stuck in a gravatron. Alongside it, the title track is notable for some buzz saw synth lines that can only be described as proto-fidget. Flip over and the equally ubiquitous Detroit Swindle go all deep and rhythmic on their self styled Basement Dub of "Please Don't Dance".

Review: The Man Make Music label affiliated with George Fitzgerald turn out their eighth release and present to you Laszlo Dancehall, a new project from two of UK house music's rising stars in Leon Vynehall and Christian Piers. The former is no stranger to MMM whilst the latter has been plotting his own ascent as head of the Source Unknwn label and they dovetail nicely across these three tracks with Vynehall's crunchy, sample driven rhythms complemented by Piers understanding of hooky vocals. Lead cut "Gave Up" was featured in George Fitzgerald's recent Essential Mix and will be the go to track for many, but the remaining two productions are just as immediate in truth. "Ain't No Time" is a warm, satisfying appropriation of the classic European deep house sound whilst "Manley Harrison" demonstrates the pair are capable of something a bit off the beaten path.

Review: 124 Recordings serves up its fourth release with the Dusty Chords EP from Austrian producer Fabe. This 12" starts deep and remains there throughout; Fabe's titular original cut sees slow moving pads ease in alongside a protruding, yet still eminently soulful vocal and is matched by the two remixes on offer. Prolific Zurich based producer Washerman tones down the peak time serviceability with his remix, adding more filters with less talk, and Desos fathoms just as deep in his remix, but instead of extra filters, he adds his own riffing bassline in between short burst of kerfed vocals.

Review: Sheela Rahman's third 12" release for Rush Hour arrives in the shape of The Calling and its another killer! Preceded by one of the best music videos in some time (spot the Ron Morelli cameo) both the title track and "Rays of Babylon" originates from the period Rahman was living in Los Angeles and were made as "accurate reflection of the fun, upbeat vibes" in the city. They still fit snugly in the ever increasing pantheon of Xosar material, with "The Calling" a particularly sumptuous example of jacking analogue techno, it continues to build on the work she's done alone, and across her raft of collaborations with fellow analogue enthusiast Legowelt under the Trackman LaFonte & Bonquiqui and Xamiga monikers.

Review: Chiwax inaugurate a series of ten planned releases from Mr Spencer Kincy aka Gemini with this timely reissue of one of the producer's most sought after releases. Quite where Kincy has been for the past 12 years or so isn't exactly clear but the potential prospect of some new Gemini material should be salivating for any self proclaimed fan of Chicago house. Traxx Vol 1 features all the tracks from Untitled, the EP Kincy released as Gemini on Cajual back in 1995 though not in the same order as that original pressing. Regardless, the chance to own the brilliant percussion workout that is "Joker" or the mind bending "Psychosis" should not be passed up.

Review: After a couple of years earmarked as one of the UK's many "up and comers" with releases on Disfigured Dubs, Lo Rise and Magicbag, slippery Leeds based producer seems ready to make the step up. This classy debut on the Secretsundaze label follows a recent turn on the Hype Ltd operation, and there's a whisper of a forthcoming 12" through Will Saul's Simple in the offing. Sensual, skipping house primed for dusk-centric hours is the feeling you get from title cut "Times" and the subsequent three productions further demonstrate Youandewan's mastery of heavily layered, atmospheric arrangements that still retain some sense of forward momentum.

Review: Banfield Audio's fledgling Monochromatic label return following a sterling debut emission from Specter and the label bosses themselves, turning to another under rated US producer in the shape of Amir Alexander. Despite his heritage, Alexander is only now really getting the wider exposure his explosive production capacity deserves and the Chicagoan's contribution here is an incendiary example of just what he's capable of. "Scuzzelbutt!" is Chicago acid house in a similar frame of mind to Larry Heard's prized Gherkin Jerks output, though the TR-led rhythms are precision tooled and crisp to a tee. Banfield Audio maintain their 100% appearance record with a slightly more sedate B Side saunter through classic Detroit deep house that accrues all manner of melodic charm as it progresses.

Review: It's been some two years since Shackled, George Fitzgerald's last outing on Hotflush and it's fair to say the landscape both occupy has shifted some in that period. Both artist and label are fully entrenched in the current UK house explosion and Fitzgerald's return to Paul Rose's label with Thinking Of You seems primed to reverberate across festivals, Croatian beaches and warehouse spaces as the summer months roll on. A prominent track in Fitzgerald's recent Essential Mix, "Thinking Of You" sees the producer continue to refine an approach to forthright house music shown on recent dalliances with Aus Music and Hypercolour and feels almost proto fidget in execution. The techier B Side accompaniment "Nighttide Lover" is drawn from a similar fist pumping palette and features rolling vocal manipulation reminiscent of Switch in his heyday.

Review: New South Wales meets Perugia and NYC on the latest Thug Records release which pairs Nick Anthony Simoncino with Steve Summers on the suitably named Brothers From Other Mothers EP. Simoncino and Thug have developed a strong working relationship since the Italian released his debut album with the Australian label last year, racking up split releases with Tevo Howard and '90s revivalist Mark Rogan as well as getting remixed in a Sex Tags Mania style on the DJ Sotofett Presents Diggi-Dubbi-Tripp-Mixes Featuring Tapes (In Session) EP. Pairing up with LIES mainstay Steve Summers makes perfect sense as both artists have established reputations for freeform, loose, straight to tape takes on the Chicago House format and the four cuts here don'tdeviate from their respective winning formulas. The crystalline chiming of Simoncino's final track "The Battle Of Pacific" is a notable highlight.

Review: In its lifetime Finale Sessions have seen releases from the likes of Fred P, Innerspace Halflife and Amir Alexander, and the label's latest 12", Finale Undergound Vol 1, sees three similarly respected artists come together on one EP for some properly deep moves. Steven Tang delivers the suitably titled "Immense", a moody slice of house percussion positively swimming in Tang's trademark pads, while Metrolux boss XDB joins him on the A-side for some weighty yet refined house music, pairing abstract tones with some submerged bassline swing unfolding out into some heavily delayed, oven warm chords. FXHE associate Luke Hess finishes up with "Suplication"; though it shares the same dubby qualities as the rest it's the most impressively driving track of the three, combining Motor City dynamism with Chicago's breezy house.