Funky House Recommendations Best Of 2016

Review: "Heaven Knows" was first featured on Louie Vega's expansive triple album of collaborations, Louie Vega Starring... XXVIII. Here, it gets the remix treatment. On the A-side, the Masters at Work man joins forces with Hajime Yoshizawa to deliver a largely instrumental, Afrobeat inspired take full of layered hand-held percussion, undulating grooves, and the latter producer's killer organ solos. On the flip, Blaze's Josh Milan provides a honeyed, effortlessly soulful interpretation that places Anane Vega's delicious vocals at the heart of proceedings. While it lacks a little of the hustling energy of the A-side, it will no doubt go down a treat at clubs that like it soulful.

Review: Three hugely disparate cuts from mysterious producer Batongo; "Say Yes" is a straight-up piano and vocal ballad that would sit well against the likes of Sampha, James Blake or even Chet Faker. "Ah Yes" is a thundering house stomper that's reminiscent of Subliminal or Underwater Records' output 12 or so years ago while "La Notta Dei Tempi" continues to play with the 'yes' sample but with more of a soulful phrasing over deeper, progressive dynamics, a soft-but-lolloping beat and velvet synths. Don't say no.

Review: Building a formidable reputation as an artist with a diverse set of approaches in the field of electronic music, Ukranian producer Cape Cod delivers his debut album on Kiev House in a fine display of musicianship. From the opening track "Among The Stars" (which features Constantine on vocal) it's clear that this will be more than a straight up collection of dancefloor tracks. There are indeed some upbeat house tracks to be enjoyed, not least on the razor sharp garage bumper "We Don't Have To", but there's also equal space given over to more introspective jams such as "Put U Down".