DJS: MOST CHARTED - DEEP HOUSE - MOST CHARTED IN JUNE 2013

Review: Aphelia's Theme marks the much delayed Future Times debut of rising talent Huerco S, and is one of a number of releases from the DC based label that have been dogged by pressing plant issues. Earmarked for a Future Times transmission before releases on Wicked Bass, Opal Tapes and most recently Anthony Naples' fledgling Proibito label arrived, Huerco S' arrival on the label now possibly works out best for all given his current status. Three tracks deep, the 12? will be familiar to anyone that's taken in a set from messrs Morelli, Dunbar or Beatnick lately and offers yet more evidence of Huerco S' uniquely woozy take on house; the title track is a hypnotic mid-tempo jam overlaid with crisp hi-hats, while "Ausschachtung" takes a considerably more abstract approach. "Cercy" is the winner though, pairing grubby mechanical rhythms with a fuzzy wash of wavering synths and a vivid arpeggio.

Review: Uk producer Leon Vynehall has invariably had the prefix 'up & comer' attached to him over the past 18 months thanks to a succession of crunchy, sample laden releases for the likes of Well Rounded and Man Make Music. A recent release for the latter label as Lazlo Dancehall with A1 Bassline was Vynehall's most accomplished work to date and his arrival on Will Saul's Aus label with the Brother/Sister is a sign that this producer might soon be regarded as an established player in UK house circles. There's a sense of a serotonin injected Motor City Drum Ensemble at play here across both "Brother" and "Sister" with the former's rugged swagger complemented by the warbling melodic subtleties of the latter. Best Aus release in a hot minute!

Review: After the runaway success of the Back In The Dayz EP, New Jack City returns with another heavy dose of classic, hi-octane garage house for the jackers in the dance. The beats are utterly relentless across the EP, all sizzling hats and an abundance of swing, while the vocal samples come in finely selected diva styles jammed on a loop. "You Got It" is the lighter of all the selections with its springy sax and chords, while Washerman gets busy with some piano stabs on the remix of "I Don't Wanna". Whichever angle you take it from, this EP is primed for peak time blaring through long hot summer nights.

Review: Only 100 units pressed !!

Review: Whut!? DJ Qu, Peven Everett and Josh 'Blaze' Milan on a cut together? That's correct the latest Strength Music transmission pairs up label boss Qu with two of house music's most iconic names in Everett and Milan for the A Side two parter "The Way". On the opening version, Everett's fragile vocal, is the perfect foil for one of Qu's deeper spacious arrangements which is blessed by Milan's key playing skills, with the latter element even more prominent on 'part two'. Face down and it's DJ Qu in solo mode for the excellent "Liquid" which sees a mainframe of clipped percussion and gurgling analogue basslines lifted towards the stars by the most wondrous of Utopian synth patterns and gurgling analogue basslines. Do check the accompanying heads down, bugged out "Liquid Beats" version too. Big release from NYC!

Review: New York veteran digger Kon, normally found paired up with partner in crime Amir, is starting to enjoy some limelight of his own of late, with a long player in the works and this sizzling slab for fellow Big-Applers Soul Clap. Tapping into the love the label bosses have for rootsy boogie, disco and soul, these house jams come steeped in authenticity from a city synonymous with the traits on display here. "Runaway" rocks a diva clarion call over the romantic electro bassline and laconic piano chords for a sugary sweet cruise through SC's own patent E-Funk. "Love Youx (Don't)" is a more mysterious affair, catching a jazzy hook and plotting a course for more Moodymann style territory, while "Love Youx Forever" takes a thoroughly familiar vocal turn and drops it into a deep house ballad of bombastic proportions.

Review: Rhythm Plate's re-emergence through their Pressed For Time label continues apace on this second release, a split 12" that pairs a new cut from Matlock's finest with solo productions from Ant Plate as YSE and YSE Saint Laurent. Hissy warehouse beats, simple chord vamps and Rapturous oh-vocals characterise YSE's dryish yet muscular "99% Invisible", whilst Plate's YSE Saint Laurent contribution "When You Love Me" pairs some R&B vocal sampling with drawn out synths and wispy percussion placed on top of a grooving bassline similar to Bernard Badie's '09 Mojuba hit "Move To The Beat". Rhythm Plate's submission, "I Think I've Dreamed This Before" adds a warming calmness to the EP, allowing a spirited synth line to traverse its arrangement like a geisha float-walking through an Japanese garden of snowy arpeggios and moss covered basslines.

Review: East coast house queen Jenifa Mayanja makes the move to slow-burning German label Big Bait for this elegant three tracker, showcasing the mellow and musically rich traits of the producer. "Minding My Own Business & Then" drifts on powerful swells of metallic pads, while the beat keeps deep and true, but "Promised To Come" instantly gets quirkier with its feather-light chord stabs and sprightly tempo. "It's Quiet In The Desert" adopts a more techno-like stance to stunning effect, as shown by the detailed weave of mechanical melodies the synths in the track make as they twist and turn in a rigid formation.

Review: Erdbeerschnitzel returns for his first original material since last year's Tender Leaf LP, adding the Delsin label to his respected discography with the Cushion EP for their house focused series. The three cuts here are very much in line with the Erdbeerschnitzel approach pioneered on that aforementioned album for Mirau and the preceding releases on 3rd Strike Records, focusing on a winning brand of colourfully disjointed house music. The brilliantly soaring title track sets the tone, taking a gentle but firm drum pattern and slowly unfurling gossamer layers of flute and string in a heart-rending harmony. "Am Bossele" sees Keiling weave vocal snippets deeper and deeper into the snappy percussion and playful spirals of synth whilst B Side hugger "Crossroads" is Erdbeerschnitzel at his glowering, expansive best; some nine minutes long, the mood remains consistently luxuriant, whether it's cascading arpeggios or effervescent chord stabs setting the tone.

Review: Kai Alce's first release of 2013 - only his second in two years - comes via his own NDATL imprint. Naturally the EP draws inspirations from the cities the label is named after: New York-Detroit-Atlanta. With tinges of dub, the A-side is reminiscent to the looping deep house of Norm Talley's music on Pariter, while the scrappy hats, popping snares and all-round rough fidelity of "Rabbit's Hole" rank up with the productions of Delroy Edwards on New York label L.I.E.S. Alce then brings some of his own home spun Atlanta funk to the EP with the title track "World Causes".

Review: Two prime slabs of Boo Williams house fonk get a timely re-issue here by Ricardo Miranda's Noble Square label. Originally released in 1999, both "Crying Black Man" and "Changes" featured on the rare as hens teeth Fruits Of The Spirit EP and still sound as timeless nearly fifteen years on. Lead cut is one of those iconic Boo groovers, pairing a skipping Chi-town beat with some powerful spoken word samples. Complementing this, "Changes" is built from the same deep, eminently soulful and melody filled place as the Strictly Jaz Unit project Williams was involved in.

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: Although his 17 year old son Generation Next has been receiving much attention of late, on the basis of this excellent EP of Motor City house and techno Big Strick himself has no reason to fear being overtaken just yet. "Groove" does exactly what it says on the tin, with the titular vocal from Rock Star laid atop a sleek, tumbling bassline, and an instrumental mix on the flip; "Reese Cup (Funk remix)" takes things in a considerably more abstract direction, with smoky Rhodes piano and angular synths recalling some of the dubbier moments of Strick's cousin Omar S' recent album, much like closer "How High", which finishes things off with a flurry of warm pads and starry tones pushed forwards with some gentle yet raw 808 rhythms.

Review: The Flats EP is the second missive for fledging act HVL after their Deep Survey EP released on Rough House Rosie earlier this year. The title track, "Flats", is representative of the cover art; a black and white, three dimensional dream walk through a black hole of linear synths, drums and time stretching basslines. "Whirlpool" dips deeps into dub, and guided by Jean Michel Jarre sounding synths, lands somewhere between Luke Hess and Space Dimension Controller territory. The final track, "Searching", blends the Delusions Of Grandeur house aesthetic with more cosmic synths and ethereal pads.