Juno Recommends Deep House: July 2024

Review: 'Couldn't Love You More' is one of the most iconic songs from one of the most iconic soul singers of her generation. It is such a sweet tune that it is perfect for reworking into a lovely deep house framework. And that is exactly what we have here as some mysterious artist who for obvious reasons wants to be unnamed reworks it three different ways. Mix 1 keeps the lush, lazy chords in place and sprinkles in some deft percussion. Mix 2 is a subtle tweak that has a little more drive and edge to it and Mix 3 completes the package with another deft touch that is sure to get floors all loved up.

Review: British-Nigerian singer-songwriter Sade is rightly celebrated for her sultry voice and timeless hits like 'Smooth Operator' and 'No Ordinary Love.' Her music blends soul, jazz and r&b with its sensual melodies and poetic lyrics and so is a great fit for deep house reworks, A bunch of them have all dropped with us and this one licks off with 'Like A Tattoo', an airy cut with some gorgeous keys and plenty of loved up vibes. Meanwhile on the flip is a new version of the most iconic of them all - 'Smooth Operator' (remix) still has the erotic sax notes and great vocals, but more upbeat drums to get cosy parties moving.

Review: Sade is one of those artists that people just cannot resist remixing. Her voice is silky smooth and sultry so is well suited to seductive deep house reworks. And that is just what we get here with four different takes on 'Love Is Stronger Than Pride'. The GT Hot remix opens with deft pads and airy beats, the B-Boys Basement mix gets more physical and jacked up with raw percussion and the Mouse T club mix brings some old-school house feels. Last of all is the most smoky and rich as the Master & Pupil mix layers in sustained chords and dynamic depth.

Review: Astonishingly, 16 years have now passed since Craig Smith and Graeme Clark (best-known for his solo work as the Revenge) first joined forces as 6th Borough Project. Here the slow house-turned-deep house duo continue their productive partnership with Freerange Records offshoot Delusions of Grandeur, in the process delivering their first EP of 2024. They set the tone with hard-wired, disco-flecked, sample-rich house jam 'One Way', a near perfect example is creating maximum impact by manipulating a small selection of killer loops, before opting a few subtle nods to dub disco on the slow-build brilliance of 'Spare Change'. They opt for a more psychedelic - if no less hypnotic - and acid-flecked tip on 'Backlash', which also makes great use of an orchestrated breakdown, while 'The Other' is a deliciously deep slow-house workout reminiscent of their early work.

Review: West London label Slip 'N' Slide continues to refresh the classics, as Seth Troxler and Franck Roger deliver remixes of the 1997 Blaze favourite 'Lovelee Dae'. An artist who needs little introduction, Seth Troxler's name is synonymous with American house and techno of the last two decades, with his formative years in Detroit shaping his sound before moving to the techno capital of the world Berlin. His ventures as a label boss, and club owner of Night Tales, further cemented the talent as an underground hero, and he now joins the likes of Carl Craig, Roman Flugel, and Isolee in giving 'Lovelee Dae' an expertly crafted remix, building from minimal grooves to a grand and immersive wash of sound. Also stepping up on remix duties comes Parisian producer, crate digger and label boss of Real Tone Records, Franck Roger, adding his signature beat focussed approach to the iconic track.

Review: If you have been dancing recently you might well have already been enamoured by the charms of some of the tunes on this new one from the superb Razor N Tape label by Magic Words, a new project from NY-based producers Eli Cohen and Peter Hargarten. Centred on an emotive and dreamy loop, the title tune epitomises Balearica with its Spanish guitar and melancholic harmonies. Toronto's Jex Opolis delivers a massive remix that retains the original's delicate texture, overlaying it with a pulsing, club-ready drum foundation that is sure to make it a real summer staple.

Review: Spiritual endurance tester Joaquin "Joe" Claussell returns for another topup for the Yellow Jackets series. Volume Eight is yet another heliotropic hummer, with the two ingenious progressive, naturalisti-house cuts found thereon (two new versions of 'Erratic Telepathy' and 'Who Do You Love', the latter by Josh Honeycomb) bringing much tweezy and brain-furthering motif to the two-side mix form. The first track is especially impressive for the counterpoint set up between the right-panned marimba and the left-panned filter-synth, the latter of which dances like a magic firefly against the former's lemni-spatial mallet-bed. The B-sider is much more soulful, bringing interspersive vocals and subtle hat layering to a an all-out funky freakout.

Review: Louie Vega continues to offer up fresh remixes of tracks from his epic 2023 album Expansions In The NYC. The latest cut to get the rework treatment is Unlimited Touch hook-up 'Music Is My Life', a joyous and gently soulful fusion of disco instrumentation and house nous. There are two mixes from Vega and long-time studio partner Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez as Masters at Work: an A-side full-vocal remix that gently beefs up the house elements and adds some tasty Rhodes licks, and an EP-closing dub in which the storied duo reach for spacey synth sounds, rolling grooves and selected vocal snippets. To complete a strong package, British veteran Dave Lee doffs a cap to his popular 'Remixed with Love' series and re-imagines the track as a punchy disco-funk workout.

Review: Heels & Souls Recordings proudly hit release number nine, revisiting mid-90s Toronto to reissue two blissfully Balearic house gems from 100th Monkey. The story of 100th Monkey is intertwined with The Boomtang Boys, a production trio and record label that delivered many iconic Canadian productions. In the early 90s, brothers Tony and Paul Grace, after releasing a 12" as Fun Wow, teamed up with classically trained pianist Rob DeBoer, creating the perfect synergy of inspiration and musical knowledge. This collaboration birthed The Boomtang Boys and their unique sound.Toronto's vibrant scene at the time, filled with producers, raves, and top-tier labels like Stickmen, Hi-Bias, and DNH, influenced their style. Paul, a record store buyer and DJ, drew inspiration from the UK, leading to a variety of sounds produced under different monikers. Their sole release as 100th Monkey, a cherished 12" from 1994, stands out as a Canadian gem. 'Raindance' is a hit of summertime heat, a mid-tempo Balearic deep house track with shuffling hats, a spine-tingling bassline, African vocal samples, dreamy strings, and goose-bumping chords. 'Nyika Nyika' picks up the pace, shimmering with arps and looped African vocal samples, making it perfect for sunsets and dancefloors alike. On the B-side, Manuel Darquart's remix of 'Raindance' injects new energy, adding steamy synth lines and a salacious sax. Finally, the unreleased 'River Ride' from 1996, with its floating pads, trickling arps, laidback breakbeat, and grooving bassline, sees the light of day, offering perfect warm-up or warm-down material. A top reissue.

Review: For their 15th outing, cultured Spanish label MATE welcomes Shaka for three blissed-out deep house delights. You are soon sunk into a warming world of groove with opener 'Sacred Nightfall' (feat Eve - Maix mix) which layers up dreamy pads and angelic, effortless vocal sounds over dusty drums. 'Magic Plan' is no less sumptuous with its neat and noodling piano chords over slightly more upright drums all making for a nice jazzy vibe. 'Shift In Structure' closes out with an even more jazzy feel thanks to the live-sounding drums and charming Rhodes which all whip you into a spin.

Review: Two years ago, Make a Dance's M.A.D Records delivered their first compilation style EP - a fine five-tracker containing cuts from a mix of rising stars (Tom Carruthers, Asa Tate) and old heads (Andy Ash, Hard Drive Library). On this belated sequel, they've chosen to chowcase cuts from newcomers - with pleasingly strong results. Babyrollen impress with opener 'Whatuwant', a post-punk-sampling slab of acid house bounciness that sounds like an underground anthem in waiting, before we're treated to two slabs of jacking house-meets-deep house excellence: George Plant's'Music Begins' and the proto-house-tinged wonder that is 'Extasis' by Dim City. Over on the flip, 'Mambo' by Marma is deep, tactile and loved-up with lots of delay-laden drum hits, while Bobby Metronome's 'Body Free' is a colourful slab of pitched-up deep house/nu-disco fusion.

Review: When Glenn Underground goes digging in his vaults, you want to be there to see what treasure he comes up with. He has done that for a fifth time here and the reuses make up this new 12" on his Strictly Jazz Unit Muzic label. 'Platinum' (Tech Jazz Sessions) is pure Mid-Western house music - a sublime marriage of soulful and jazzy pads with deep, smoky beats. It has a devastating impact and the flipside 'What's Next' (GU vs CVO Project Stone Age Techno mix) is just as much of a mind-altering experience with its whispering cosmic leads conveying a message of great importance.

Review: Sophisticado play host to a tropical deep house collab for the ages. Here Vick Lavender teams up with fellow stalwart Elbert Phillips for a deep, girthy pair lf under-the-palm drenchers. 'Brotherhood' privileges neither artist's preferred style, instead offering two versions of the track - one for Vick and the other for Elbert - while also rounding things off on a 'Drums Mix', closing up shop on a nonetheless still-driven percussive note. Handle this one with care, and you'll be rewarded with flair.

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: New York has long had a rich deep house history and now adding to that is new label PS7 which opens up with a pair of delightfully dusty cuts from P-Sol. This tidy 7" kicks off with 'Get Ta Steppin' (7" mix) which is a low-key and delightfully downtempo cut with organic claps and noodling jazz keys all coated in warming vibes, playful melodies and muttered vocals. On the flip, '1973' (7" mix) is another low-slung gem with layers of lo-fi sound and sunny keys rising up through the mix. Both of these are heartwarming soul sounds for good times only.

Review: If you know house music you know Franck Roger. The towing French figure has been part of the underground for many years and has a timeless sound that by now is expertly refined. His own Real Tone is where're he saves up some label classics now starting with a delightful deep and breezy Talk remix of 'Remember' (feat Jovonn). There is a hint of humidity and sweat to basement swinger 'Wanna Be With You' then 'Don't Ever Luv Me' lifts your head with its classic vocal samples subtly woven into a light and airy house skipper. 'Keep Yo Self' brings more classic vocal house hints to a disco-coloured house groove.

Review: German mainstay Cinthie offers up three varied and vital house weapons to relaunch her label after a two and a half year hiatus. Riffing off her primary footing in the scene as a DJ, Cinthie is one such artist whose recorded music splashes have to be just that - splashes - in order to really convince the world of her narrative and selective decks-bound prowess. A three-tracker of thumping, swelling, visceral proportions, 'You Know How' kicks proceedings off on a note of functionality, before plunging us into translucent, pane-cracked vats of ultra-processed, ready-to-imbibe liquid piano house bliss. After the inaugural ingestion, we're met with the fluid wordless poetry of 'Mellifluous' before ending on the excessively percussive square-root-of-zero, 'Can You?'. Perhaps a question best left unanswered, much better danced to.

Review: J Axel and Eva Essa find magical harmony on this new collaboration on the Do It Now Recordings Vinylized label. 'Turned Your Back' is a perfectly heart-melting, life-affirming bit of soul-drenched and intimate deep house with gorgeous vocals and super smooth drums all healing you to your core as the gentle rhythms wash over you time and time again. It's a faultless original but one that is also ripe for remixing and who better than Atjazz who slightly ups the tempo but keeps the deep, wavy rhythmic vibes and adds a little cosmic magic in the synths. A sublime package indeed.

Review: Jose James is one of the most velvet voices in contemporary jazz singing. He also has history of working with one of deep house's finest having done an album with the great Moodymann. Louie Vega, meanwhile, is one of the most decorated house artists of all time, so seems like a perfect man to remix James. He offers up four versions of the American's 'Saturday Night' with the first being a percussive, loose-limbed and soulful sound. An OG Mix and instrumental also make the cut as does a Louie Vega remix Guitar dub to bring some extra depth to the EP.

Review: The Private Stock label is back with more of their irresistible house magic with a limited translucent red splattered 12" featuring some pretty big names. Terry Hunter kicks off with the sort of guitar-laced roller that you imagine would have been massive at Paradise Garage with 'Go Back Jack' then Ian Wallace brings big and sunny house stomps with his 'From Beginning To End.' DJ Jazzy Jeff & Kaidi Tatham then team up for the irresistibly feel-good disco, soul and house fusion that is 'Doin' The Most' and Matthew Law lays down dusty MPC drums with grinning bass and lo-fi atmospheres on the perfectly entitled 'Dilla's Disco.'

Review: Those of a certain age will recognise Inland Knights; during the 1990s and 2000s they headed up the UK deep house wave associated with the Smokescreen and DIY free party crews. Although the duo (Andy Riley and Laurence Richie) have continued to DJ, their releases have been few and far between in recent years. In fact, the aptly named Revive EP marks their first outing on vinyl since 2017. Opener 'Slummin' It' is loopy and trippy, with excellent use of cut-up r&b vocal samples, while 'The Game' is a chunky, bass-heavy and jazz-flecked workout of the sort they ysed to turn out for fun at the turn of the millennium. On side B, we get two versions of 'Deep In': their pleasingly sleazy, druggy and analogue-rich original mix (a proper five-in-the-morning workout), and a more musically expansive (but no less trippy) Jake Childs remix.

Review: Two of Detroit's finest contemporary talents come together here for House of Hits, a brand-new collaboration that cannot fail to get house heads excited. Both Wajeed and Ladymonix have fresh signature sounds and they collide both into something more party-starting than you might expect from each in solo mode. 'Work That' is bumping house with masterfully smeared synth work and edgy rap vocals all getting things going. 'Did You Do A Gig Last Night' is a deep but slamming house sound with traditional chord vamps bringing the heat and 'Extravaganza' then takes it down again into heady, cavernous dub house territory with intimate vocal whispers adding soul. 'Work That' (Winston Dream remix) is a thrilling broken beat version with sun-drenched pads and cosmic leads.

Review: Benedict is a brand new white label that kicks off with a hand-stamped 12". We like that no-frills approach because it suggests a real belief in the music, and that is not misguided in this instance. Whoever Benedict is or are clearly has a love of sultry deep house: 'Something' is all smudged chords and pillowy kicks with a gorgeous r&b vocal loosely trailed through the whole mix. It's got heart and drive in perfect balance. 'Something Else' reworks the same cut with a little more of a kick drum focus - though it lands heavier than the original, the aching soul of the vocal is in no way lost.

Review: For decades, the humble disco re-edit has offered wannabe-producers a way into music production. In recent years, there's been an upsurge in house 'edits' too - a trend that has seen countless producers combine bits of classic and obscure cuts with their own peak-time ready grooves. This debut from the previously unknown Jay Rook fits into that category. Check first opener 'Master Wonnin', where Rook turns what appears to be a classic Highlife jam into a bouncy, bass-heavy Afro-house workout, before further refining the same attractive, sun-splashed formula on 'Eme (Yeah Yeah)'. Over on side two, Rook changes tack on 'Do God a Favour', adding a touch of hip-swinging, disco-flexed gospel-house flavour to a bluesy old soul-jazz cut, while 'Jesus Saved Me (Glad)' is a filter heavy disco-house re-wire of a righteous gospel number.

Review: Tetsu Shibuya, better known as simply Tetsu or BRISA is a Japanese producer and DJ known for works on the iconic Japanese Jazzy Sport imprint, King Street sub-label Nite Grooves and his own BRISA Music. Leading the EP is title-track 'Stir', in collaboration with Turbojazz BRISA delivers a classic slice of deep house built upon layers of bright stab sequences and loose organic percussion. Detroit's beloved Jon Dixon turns his hand to 'Stir' next, encapsulating the soul of his hometown in reshaping fragments of the original composition. The original of 'Reverie' opens the B-side, laying down a broken rhythm, low-pitched vocal hooks and elongated bass grooves for a more bruk tinged feel. Byron The Aquarius then extracts the core of 'Reverie' and spins it into bumpy, subtly nuanced house workout. Lastly the third original 'Flux' rounds out the release, shifting deeper in funkinfused realms with a playful plucked bass groove and heavily swung drums.

Review: Influential Detroit house don Kyle Hall returns to his Forget The Clock EP for a limited edition clear purple vinyl featuring two hugely effective new tracks. 'Taormina' opens up with typically well-swung drums and catchy syncopation that lock you in while the wooden hits and elastic bassline flesh out the details. Free-form synth lines of course add the colour and soul. 'Dream Machine' is another effortlessly appealing house cut with a raw, perfectly undercooked edge and one of Hall's signature nimble basslines and conversational synth leads that are smeared and twisted into all sorts of cosmic and emotive forms.

Review: On the 'Tanzanite' EP, Jimmy Wallace channels a much livelier 'world' house sound than most can muster. Through its various offbeat chants and smattery percs, we're met with an EP so foudroyant, we're going to need a bigger fire hydrant. The timbral joys of percussion are what makes this one both stand out and yet stick to us, in ironic succession. Opener 'Tanzanite' sounds like the feeling one gets when one is certain they've found a new kind of rare gemstone; with the apparently disalienating promise of personal wealth gain, mining the stuff suddenly doesn't seem so hard. Such pockets of energy are equally evinced on the vibraphonic popcorns of 'M'bira', which makes adroit use of the African instrument over what is otherwise a wilfully sparse beat, as if to suggest that a single instrumental pick-me-up is all one needs. On the B, 'Red Velvet' and 'Violet' move in completely different directions, with the former melding moods of creepy and whip-cracking, and the latter slowing things to a desert chug. No squibs in earshot.

Review: Natural Rhythm make their Sounds of Style Records debut with 'Solo Tu,' featuring the sultry spoken word of Lyssa. This deep house gem seamlessly blends Latin House, Jazzy House, and US Garage influences, showcasing why the group has been a favorite among top DJs like Mark Farina and DJ Sneak.The title track 'Solo Tu' is an uptempo funky banger, embodying the classic early 90s house vibe with a smooth, deep house foundation. JT Donaldson's '90s Rework' on the A-side masterfully channels vintage vibes through his SP1200, delivering a timeless, classy US house music experience. Hotmood's 'House Vibe Mix' injects an upbeat energy perfect for any setting, from poolside fun to sweaty warehouse parties. His version is a testament to house music's versatility, ensuring it gets the job done no matter the occasion. Natural Rhythm's "Solo Tu" is a vibrant, multifaceted release that promises to make your ears smile and your feet move, making the label's first release a memorable one in the deep house scene.

Review: Single-sided white label business from Moxy Edits, who ignite the dancefloor once more with a slick yet somewhat surreal Cypress Hill flip. A hugely wompy kick is heard teasing, highpassing and re-dropping its bass, as the unmistakable proto-Danny Brown register of the group's founding member and rapper B-Real are heard in characteristic nasal fashion over this hip-garage rendition of 'Insane In The Brain'. Be warned: there's simply no let-up with this one. Move as quick as its 4x4s do.