Back in stock: Deep House

Review: Aleqs Notal shares a machinic new EP of counfounding delights for the Industrial Light label, also run by the artist and based out of Paris. Named after the artist's debut release which shared equal sides with fellow producer Modern House Quintet, here Notal changes the game, occupying a full four sides of wax. The A-siders 'City Smile' and 'True I Am' bring atmospheres of motoric rigidity, functioning as premier schema for the human navigation of comparatively less human urban environments. 'Let Me In' and 'Confused Reaction' offer similar blueprints, though there's an ever so slightly upped acidity on the B2.

Review: Bass Culture founder, Rex Club legend and standard bearer for the Parisian underground, Julien Veniel shows fine form with his latest effort landing on Phonogramme. Featuring four tracks that each veer toward the techier ends of the house spectrum, 'The Game of Life' is sure to find plenty of admirers of floor-focused subterranean club tackle. Launching via the bumping rhythms and bouncy bass of X-Calibur, it starts as it means to go on. Upping the energy a couple of notches, the wonky bass and paranoid vocals of 'Narcissistic Scratch' power over chunky drums for a strobe-lit, late-night workout. Scene stalwart Satoshi Tomiie keeps things looped and driving on his pumped version of 'Deadbeat', before the dubbed-out original sees the record home in deliciously heady style.

Review: Swedish pair Genius of Time know exactly how to craft perfectly characterful weapons that get dancefloors going. They famously did so many years ago with a smart Whitney Houston sample but here got for a more peak time vibe with 'Rave Breaks.' It's got summer anthem written all over it with the whispy, shimmering synths and ever-rising groove. Bassie Kay's voice adds some soulful intimacy to finish it in style. On the flip is the more muscular and dubby house rhythm of 'Endless' with its fat low ends and warm drums.

Review: Given that he's a born collaborator, as his vast discography proves, it's perhaps fitting that David Moufang's latest album as Move D is packed to the rafters with killer collaborations. Check, for example, the ultra-deep, woozy and off-kilter "Innit", a superbly dubby and opaque studio hook-up with German rave pioneer D-Man, and the shuffling, intergalactic deep house warmth of Fred P collaboration "Building Bridges". Fittingly, his renowned collaborative projects also feature. There's a wonderfully elastic and out-there dub techno/minimalist track by Reagenz (Moufang and Jonah Sharp AKA Spacetime Continuum) with German veteran Thomas Fehlmann, and a Magic Mountain High (alongside Juju and Jordash) track that takes slow-burn, softly spoken deep house/dub techno fusion and runs with it. As you'd expect, the solo tracks are impeccable, too.

Review: D'Julz's Bass Culture has long since carved out a niche for low-end heavy, track-y house cuts. This new offering from Darren Roach continues in that vein but with a leaning towards tech house and minimal. First up is the excellent 'Drewski Balooski' which is marbled with laughter and slinky low ends that slowly lock you in.
Then comes 'Bass Ready' which is more atmospheric with sustained chords and percolating bass. Last but not least, 'Relentlessly Together' cuts loose on a more playful and expressive house sound that will get big reactions.