Review: With an arsenal of releases on labels like NDATL, PPU, Black Catalogue, 2MR, and Harsh Riddims, Atlanta artist Stefan Ringer presents the first release on his own imprint FWM Entertainment. This contribution contains a fluid spectrum of sounds . "Southside", is a soulful, sexy summer house cut. "Great Beat" follows up in a similar vein; jazz inspired, introspective, and upbeat. While "Wanna Be Bad" is a freaky skating rink inspired track. "Got Me 123" is a Hypnotic 2 step groove, and rounding it out is "FR Shawty" a slowed vocal stepper.
Review: Detroit-raised, London-based Demi Riquisimo assembles a dynamic mix of label favourites and fresh talent on Love State, the 22nd release from his Semi Delicious imprint. This six-track V/A hears offerings from Demi himself alongside Clint, Swoose, Lulah Francs, Dukwa, Anastasia Zem & Asa Tate, blending club modernity with classic analogue dance influences, sampling every sonic cate from Italo to tech house. Best among the bunch has to be Swoose's 'Re/Vision' and Anastasia Zems' 'Eternal Beauty', which bring together wasted electro, Italian new beat and trance for well-measured tinctures of dreaminess.
Vicino O' Mare (The Shapeshifters Piano Bump extended remix) (6:00)
Vicino O' Mare (Louie Vega extended remix) (6:14)
Vicino O' Mare (Louie Vega dub remix vinyl edit) (6:16)
Review: Summer may still be some way off, but it's a fair bet that Riva Starr's latest single on his own Snatch Raw imprint will feature prominent in festival sets and at open-air dances. In its EP-opening 'extended vinyl mix' form, 'Vicino O Mare' is a chunky, disco-fied house jam rich in rubbery bass guitar, warming Rhodes riffs, reverb-laden male vocal samples, swirling synths and just the right amount of disco-house style filter trickery. Fittingly, disco-house veterans Shapeshifters deliver the first remix, cannily adding hands-aloft piano stabs to the Californian producer's infectious disco-house groove. Louie Vega takes over on the flip, first delivering a joyous, samba-soaked Latin house 'extended mix' before stripping his rework back to the heavy tribal drums on the excellent 'dub remix vinyl edit'.
Review: Deep house fans can rarely go wrong with the work of Praising mainstay Frank Rodger. He's on a good run of late and now he keeps the going with a return to Seasons Limited that again taps into his signature and timeless sound. A side 'Deep Squares' is one of those long and winding sounds that slowly but surely seduces you and sinks you into its deep, evocative groves. 'Sandton Skys' then brings heavy kicks and subtle pad work while rickety percussion brings off-balance goodness. The highlight might well come last with 'Come Together', which is playful and louche, smartly sampled and underpinned by a dusty deep house vibe.
Review: Franck Roger recently impressed with a vocal project alongside Arnold Jarvis and is now back on Seasons Limited with some of his signature house depths. Opener 'Don't Look Down' kicks off with louche, lovely drums and swirling pads and vocals that soon melt the heart. 'That's Alright' is a more thumping kick but is no less heartfelt with its warped bass and prickly hi-hats. 'Proscription' closes out with smooth, serene grooves that have your head in the stars and your heart locked into the romantic melodies. .
Review: Seasons Limited made a welcome return in 2024 and now keeps up that good momentum with another big single from French house mainstay Franck Roger with some fine vocals by Paul B. It's a super smooth sound with drum swaying back and forth, molten synth adding late night and tissue soul and the tender vocal adding intimacy and late night romance. Rocco Rodamaal steps up for remixes and first of all he pairs things back to a sedate, seductive deep house roll then fleshes out the drums with some dubby weight to finish.!
Review: Chachi Romero's famously magic fingers are back in full force on the latest release from Open Air 72. This project dives into the nu-funk movement and do so by mixing up retro-funk vibes with futuristic synth sounds reminiscent of the likes of MoFunk, Zackery Funk Force and Dabeull. A-side jam 'Sunwave Space' rings endlessly nodding and funky basslines to withering sci-fi motifs and blissed-out vocal coos. It's a nice and catchy sound while 'Arm Candy' is a more deep and dusty house groove with libidinous vocals and rolling beats topped with some well-chosen vocal samples for an extra steamy allure.
Review: For the latest in their ongoing series of remastered reissues, FRL Classic Edition takes us back to 1992 and the sought-after debut EP from Long Island producer 'Big' William Rosario. Double Intensity, as it was originally entitled, did an excellent job in joining the dots between the deeper, jazzier and hazier end of the NYC house spectrum and the loose-limbed swing and organ love of New Jersey garage-house. Highlights include the sax-sporting shuffle of the notably atmospheric 'London Fog', the tactile, warm and dreamy 'Decibels', the head-nodding golden era hip-hop instrumentals 'Mo-Mo BEATZ' (very Craig Mack) and 'Take Me Out (With The Fader)'. Classy!
Review: Ryan Sadorus joins forces with vocalist Simon Black to craft a track that distills the essence of Detroit house into a modern, infectious groove. The production pulses with a deep, steady rhythm that evokes the city's legacy of soul-tinged, dancefloor-driven sound, adding a fresh sense of clarity and precision. There's a tension between the track's smooth, forward-moving momentum and the rawness of its elements that capture the city's spirit of innovation within the confines of a familiar, yet evolving, form. Sadorus's blend of modern sensibilities with classic Detroit influences makes this track feel both fresh and timeless. The accompanying remix from Delano Smith further enhances the original, adding his signature deep, rolling style. Smith's version takes the track in a more expansive direction, with subtle intricacies and a hypnotic build that brings an even greater sense of tension and release. His seasoned approach to Detroit house transforms 'Hot in the D' into something even more immersive, ensuring the track will continue to dominate dancefloors globally. It's a perfect example of how the city's legacy lives on through its new wave of artists and producers.
Review: Finland's Common Labour label unites four different producers on the fourth volume of its Odd Jobs series, and each of them goes deep in their own inimitable way. Omar Santis begins with an unhuried and smoky dubbed out house with wispy pads and subtle vocals on 'Pinoki.' Flabaire ups the energy with some slick, tightly programmed but smooth drum loops that bounce freely beneath warm pads which infuse the mix with soul. Thomas Wood's 'All It Takes' has molten bass and liquid synths for a dub house delight on 'All It Takes' and Potholes's 'Bromsman' is the headiest of the lot with DJ Koze-style melodic whimsy.
Got To Find Dub (feat Benedek - bonus track) (6:49)
Review: While much of Mark Seven's work on his Parkway Rhythm label leans into the vocal end of the NYC proto-house/formative garage-house spectrum, his occasional 'Parkwerks' EPs are designed to delight those who prefer stripped-back, synth-heavy dubs of the kind released back in the day by the likes of Paul Simpson, Boyd Jarvis, Winston Jones and Timmy Regisford. There are plenty of "hard, raw and raunchy dubs for DJs" on this belated third instalment, with the Stockholm-based Brit offering up bassline-driven, freestyle-inspired brilliance ('Thrust'), cowbell-laden post-boogie proto-house ('Runnin' Dub') and echo-laden NYC electro ('Time Storm'). He also joins forces with fellow proto-house enthusiast Benedek on the lightly acid-flecked, Chicken Lips style brilliance of closing cut 'Got To Find Dub'.
Review: Two years ago, Italy's Balearic Gabba Soundsystem switched from remixing and re-editing their favourite cuts to curating compilation style EPs of similarly minded fare. They're in that mode again here, presenting a trio of cuts that combine the saucer-eyed warmth and loved-up musicality of Balearic music culture with grooves and rhythms firmly focused on the dancefloor. They begin by showcasing Wallace's sublime remix of Sewell & The Gong's 'Better Worlds', a locked-in, hypnotising fusion of semi-organic deep house grooves, new age melodic motifs and the dreamiest of ambient chords. Over on the flip they dip into slo-mo Italo-disco/acid house fusion via SIRS fine revision of My Friend Dario's 'Tell Aro', before treating us to a Pedro Bertho remix of Verdo's 'Belvourdier' in which sparkling Balearic house piano riffs, undulating acid lines and mid-80s "chorus" synth sounds rise above a fluctuating synthesiser bassline and hustling beats.
A Paris State Of Mind (feat Eve - main vocal mix) (6:31)
A Paris State Of Mind (instrumental mix) (6:31)
A Paris State Of Mind (Vick Lavender Sophisticado remix) (9:05)
Unbleached (6:23)
Review: Kai Alce's NDATL Muzik is one of our favourites for deep house so imagine our delight to learn that it now branches out with a new sub-label, Nutria Sounds. Its debut release is a gem from Shaka with Eve's soulful vocals capturing the essence of Paris through organic textures and sultry melodies. The main vocal mix has jazzy chords and a carefree vibe, while 'Unbleached' is a more driving deep house cut with dancing keys and low end heft. The ever-on form Chicagoan Vick Lavender also steps up with a signature jazz-infused remix that is refined yet ready to work the 'floor. This is a fine debut for Nutria Sounds, which seems like it is going to be another vital outlet for heartfelt and classy house.
Review: Traxx Underground hits a quarter of a century of releases with another faultless deep house 12". This one is from UK mainstay and Ultra Knites Records label founder Mike Sharon and he shows his love of classic US styles from the get-go. 'Body Talk' is a perfect blend of driving drums and balmy, heartfelt pads that swirl with real grace. 'Under The Groove' brings some superb swing to the drums with muttered vocals up top and 'Seduction' is another smooth-cruising and soulful late-night house gem. 'Floating' is another variation on the theme that again encourages you to empty your mind and go with the flow.
Review: Silat Beksi hails from Ukraine and has been serving up finely tuned minimal grooves for some time. This outing takes him to the young Duboka label for a trio of deft, lithe, sinewy sounds. 'Recognition' kicks off with a weighty and dubbed out low end but plenty of drive in the silky pads that loop in colourful patterns. It's a graceful groove which leads into the more lumpy and bubbly dub-tech of 'Sparkling Mouth', a Melchior Productions adjacent sound that is seductively smooth. 'Speak In A Whisper' gets more bitty and abstract with late-night afterparty energy and vinyl crackling bringing it to life. Fedo remixes it with more direct drum funk.
Max Sinal Vs KingCrowney - "Intentions" (feat Liv East) (3:24)
Slxm Sol - "NYBB" (5:40)
Hitch 93 - "Uno, Dos, Tres, Four" (8:00)
Rob Redford - "Garden Party" (6:19)
Soul Groove - "Blues Kitchen" (6:29)
Flying Moth - "Edith" (2:55)
Review: Since its inception in 2023, Soul Quest Records has released some superbly deep and soulful records. To prove the point, the Hackney-based label has decided to serve up a compilation style EP featuring fresh cuts from current artists and new signings. Max Sinal joins forces with King Crowney and vocalist Liv East on the ultra-deep, super soulful warm-up sounds of 'Intentions', before Slxm Sol cannily combines loose-limbed drums, warming bass, sensitive chords, tactile Rhodes keys and soulful vocal snippets on 'NYBB'. Hitch 93 doffs a cap to Chez Damier on the excellent 'Uno Dos Tres Four', Rob Reckford delivers some bright MPC-house action ('Garden Party'), and Soul Grooves goes deep, gently dubby and spacey ('Blues Kitchen'). The gentle broken house sunniness of 'Edith' by Flying Moth completes a fine EP.
Review: The eighth instalment in Running Back's playful Hits! series arrives with a globetrotting batch of quirky dancefloor charmers, spanning interstellar disco, Italo throwbacks and Berlin School eccentricity. Kicking things off, Skatman leans into sleazy synth funk and smoky melodrama with 'What I Am Feelin'', a crooning synth-pop number pitched somewhere between space cabaret and Metro Area. Baron Von Traxian Australian prince of peaktime pompibrings glitzy melancholy with 'If I Only Knew', layering ascending Italo arps and soft pads over a chugging disco pulse. Janis Zielinski and Sowhy3 (both Berlin-based) turn in 'In Your Eyes' twiceifirst as a vocal daydream of euro-pop yearning, then as a sleek instrumental. Morphena's 'Venus Underworld' dials up the noir with icy stabs and new wave propulsion, while Zoe Zoe's 'Palikau Dzemperi' signs off with a Tangerine Dream-style glide repurposed for the club. There's no unifying concept, but as with earlier volumes, that's the point: a polychrome snapshot of Running Back's curious, cosmopolitan world.
Review: Chicago born, Detroit-raised Delano Smith is one of the foundational artists of the contemporary house scenes. In 2023, he revealed he was suffering with a rare form of cancer but as this new EP title suggests, he is still here and still crafting high-grade sounds. 'When I Was Young' kicks off with his signature smoky drum loops and train travel sense of hypnosis. 'The Rush' is another heads down jam, this time marbled with eerie pads and wet clicks and claps that oil the groove while 'Rewired' shuts down with real late night delicacy and evocative minimalism.
Review: Much like vital Detroit label Moods & Grooves, The Solid Gold Playaz are a beloved force in the house scene. They tragically lost their co-founder Kenny Gino in 2021, but by then had already assured the legacy with deep house grooves that exude funk and class. In honour of Kenny's memory, surviving member Mike Theus carries on the journey with a new EP that, across four tracks, demonstrates real unity. Each one is built on nice lo-fi dusty drums, with undercooked synth lines bringing the unusual soul, bass adding the all-important low-end interest and plenty of smart samples finishing in style.
Son Palenque - "A Pila El Arroz" (Sound Culture remix) (3:58)
Tropical Scenes (Afroqbano remix) (4:07)
Review: Windy City collective Future Rootz are all about mixing up worldly electronic sounds, Latin, tropical bass and global jazz. This second volume in their new series does just that with two expressive remixes of iconic Afro-Colombian tracks. On Side A, Sound Culture delivers a modern take on Son Palenque's legendary 'A Pila el Arroz,' which was originally composed by Justo Valdez for Palenque Records. He infuses it with fresh and bubbly bass and hypnotic vocal chants. On side-B, Afroqbano reimagines 'Tropical Scenes' by adding a vibrant, rhythm-heavy twist to the original that sympathetically blends traditional Afro-Colombian sounds with electronic influences into a wiggling bit of irresistible and sunny global fusion.
Review: When this French producer released 'Rose Rouge' on his 2000 landmark album Tourist, it was more than a track. It was a manifesto. Built on hypnotic jazz loops, tight house rhythms and a sample from Marlena Shaw's 'Woman of the Ghetto', it was a vision of dance music that was cultured, expansive and deeply groovy. Its sophisticated blend of electronic textures and classic jazz sensibilities earned it a rightful home on Blue Note Records, elevating it beyond clubs and into the canon of genre-defying music. It remains a defining moment of jazz-house fusion. Two decades on, Jorja Smith brought her unmistakable voice to the track with a smoky, soulful reinterpretation that paid homage while casting it in a fresh r&b light. Joy Orbison's remix of her version on Side 2 injects another layer of evolution. It stretches the track into a deep, slow-burning cut, rich in atmosphere and bass weight, yet restrained and emotive. Together, these versions celebrate the enduring legacy and adaptability of Rose Rouge across generations and genres.
Review: After a decade away, this revered Japanese producer returns to the label where his journey first took flight i with a stunning fifth release EP. Effortlessly blending deep house and tech house sensibilities, he crafts a polished, deeply musical EP that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking. Side-A begins with 'Summer Solstice', a crisp, melodic opener built on a minimal, techy grooveisetting a next level production right from the drop. 'Be With Me' follows, locking into an addictive rhythm, its deep, elegant production highlighting his seasoned touch. On the flip, 'The Loop Machine' stretches into deeper territory, an epic builder that grows patiently and powerfully, perfect for extended sets. Finally, 'Winter Solstice' brings a surprising yet fitting close, with a funky electro glide that feels clean, fluid and inviting. As if the seasons were changing. This is a masterclass in restraint, groove and feelingia welcome homecoming for an artist who's clearly leading the way.
Canto Das Tres Racas (Kai Alce NDATL vocal mix) (7:55)
Caramba (5:09)
Caramba (Lex Wolf Technobloco remix) (7:47)
Review: Diogo Strausz brings some brilliantly authentic and escapist Afro house and deep house vibes to this steamy new platter from the Razor N Tape crew. 'Canto Das Tres Racas' has it all - tropical and loose-limbed drums with lashings of percussion, soulful vocals and rich chords with delicate acoustic guitars. The Kai Alce NDATL vocal mix makes it more club-ready but no less emotive, and 'Caramba' then brings strings to the fore once more with another eco-system of busy bird calls and busy drums topped with raw horns. The Lex Wolf Technobloco remix takes things into late-night territory but the Afro atmospheres still come on heavy.
Review: French DJ and producer Suburb Beat keeps it street with this neat EP on Sounds of Style Records. The opener has a different kind of swagger with crisp, broken, dry drums and lingering bass notes topped with an aloof vocal. It's a nice new twist on tech house and the remix from Nenor layers in more bobbing beats and muted neon tones for a future house feel. It's a tune that again features late-night sounds that hark back to early West Coast tech from the likes of Fresh & Low and 'Aint Got No Home' shuts down with warming deep house tones that come with a sleek electronic edge and subdued sense of cool. Lovely.
Review: Swayzak is a micro house, minimal and techno duo, aka James S Taylor and David Brown from the UK, whose name alone will get many older dancers hot under the collar. Their craft was second to none during their peak and here we get a reminder of that with a new outing on Rawax. 'Floyd' is a jazzy dancer with live claps, spinning hi-hats and louche grooves all topped with synthetic synths that never quit. 'Doobie' is a more deep sound with late-night headsy vibes. The drums are supple, the synths squeal and spoken word mutterings add a human touch. Two well-realised and effective cuts from Swayzak.
Review: First released in 1999, Swayzak's 'Floyd/Doobie' shook the British duo's catalogue. Though it wasn't 'Bueno' or 'Fukumachi', this deep house cut was the next best choice for followers of the then burgeoning tech house circuit. Swayzak were already favourites on this and the deep house scene, and had clawed in acclaim for their involvement in both as early as 1993. One particularly prolix bio deems them the incipients of "1st wave 2000-era progressive deep minimal", which is too analytic even for us manic categorisers. No, we prefer to take these two big-hitters as they are: brimming with enthusiasm for a gadget-packed future, 'Floyd' fizzes and twitches with the pulsing blurts of a saw synth, as if to suggest constant magnetic stimulation from above. 'Doobie', meanwhile, hears our protagonist disrobe the techno utility belt, returning to a wireless home, so to gaze out over a subtly detuned chord landscape set to munching percs.
Review: New York City's underground stalwart Sweater On Polo returns with the debut release on Signal Route. His Mechanical Confusion EP draws inspiration from early 90s Chicago techno and basement house so it echoes the gritty, raw style of labels that dealt in that sort of stuff, like Dance Mania and Relief Records. Across the six cuts there is an intergenerational dialogue between past and present with acid house, techno and synth punk all capturing a familiar old-school angst and texture but with a fresh twist. 'Land of Code' is one of our favourites with its rising percussive tension, deeply buried bass pulse and dusty analogue drums.
Review: The Top Secret label keeps things tight once more with a pair of very different jams, but both are going to get huge reactions when dropped at the right time. U first is 'Get Criminal' which is a rework of an MJ classic with his smoky vocals reusing by scene else in a more unsettling fashion and the original drums run through with some futuristic and molten melodies. On the flip is 'Eurotrance', a good old-fashioned piano rave-up with belting vocals, trance synths and euro dance drums. Lovely, fun, accessible and effective.
Saturday Night (Dr Packer dubstrumental mix) (6:34)
Review: After they relocated to Miami, Florida, in the early 1970s, Bahamas band T Connection recorded a string of disco and disco-funk anthems for local label T.K. Amongst their most admired and played releases - the peerless and extra-percussion 'At Midnight' excepted - is 'Saturday Night', which here gets the remix treatment courtesy of popular Aussie disco/house fusionist Dr Packer. He provides two peak-time-ready rubs: a jaunty, rolling, full-vocal A-side remix that lightly straightens and tools-up the groove while retaining the horns, strings, guitar and bass from the band's superb original mix, and a flip-side 'Dubstrumental'. Almost entirely free of singing besides some whispered and yelped backing vocals, it allows the original disco instrumentation more room to breathe while rolling out the band's killer groove.
Review: T Jacques and Velvet Velour apparently made the opener on this new EP some time ago and thought it was lost. It has recently been rediscovered and we couldn't be happier: 'Hot Hands' is spaced out industrial cosmic tech with synth lines carving neat parabolas and crispy drums bringing the funk. Both artists then go it alone for one cut each: T Jacques's 'Deep Blue' is buffed up deep house with an electronic edge and whimsical synth motifs, then Velvet Velour's 'What U Like' has a playful and restless groove daubed with neon colours and sensuous vocal whispers.
Review: Shut Off Notice welcomes Teakup - a local Columbus, Ohio DJ and producer born Lauri Reponen and known for his stylish techno - for a second outing on the label. 'Forest Bed Moss' kicks off with dusty mid-tempo breaks and deep basslines full of soul, while 'Mhm' is a mechanical groove with dubby undertones and nice chopped vocals. 'Rain Groove Revisit' is a deep, percolating and stumbling rhythm with a smattering of percussion and bubbly feel infused with cooing female vocals. Finally, Teakup remixes Rew's 'Fragile Abundance' into a deft and lithe minimal dub for the small hours. Sophisticated stuff once more from Teakup.
Review: Telefax Productions - mysterious musical masterminds formed by veteran producers with roots in the late 80s - finally drop a vinyl release of their 2024 breakout club anthem, 'Break This House Down'. It is an unashamedly revivalist hip-house banger backed by proper DJs like Honey Dijon and Luke Solomon and features fiery verses from rising Buffalo MC DeeVoeNay. Alongside the flame-hot original is a live band version with HR Nightmare, plus a rough and ready bruk remix from London's EVM128 and last but not least, a visceral acid house rework. This is a perfect example of how you balance nostalgia and freshness and do it right. The package is finished in style with fine artwork by KLF legend Jimmy Cauty.
Review: Dan Piu and Grant's Theory of Movement project has served up gold for lovers of heady tech and minimal. After something of a hiatus, it is now back on When The Morning Comes with more of the sort of tuneage that is going to quickly sell out and soon become the ID request du jour at your favourite underground parties. These are of course sophisticated sounds from the silky house bumps of 'Now & Then' with its seductive vocal allure to the throwback 90s sounds of 'Over Time' (Acid Mix). 'Basis' (Foundation mix) is another immediately classic house sound with analogue and dusty drums and zippy melodies next to more smooth chords. 'Motion Of Objects' shuts down with a more zoned-out vibe and widescreen melodic architecture for late nights.
Review: Thierry Tomas wears his influences on his sleeve on this new one for Deeppa Records with elements of jazz, deep house and electronica all making themselves known. The title cut 'Why Why' is a lovely loose limbed jumble of live-sounding percussion and stylish vocal soul, and the revered Fred Everything reworks it into a lush, pad-laced daydream. 'Life's Great' is a playful, shuffling groove with lovely swing, and 'Blue Birds Fly' then hist harder with hypnotic piano. Last of all, 'Dad's Vinyl' is a nice smoky and jazzy grove marbled with great samples and a carefree vibe.
Review: Tifra ventures into uncharted territory with a four track EP that explores the hypnotic and ominous depths of the unknown. Channelling the spirit of 90s and 00s house and prog, Tifra crafts a sonic landscape of undulating grooves and mesmerizing rhythms. 'Invoke Hysteria' sets the tone with its pulsating energy, while 'Serpent' slithers through hypnotic textures and haunting melodies. The title track, 'Terra Incognita', delves deeper into the unknown, its hypnotic groove punctuated by unexpected twists and turns. Admo's masterful remix adds another dimension, transforming the track into a peak-time weapon. This EP is a journey into the depths of sound, a testament to Tifra's ability to craft captivating and immersive electronic music.
Review: Disco Tape 4 is a compelling collection that navigates the full spectrum of disco's evolution, seamlessly blending house and late-night techno grooves. The Mechanical Man's 'eyes supreme' stands out with its melodic hook that gradually intensifies the energy. It's a slow-burning groover featuring soulful disco lyrics, creating an atmosphere that's both beautiful and entrancing. 'with you' by Just Guess and Tecam takes a funkier route, with a vibrant guitar riff and a soulful house vocal reminiscent of the best Naked Music releasesiideal for setting a warm, inviting vibe. Other great highlights include the other Mechanical man track 'Space Exploration,' a track that dives into deeper techno territory. Its wicked atmospheric groove adds a layer of sophistication, perfect for those late-night moments when the dancefloor craves something more introspective. Closing out the highlights, Ohn De La Noise's 'good afternoon' offers a smooth deep house sound that blends late-night disco into house, creating a seamless transition that's both elegant and satisfying. A very well-rounded record, expertly capturing the diverse influences of disco's enduring legacy.
Review: Deep-headed, deeper-bodied dub house, hurtling our way from New Yorkers Dopeus and Satoshi Tomiie. Building on Tomiie's already relatively storied career, this chronological time-clock keeps track of the big smoke's early hours for us: '2AM' and '3AM' build to knifing edges, the latter track especially working from blueprints of overdriven satu-rave and chambered echoic dub techno, basking in hollowness. As we cross into the temporal impossibility of '4:60AM', 909 puff snares and naively high strings are accrued, and by the turn of 'Sunrise', an entire breakbeat has worked its way around our eyelid bags.
Review: Tommaso is an exciting young talent who has brought plenty of freshness to the underground scenes of both Florence and Chicago. Now he debuts on Rocksteady Disco with more of his signature organic and soulful sounds. This one kicks off with 'G Class' which is a peak-time house pumper with lovely liquid bass and sunny strings. 'Fierro Viejo' is more twisted with rumbling bass and a peppering of percussion that will twist dancers inside out. 'Giente Que' is an arp-fuelled Italo-inflected banger and last of all is the more slow, seductive and absorbing sound of Snake Pit' for late-night lovers. Another fine EP from Tommaso.
Review: The Disco Gioconda crew spin narratives as they do grooves, dream-weaving throwback Italo-style records through editable wattles. Trend-chasers begone: Gino Tonico and Tino Arancino together tap into a sound whose immanent quality foregoes any need for PR preservatives, letting each section breathe, twist, and evolve organically as energy builds. 'Vorrei Rubaria' leans into drama without excess, moving through bold shifts in tone and rhythm that hold attention from first bar to last - its dub mix, meanwhile, swirls our medulla, leaving us cochlear blear. It's a record designed for full playthrough, rewarding those who stay with it.
Review: Berlin-based Aussie Tornado Wallace has a long track record of tiptoeing the fine line between perfectly judged dancefloor pleasure and the more musically immersive sounds of Balearica and sun-soaked, sofa-ready deep house. He touches all those bases on 'Bitter Suite', his debut for Apiento's excellent Test Pressing Recordings imprint. In its' full length, near ten minute original mix form (side A), the track joins the dots between psychedelic, lightly acid-clad 1993 progressive house and - via waves of instrumentation and positive melodic motfs - the colourful musical rush of the System 7's most gorgeous early-to-mid-90s productions The latter element comes to the fore on the kaleidoscopic, string-laden and slow building 'Symphony Mix', while the 'Bitter Beats' version is a pounding, sweat-soaked drum track.
Review: The COVID era amused many artists with its desolate streets and locked-down excesses of time, but few artists ran with its associated concepts such that they named themselves after one if its nanny state cornerstones. Whomever they are in real life, Track & Trace (maybe they're a duo, or maybe not?) join the Danish NES crew (the label project of one DJ Popup) for an exquisite mid-twents take on deep house and experimental sonic Aquarii. 'Question' deploys deep Balearic whispers and forgotten, Akai-esque voxsyn highs, and 'Spatial Awareness' goes in on synth replica pan pipes and bruk shades. One of many great new aquasonic additions to an already self-outdoing label.
Review: Tweak's latest is another fine trip through rhythm, texture and atmosphere across three originals that are couched in broken beat. 'Generation' leads with lovely laidback grooves and a warm, gloopy bassline as precise electronics merge with a hint of vintage soul. The 'Red Rover' (Rework) is another sunny, horizontal sound with bubbly broken beats and lush flutes adding the hook, then 'Fathorn' explores darker, more tribal rhythms with deep bass and ritualistic percussion. Raw Deal's Freedom Time Remix of 'Fathorn' takes it further with some fluid grooves and expressive brass top notes next to glowing, golden Rhodes chords. A fantastically feel-good and fuzzy sound.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.