Cosmocities France Vinyl & CDs

Review: Billy Lo keeps it high-class on this expansive new 12" from the French folks at Cosmocities. It is house music that is couched in the traditional US style but with plenty of his own unique embellishments. Importantly, the melodies are meaningful and fresh and add everything from bittersweetness to joy to the dusty, paired back and nicely undercooked grooves. 'Let Ur Body Werk' is the sort of steamy sound that will get close-knit backroom crowds all in a sweat and up close and personal and 'Sho Me Ur Luv' brings a little US garage skip to the analogue drums. Spoken words elevate each tune to work on mind, body and soul in equal measure.

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: Australian producer Inkswel is back on the Cosmocities label in France with more of his superbly soulful sounds, this time with none other than Chicago legend Robert Owens. The lush 'Space Love' is a playful deep house jam with the sort of cosmic synths that recall early Fingers Inc and Owens's smoky tones only heighten that feeling. Steve Spacek provides a mix that rides on broken beats with elastic bass but just as much cosmic energy and a Fluterumental gets all loose-limbed and seductive. On the flip side are two Yoruba Soul mixes that bring extra rich soul vibes and shimmering pad work. A classy and timeless EP for sure.

Review: The always-smiling Soichi Terada is a master of Japanese house music as well as being a fine video game soundtrack designer who brings unbridled synth and piano-laced joy to his sounds. His collab with Manabu Nagayama, 'Low Tension', is the subject of the A-side here with deep house don Jimpster remixing first with all the joyous synth energy of a new spring day and then with a Beatless Reprise that allows you to marvel at the magnificent keys. On the flip, Nick Holder's In The Six remix brings some smoky depths to Luyo's 'Shanee' while a KEENE Venao 7am remix of 'Celestial' is the exact tune you want to hear at sun up.

Review: Cosmocities returns with a sizzling six-track remix package of 'How It Feels To Be Loved' by American artists Erik Rico & C. Boogie. These jams are all ready for deployment in the club but come with a soulful signature that fans of Rico will quickly recognise. Tracks 'How It Feels...' and 'Love Everlasting' both get reworked by the one and only Josh Milan while Marc Mac, and Rico himself also step up with their own fresh twists. Milan's 'Honeycomb' mix infuses slap bass and acid-leaning grooves, his 'Floor Radio Vocal Mix' adds late-night soulful funk, Rico's 'Trench Coat Tribute Remix' delivers seductive P-funk vibes and Marc Mac's take on 'Love Everlasting' brings Balearic house magic.

Review: The Cosmocities label keeps it class with another deliciously deep house outing. This one comes from You Udagawa who opens up with 'Into The Rapture', a melodically rich cut with twinkling keys, lush pads and icy cow bells all detailing a steamy groove. 'We Become' is a loose-limbed sound with live-sounding chords and percussive bringing a Detroit vibe. Francesco Tristano remixes with a signature jazzy touch and nimble key work. 'Flows Forever' then keeps the jazzy, dance vibes flowing with more live drums and louche hits, 'Radiance' exudes cuddly warmth and late-night feels and Atjazz dubs it to perfection.