Forbidden Dance Vinyl & CDs

Review: The latest in broken beat's best and brightest comes from Croatian producer Laseech, who is a relative newcomer to the scene. He's nevertheless managed to enlist the help of its greatest stalwarts for remixes, owing to his veritable 'rising star' status. Namely, Dego and Patrice Scott are on remix duties for this already steamy extremity-oiler; the original 'Hey Love' has a laid-back flair enough, but Dego's version has a bit more of a nu-funk verve to it (as ever showing off the longtime production player's versatility), and Patrice Scott's is equally as infectious with its comparatively straighter 4x4 house rendition. The star, though, comes from Laseech himself, on the one-off B-sider 'You See', which proves the undying spirit of broken beat with what could be one of the most hypnotic tracks to come out in the style in years.

Review: Strictly Jaz Unit member and Glenn Underground collaborator Vick Lavender is enjoying a successful year, with this outing on the freshly minted Forbidden Dance label following excursions on Local Talk and Visions Inc. He starts in fine fashion via "Habano", a shuffling, soft-touch skip through Latin-fired deep house wonder rich in fluid vibraphone solos, layered beats, spacey synth doodles and squelchy synth bass. Over on side B, he first reaches for the Clavinet motifs, clattering timbales and intergalactic synth-chords on the jazz-funk/deep house fusion of "The Definition", before channelling the spirit of Ron Trent on the impeccably dreamy and positive closing cut, "NiteFlyte (Jessie's Journey)".

Review: The Mechanical Man is a young and fresh talent from Naples. He is clearly inspired by the great house end techno of Chicago and Detroit but also brings his own style to the label across these four cuts. Stripped down beats are the order of the day but what he does over, under and between them is key to what makes this EP such a standout. 'The Streets Of Revelation' is a funky, but raw workout that you might hear from Kyle Hall, then 'I Keep Thinking' brings a super soulful vocal hook to more loose, louche beats with a loungey feel. 'What Your Eyes Don't See' s more heartfelt, rough edged deep house perfection and 'Take Her In Your Arms' closes with a more downbeat sense of inward melodic reflection.