Housewax Germany Vinyl & CDs

Review: Ben Sun is welcomed by Rawax to their family. 'Lofi Spirits' is a happy return to lo-fi and edit house, despite the former genre's disappearance over the last few years. Unifying a series of both already-released and unreleased tunes, this is disco-edit sunniness for only the best parties out.

Review: You might think you know exactly what to expect from Pressure System EP, the latest offering from Black Eyes, released via HOUSEWAX. The label's dedication to underground club music has always been clear, and this 12" doesn't stray far from that path. But beneath the surface, Matthew Jesus serves up more than the usual deep house fare, with each track revealing a different side of his craftsmanship. The opener, Hydro Warmth, starts gently, with soft keys and a laid-back vibe, offering a warm welcome. But there's more here than simple relaxationithere's an attention to detail that sets the tone without overwhelming. Then there's Blue Grooves, where the mood shifts. The bassline gets heavier, the track's raw energy becomes more apparent, and the melody takes on a darker edge, offering a solid deep house groove that's anything but background noise. On the flip side, Ancient Water Funk changes gears, opting for a more laid-back, funky rhythm. It's smooth, understated, and lets the funk seep through with a restrained confidence. Finally, Bohemian Waters rounds off the EP with a touch of spacey elegance, blending sharp drum patterns with a subtle, dreamlike atmosphere.

Review: DJ MoReese makes his debut on RAWAX's HOUSEWAX series with S51 EP, a celebration of Detroit-rooted house music fused with his soulful, funky energy. Scheduled for release on October 1, 2024, this four-track 12" encapsulates the vibrant spirit that defines MoReese's signature sound, one that has enthralled dance floors from Tresor in Berlin to the Detroit Movement Festival. The EP kicks off with "Fort Washington Way," a warm, groove-laden opener that blends classic Detroit elements with MoReese's distinct touch, setting the stage for what follows. On 'House', he digs into a deeper, more hypnotic realm, delivering a track brimming with tight, propulsive rhythms and a vocal hook that lingers in the mind long after the last beat. Side B features "Eclipse," a prime example of MoReese's skill in balancing soulful melodies with robust, bass-heavy beats. The track is both reflective and energizing, echoing the influences of Detroit's house pioneers while adding his unique flair. Closing out the EP, 'Casual Dr' offers a laid-back, funk-infused groove, the kind of track that effortlessly bridges the gap between old-school house and modern dancefloor sensibilities. Drawing from over 25 years of experience, DJ MoReese channels the legacy of his hometown's house legendsiDerrick May, Kevin Saunderson and Terrence Parkeriwhile carving out his own distinctive niche.

Review: Enness lays down four melancholic, progressive house head-hangers to Housewax. The product of a demo submission - take note, aspiring producers - 'Let Me Love' is avowed as a future classic by the German label. The title track combines a pitched-down vocal hook with a demure piano-4x4 montage, backed by a secondary vocal sample that insists on looking into the listener's soul. Then there's the wonky, submerged burrer 'Move Back'; the suspenseful spine-tingler 'Ring It'; and the wonkier, soul-food plying that is 'Sensations'.

Review: Innes taps into many different niches for inspiration for this new house EP on Housewax out of Germany. 'Let Me Love' is part deep house cut, part late-night lullaby and part jazzy escape. The dreamy vocals bring the heat next to rickety beats then 'Move Back' is a smoky and driving number with raw beats that hark back to early Chicago. 'Ring It' brings me more smart vocal samples and humid chord work to nice analogue drums and 'Sensations' closes out with pitched-up vocals and heavy, thudding house kicks. It's physical but packed with emotion and brings a different kind of energy to the club.

Review: Having built his career via a mix of inspired self-released EPs and outings on the likes of Shall Not Fade and Happiness Therapy, Parisian producer Matthieu Faubourg lands on Housewax for the first time. The five-track missive he's delivered is undeniably impressive, fusing good quality deep house grooves with intricate arrangements and mood-enhancing musical flourishes. For proof, check opener 'Pressure Drop', where fluid piano motifs, bubbly electronics and gorgeous chords ride a nagging analogue bassline and drum machine percussion, and the fizzing, Norwegian space disco-inspired house futurism of 'Oslo Track'. Elsewhere, title track 'Normal Boy' is warm, woozy and cheery, 'Waves' doffs a cap to early 90s Italian deep house and 'Haze' is a stab-happy slab of warehouse-ready peak-time sleaze.

Review: Man of many aliases MS (real name Matthias Schildger) has released on many labels since making his vinyl debut in 2011, with Rawax and its Housewax offshoot being his most regular outlets. Here he returns to the latter following last year's digital-only Slow Housing EP with another rock-solid four-tracker. The German producer begins with the hybrid deep house/tech-house crunch of 'Dancing By The River' - all Korg-M1 organ stabs, swinging beats and glitchy electronics - before opting for a deeper, dreamier and rhythmically off-kilter vibe on 'Let's Float'. Over on side two, 'Mainrecorder' sounds like a tribute to interlaactic-sounding late 90s tech-house, while 'OF Blues' is ultra-deep, warm, bass-heavy and undeniably attractive.