Kaoz Theory Vinyl & CDs

Review: The UK's Josh Butler sure knows how to kay down robust house grooves. He pops up on a wide array of labels, always with useful sounds that draw on the past but never kowtow too much. For this one, he joins the ranks of Kerri Chandler's seminal Kaoz Theory for a smooth outing that opens with two versions of 'Be There.' It's deep house with a smoky vocal and an authentic touch of the classics. 'Piranha' then sinks into a slinky groove with the right amount of swing and 'Chess' is a supple cut embellished with cheeky stabs and a hint of garage skip.

Review: Loads has been written about Kerri Chandler's inspired Spaces & Places album, an expansive set in which the legendary US producer pays tribute to some of his favourite venues around the world via tracks recorded inside them (and designed specifically with them in mind). It's a genuine triumph, as this full triple-vinyl edition (pressed to translucent green wax and accompanied by a poster featuring pictures taken by Chandler on his travels). It's basically Chandler doing what he does best - there are few musical surprises, but next to no mis-steps either - with our current favourites including the deeply emotive soulful house of 'Back To Earth (Find Your Peace)', the Berlin haziness of 'Sunrise (Watergate)', the bass-heavy brilliance of 'Subbie (Jackpot Mix)', the boogie-influenced, string-laden 'Kaiku (Disco Version)' and the sax-sporting funkiness of 'The Morning Heat (Main Mix)'.

Review: Kerri Chandler's first album in over 14 years, 'Spaces and Places', is a celebration of club and sound system culture. The album features 24 tracks, each inspired by and recorded at a different club around the world, such as Ministry of Sound, Sub Club, Watergate, Output NYC and more. The album showcases the veteran NYC producer and DJ's signature sound of soulful, deep and groovy house music, with vocals, piano, sax, strings and synths. 'Spaces and Places' is a testament to Chandler's love for music and dancefloors.

Review: The fourth and (we think) final sampler for Kerri Chandler's epic new album, Spaces & Places, not only features a swathe of cuts from the set, but also a clutch of must-check alternate takes. Of the album tracks, we're particularly fond of the Ministry of Sound inspired piano house workout 'Hurry Up (featuring Dreamer G)' and the locked-in early morning hypnotism of 'Sunrise', which the New Jersey native recorded at Berlin club 'Watergate'. Other highlights across the double-pack include the breezy 'Joyful Life' (and its accompanying 'Vibeapella') and the bonus 'No Guitar Mix' of the mid-90s St German style wonder of 'Dirty', a cut recorded at, and in tribute to, legendary Paris venue Rex Club.

Review: On this second, more expansive sampler for his forthcoming album Spaces & Places, Kerri Chandler treats us to tracks inspired by - and by the wonders of mobile recording technology, produced inside - clubs including Dublin's District 8, Glasgow institution Sub Club, Lux of Lisbon and NYC's Output. Of course, the standard is uniformly high throughout - it's classic Chandler from start to finish - but our picks of a very fine bunch include the soulful piano house shimmer of 'Change Your Mind', the thrusting, bass-heavy pump of 'Subbie (Rattle The Subbie Mix)', the effortlessly slick and soulful 'Tenacity (Full Vocal Mix)' and the ludicrously sub-heavy snap of 'See The Light (Dub)'. To borrow an old cliche, this is very much, 'all killer, no filler'.

Review: As the title suggests, this four-tracker from the mighty Kerri Chandler is made of material recorded in - but for whatever reason never released - in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He first unfurls 'What Shall We Do', a sturdy but snappy New Jersey deep house number rich in attractive organ stabs, warming bass and bluesy lead vocals from 'Grampa', before unveiling the squelchy acid bass, dreamy pads, colourful melodic flourishes and loved-up harmony vocals of 'Tonight'. 'Into The Night' is a beefier, bolder and weightier slab of intergalactic peak-time deep house, while 'This & That' manages to be both funky, jazzy, loose-limbed and stuttering - a remarkable achievement in anyone's book.

Review: There are two kinds of house-hunting. The first and most popular kind is unfortunately the one that scams unsuspecting people out of their money for the basic human right that is shelter. The other kind, however, is much more enjoyable - it involves scouring the internet or local record shops for the genre of music known as house music. Kerri Chandler is our favourite estate agent (words we never thought would escape our lips) in this regard; his latest EP series 'Lost & Found' is sure to help you remember the joy of the latter kind, and forget the former. Dubby and soft pulsers like 'Fluff Rehab' are futuristic bouncers for the highfaluting ear, replete with rapid-delayed spring noises and ruff chord stabs. Ensuers 'What If', 'Who Are You' and 'Dem Joy Ride' are pure and nigh-perfect deep house ruminators, and all are lifted from Chandler's coveted archive.

Review: New Jersey house don Kerri Chandler is rightfully lauded as a hero of the scene. He continues to pour his heart and soul into every record and imbue his music with real-world emotions that elevate his tunes. He is of course a master of a deep but driving sound that borrows from soul, funk and jazz in ignitible ways. The third volume of his Lost & Found EP series on his own label Kaoz Theory is packed with more gold, from the slinky depths of 'Let It (Give Me Back My Love)' to the soul staring vocal work of 'Another Dawn' via more paired back sounds on 'The Bassline' (Kerri Dark mix) and the percussive energy of 'The Breeze.' Yet another essential Kerri 12" for your collection.

Review: He may have been at it for more than 30 years, but New Jersey hero Kerri Chandler is still capable of delivering fine, life-affirming music with soul. 'Caged Bird', featuring vocals from South African rising star Nae, is one of the legendary artist's most ear-catching and soul-enriching efforts for some time. For proof, check his 'Full Vocal Media Mix', where Nae's pretty, picturesque vocals, bittersweet piano refrains and sultry strings rise above a crunchy, unfussy, hot-stepping deep house beats. The accompanying remix package is predictably strong too. Italian producer Moplen steps up first, opting for bouncier, NJ-influenced beats, squelchy synth bass and some rather lovely electric piano chords. Atjazz handles the B-side, delivering vocal and instrumental takes that up the tempo, showcase tech-tinged deep house sounds and cannily loop up Chandler's simmering strings.

Review: They don't call him the Stevie Wonder of house music for nothing: Kerri Chandler brings musicality and unbridled joy to everything he does. For this one, there is even more of a celebratory and raptors feeling than normal because of the appearance of Rev F. L. Brown. His impassioned, gravelly toned sermons are cut up and dropped into one of Kerri's timeless house beats, and the results are exceptional. HIs famous kicks punk as heavily as always, the chords are simple but effective, and the whole thing is sure to become a classic that can always be reached for to make a dance floor erupt. Take your pick of the different versions, because they all hit home.

Review: Some serious house action going on here with the legendary deep house pioneer Kerri Chandler linking up with Dennis Quin and Troy Denari for their own unique take on the 1998 house classic 'You're In My System'. The original has been a key part of many of the best DJs' record bags for decades and now it gets a contemporary twist. Chandler brings his signature soulful keys and pounding kick drums - all using the same hardware that was used on the original, we're told, while singer-songwriter Troy Denari adds his new vocals to the track. On the flip is a paired back and warm, deep, driving DQ dub, all pressed up on nice blue vinyl.

Review: 'Organized Kaos' is a new series from Kerri Chandler's Kaoz Theory label that offers first vinyl outings for cuts from the imprint's vaults. For volume one, Chandler has selected missives initially released digitally in the middle of the last decade. First up is the legendary New Jersey producer's own 'Who's Afraid of the Dark', a typical late-night roller in which sci-fi synth stabs, pianos and his own hushed, spoken word snippets rise above detailed drums a dark, infectious analogue bassline. Turn to the flip for Josh Butler's 'Sunday Club', a subtly UK garage-influenced number that pairs crackling, swinging drums and deep sub bass with woozy deep house chords and mind-mangling, low-register analogue riffs.

Review: American artist Chris Stussy has risen through the ranks to become a real new school house leader in 2021. Proof of that comes from the fact that he now makes a big step up with an EP on the Kaos label run by the one and only Kerri Chandler. He serves up his signature spaced out sounds across four silky cuts. 'Central Frenzy' gets underway with balmy pads, 'Riva De Biasio' brings nice bendy synths and tropical colours, 'Deviant Shadow' picks up the pace and offers up a sublime tech house sound and 'A Glimmer Of Hope' closes in pensive deep house fashion. A fine EP.

Review: Kaoz Theory's Organized Kaos series exists for one reason: to collect together on vinyl previously digital-only gems buried in the label's ever-growing catalogue. Volume two naturally sticks rigidly to this script, first offering up a 2015 cut from Dam Swindle (from the time when they were known as Detroit Swindle) - the chunky, rhythmically elastic and insanely bass-heavy brilliance of soul-flecked gem 'Ballin'. Over on the reverse there's more previously digital-only gold in the shape of Ben Rau's 'Be Who You Want To Be', a driving, thickset and suitably heavy chunk of peak-time deep house heaviness smothered in spacey chords, cut-up vocal snippets and booming TB-303 bass. Two tried and tested cuts land on wax for the first time, what's not to like?

Review: Kerri Chandler has once again dipped into the vaults of his long-running Kaoz Theory label and picked out two previously digital-only gems deserving of a belated vinyl debut. On side A you'll find Demuir's soulful and uplifting 2020 jam 'Lusting U', a rolling chunk of semi-organic house warmth featuring superb lead vocals from British vocalist Bluey Robinson. Over on side B, it's all about DJ Sneak's 'Judy Russell', a killer cut first featured on his Movin' Parts EP three years ago. A bit deeper, woozier and more loose-limbed than some of his more muscular and forthright workouts, it sees the veteran producer wrap synthesized vocalisations and sunny chords around a chunky bassline and swinging house beats that sound like they could have come straight out of Kenny Dope's MPC.

Review: Two house music institutions come together here as DJ Steaw lands on the Kaoz Theory label run by Kerri Chandler. He brings his usual stylish sounds to four cuts that cover all forms of house. First up it's a deep US garage vibe with jazzy chord work on 'Get Back To The Fonk' then 'Don't Stop' brings more punch low ends but no lack of emotion. 'In My Body's House' throws it back to the 90s with its muted sax stabs and organ basslines complete with wailing diva vocals and the blame and future facing cosmic house of 'Grey Matter' closes out a nicely varied EP.

Review: Dreamer G's original on Madhouse Records was the kind of underground gem that defined a momentia track that slotted itself into the DNA of deep house in the 90s. Now, it's back, reimagined by Demuir with a fresh remix that injects a whole new energy without losing the original's soulful core. Demuir handles it with finesse, keeping things punchy yet faithful, delivering a rework that feels both modern and timeless. Kerri Chandler, the man behind it all, steps in with his own re-edit, reminding everyone why this track became such a sought-after piece of vinyl gold. His re-edit is all about refinementihe doesn't strip it down; he polishes it, making it gleam just that little bit brighter. For those still holding on to their original copy, this re-release is as much a nod to the track's legacy as it is an opportunity to hear it in a way that's never sounded better. Then there's the deep mix, which has been meticulously remastered by Chandler himself. It's not just a token touch-up; it's a love letter to a track that's stood the test of time. With the sound quality elevated to new heights, the deep mix captures the essence of Dreamer G's original vision, while making sure it feels right at home on today's systems. Ultimately, this rework package doesn't just revive Dreamer G; it affirms its place in house music's enduring historyiproof that great tracks don't fade, they just evolve.

Review: The genre-defining deep house label Kaoz Theory headed up by the one and only Kerri Chandler has a real doozy on its hands here with the talented Devon Miles bring his Afro soul and acoustic guitar skills to a pair of new singles. 'Beautifull' appears twice on the A-side, one as a vocal mix by Kerri with skipping Afro house rhythms and gorgeous melodies next to jazzy horns, and another as an instrumental. The same tune comes three more times on the flip with Opolopo remixing and adding some extra weight for the club. The more meandering original is the one brave DJs go for despite its lack of rooted groove.

Review: Although he's made plenty of appearances on Visionquest, an imprint renowned for the tech-tinged nature of its output, Guiseppe Tuccillo's house productions have always embraced dancefloor nostalgia and in particular dancefloor sounds from the late 80s and 90s. He's in that made on this surprise EP for Kerri Chandler's Kaoz Theory imprint. Both 'The Waves' and 'Apple Eyes' are warming, thickset and hypnotic affairs that doff a cap to Chandler's trademark brand of timeless New York deep house, while 'Breaking Leds' also incorporates raw, rave-igniting stabs, breakbeats and deep sub bass for a more UK-circa-1990 feel. Closing cut 'Apple Eyes', meanwhile, is a more shuffling and loose-limbed take on some of Chandler's premier late-night dancefloor dubs.

Review: Tuccillo is an Ibiza-based groove maestro who turns out functional house that is never lacking in charm. And that's exactly what he does here on the great Koas label headed up by Kerri Chandler. 'Sundown' is pure vibes with its warm waves of rising chord loveliness and subtle sense of Balearic magic. 'Holding On' has a more choppy, garage-inspired groove with some nice muted horn leads and splashy finger clicks. It's a luxuriant sound that leads into the equally blissed out and smooth 'Whatever' before 'Velvet City' closes down with a super sweet bassline and more heartfelt house vibes.