Search dance music

Review: New to Crosstown Rebels' 12"s encampment is producer HoneyLuv, who impresses on her debut release for the Damian Lazarus-run label with the fresh heat that is 'Right Spot'. Corralling remixes from Dennis Ferrer and Byron The Aquarius, HoneyLuv's palette is watery, polyrhythmic, hip-housey and fast-moving, channelling every smart move from transitional 'wubs' to tambaleironautic drum progressions, which back up the beats firmly, and move so fast that they could probably snap an ossified hipbone if played back loud enough. The track's central vocal is also an original vocal, pleading with the listener that they meet HoneyLuv at the correct rendezvous, aka. the 'spot', in order to catch the right rave-wave.

Review: Damian Lazarus's Crosstown Rebels label has ridden out many different waves of popular sounds and always remained relevant. Right now it looks to Made By Pete for a new 12" that has a gritty, low slung and sleazy tech house vibe. 'Fires' has menacing basslines and steamy vocalisations that make for an unsettling mood. UK tech house titan Bushwacka! then remixes with his signature sense of drive thou with slithy more deep and pensive pads than usual. A dub mix is also included as is a rework from Victor Calderone & Mykol that is full of late night mischief.

Review: Dennis Cruz is a tune making machine. The Spaniard turns out plenty of house and tech variations on several notable labels and always manages to find a little freshness with each one. Here he is on Damian Lazarus-owned Crosstown Rebels with a couple of solo cuts but also two collaborations. Opener 'Snake Charmer' has a lead flute moody that will do just that over steamy jungle house beats while 'Time Out' is a stripped back house sound deiced by its huge diva vocals. The collabs are firstly 'Revolution' (feat DJ Holographic) with Lazarus himself, which is a slinky and liquid tech house sound for the dead of night, then a minimal and dark roller with Ian Ludvig.

Review: The left of centre musical universe of Crosstown Rebels ushers in this lively new EP from Oceanvs Orientalis. 'Neutrality' features on the A-side and is a spiritual fusion of steely tech house beats and spine tingling chords, angelic distant vocals and lots of loose percussion all with a slightly psychedelic feel. On the flip is a Nick Curly remix which pairs whitings back and settles the beats into one of his signature tech house frameworks with hooky little pads and late night allure. Good stuff.

Review: Harry Romero returns to Crosstown Rebels as he links with vocalist Shyam P for 'Mind Games'. With a catalogue as rich as any and continuing at the top of his game two decades after his emergence within New York's fabled nightlife scene, Romero continues to serve up his own take of Latin-inspired and percussive-driven house music via a long list of the industry's leading imprints. Crafting a slick and heady groove before launching into a hypnotic haze accenting by a bubbling bassline, 'Mind Games' is an infectious and vibrant house cut as Shyam P's alluring vocals take hold amongst emotive builds and breaks. 'Mira', after, is a classic Romero offering as the focus shifts to crisp organic percussion arrangements, carnival-esque whistles and hooky Latin vocals for a bustling terrace number, before 'Analog Bugz' takes cues from its title as crisp drum shots and sharp stabs unite to create a no-nonsense builder made for the main room.

Review: Crosstown Rebels is by now one of the wise old head of the electronic underground. Damian Lazarus has steered it through many hype sounds but always managed to keep it on point. Making sure that is the case again here are Oceanvs Orientalis and Tooker who combine for 'Il Lupo.' It's a slow motion and subversive dub house sound warped synths and ghoulish vocals panning about the mix. On the flip, Acid Pauli remixes with his signature sense of deft sound design and trippy melodic overtones.

Review: The long-running and always quietly assured Crosstown Rebels kicks off yet another new year with some deep offerings from Oceanvs Orientalis featuring Idil Mese. 'Heart Pieces' is a delightful coming together of organic trumpets and loose percussion with a languid house groove, funky little riffs and heavenly vocal coos. The Mustafa Ismaeel remix brings some grit to proceedings for more of a club-ready sound and then Ibiza-based Leeds man Nightmares On Wax offers his typically laidback and sun-kissed take on things with a deep one to start and a dubby once to finish.