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Review: Electribe 101's 1990 debut album, Electribal Memories, is undoubtedly one of the strongest sets of the loved-up Balearic house era - a long-player firmly rooted in the Ecstasy experience, from the piano-sporting, wide-eyed tactility of house music of the period, to the after-hours, comedown-friendly downtempo soulfulness that the band's creative force and lead singer, Billie Ray Martin, was always so adept at delivering. This 'Deluxe Edition' expands the album across four CDs via a deep archive dive from dance music historian Bill Brewster. The DJ and author offers-up a wealth of released (and unreleased) club mixes, early versions and alternate takes, while the accompanying booklet features reflections from Billie-Ray Martin and an extensive essay from Pete Paphides.

Review: AC Soul Symphony is one of Dave Lee's lesser-known pseudonyms, so for it to be the vehicle for an album of such extravagance, of such meticulous detail, is a real treat. Featuring live strings recorded with a 20-piece orchestra, all 15 tracks that span the epic two-hour runtime are expansive and feel as if every note was placed by hand; There's this authenticity to tracks like 'Manhattan Skyline', a CD/Digital only track which dates all the way back to 2020 and its swelling horn crescendos that transport you back to a time when disco had the world on its knees. 'Philly Avengers' is a major standout, with its killer bass grooves and dazzling Korg solo. The last of the city-related trio of singles is album opener 'Windy City Theme', a mid-tempo violin-led vocal groove that pays homage to the metropolis in Illinois. This is the CD version, featuring the full two hour tracklist.

Review: Specter remains a steadfast pillar among the select artists on Theo Parrish's esteemed Sound Signature label. His latest album, Brutus, reaffirms the trust placed in him, delivering a distinct blend of house sounds. In this CD version, Specter masterfully fuses synthetic and organic elements, echoing the signature style of Parrish. Much like Parrish's own compositions, the house sounds on Brutus exhibit a harmonious blend of weathered, rustic tones and vibrant, futuristic visions. Specter injects profound meaning into his melodies, and the drums, whether subtle and elusive or bold and confrontational, consistently captivate, locking listeners into the rich tapestry of his grooves.

Review: From his marathon 24-hour sets to his legendary Twilo residency via the fact he has a club sound system set up at home to listen to his vast record collection American Danny Tenaglia is a legend, make no mistake about it. As such he is just the sort of person you want to helm a mix series as long-running and influential as Global Underground. This is a double CD version that perfectly embodies his driving sound - part prog, part techno, part tribal, it's a textbook musical trip one from of the best in the game. Do not sleep.

Review: Complementing the fresh single 'Shine', released at the very same time, 'Tokyo Crossover Night 2023' is a compilation album by various artists selected by Shuya Okino, esteemed Japanese disco and broken beat DJ/producer. Kyoto Jazz Sextet, DJ Kawasaki, J.A.M and Shuya Okino himself all crop up on this veritable razzmatazzer, amounting to yet another worthy contribution to the label Village Again Japan, and the Tokyo crossover scene they occupy at large.

Review: Theo Parrish and Maurissa Rose are Detroit musical veterans (even though Parrish was actually born in Chicago) and they have worked together on a number of superb singles in the last few years. After that fruitful start to their working relationship they finally flourish into a new full length that arrives soon in the form of Free Myself, It arrives, as you would expect, on triple vinyl on Parrish's own Sound Signature label, but also here as a CD. It is a lovely deep house exploration with smooth vocals of Rose - which come in the form of a soulful stream of consciousness - over Parrish's dusty, hypotonic beats.

Review: Will Holland is Quantic and with this project he has explored myriad different musical worlds, has traversed many different areas, most notably immersing himself in many aspects of Latin American music culture, often through collaboration. He's switched it up for this new record after first starting out with some experiments that soon turned into a love letter to disco which has long been a powerful emotional tool. He brings his own sense of percussive energy to the genre and has again worked with an array of talented mates including Connie Constance and Rationale plus vocalist Andreya Triana.

Review: Global Underground's' Select' series acts as a kind of annual nod to all the club-focused and after-hours music they love, mixed together by an un-credited DJ or studio engineer to keep things moving. 2024's edition - the ninth to date - is naturally packed to the rafters with tasty tracks from both established producers and rising stars. That means an attractive, immersive and frequently emotive mix of ambient-tinged deep electro (Pablo Bolivar & Nacho Sanchez), evocative tech-house (Dixon re-working Nandu's 'Around', Guy J's hypnotic, acid-flecked 'State of Trance'), pitched-down neo-trance dreaminess (Joris Voorn editing Solee), grandiose big room workouts (Fur Coat & Lexur), 21st century acid house (Phunkadelica remixing Damon Jee) and uplifting progressive house (D-Nox).

Review: All-round powerhouse Ransom Note - label, promoter and publication - are veterans on the scene, having promoted nearly every facet of the dance music scene since the early 2010s. This new compilation hears the Ransom Note core outfit team up with Richard Sen, an equally battle-scarred DJ and producer active since the late 80s. The project is Sen's tribute to the UK rave scene of the early 1990s, featuring rare and obscure tracks by artists not normally cited among nostalgists: Centuras, Bandulu, Strontium 90, Orr-Some, Biff'um Baff'um Boys, Epoch 90, Mind Over Rhythm, Dream Frequency, As One and UVX. Techno, house, breakbeat, acid and hardcore collide to synthesise a sonic zeitgeist, which occupied a brief but spectacular four-year period in dance music's early golden decade.