Tags: Jazzy Garage

Review: New York's Joe Claussell offers three blistering takes on 'So In Love' by Black Rascals, the early 90s project from Blaze. This red-label 7" is a pricey one, but the contents justify it: deep house from the source, reworked by one of its most spiritual selectors. 'Rough Mix 1' leans into swirling vocal loops and expansive FX, full of Claussell's signature dynamics, while 'Rough Mix 2' dials back the drama slightly for something more floor-focused. Flip it for 'Drums', a stripped-down tool that reimagines the track as raw percussive hypnosis. Essential NY house lineage, revived in style and pressed loud-just don't expect it to hang around.

Review: The Soul Clap label that was once so hype has admirably rolled on once the headlines passed and anyone not checking in on it since then has been losing out, frankly. Just get your ears around this new release from Tatie Dee for a start - it is a stylish six tracker though warm and bumping house with real heart. 'Nuit D'Menil' kicks off with lush late night chords and slick broken beats and from there things get more heavy and big with 'Bed & Break Fast' and then a Black Loops remix takes it into late night territory. 'I Wasn't Born In 1937' has a classic 90s vocal house feel and is brilliant and '16 Swing-71' brings jazz, Chicago and swing to another characterful cut before a darker, harder Belaria remix.

Review: Is deep house music dead? On HM008 - Retrospect, Hardmatter co-founder and label honcho Zapata flips that notion on its head, and proves that it's anything but. The Berlin-based, New York-born producer debuts on his own label with six thoughtful slabs of deep, padded, and jazzy house, informed not only by the legacy of his native city but also by the trying times that all house lovers face. The EP begins with the spaced-out, beatless ambient yarn 'A1 Bray From Beyond', a cinematic rumination as moving as it is nostalgic, before transitioning to 'A2 Miguel', a modern deep-house anthem dedicated to Mike Huckaby. 'A3 Birchy's Lament' follows, a hauntingly strewn, piano-driven slab of the early-morning deep house certain to move dancers into thoughtful submission. The B-side finds Zapata in jazz mode: like a Strictly Rhythm record, the three dubs on the backside-featuring key and piano solos by long-time collaborator and label hero Javonntte-pull together the best of the producer's musical tendencies, from slapping basslines to jazzy interludes.

Review: Groove Chronicles are as legendary as it comes when you're talking about garage acts. They have such a rich legacy and it dates as far back as 1997. The dup known as Noodles & Dubchild are now back with another 12" that is going to fly off the shelves and offer up their much sought-after Brokenstep edits. These have been getting big time plays from influencers like Gilles Peterson and Bradley Zero and take in sax-led good time grooves, bustling broken beats and blissed-out instrumentals.

Review: There is a wealth of No Fuss releases all dropping this year and number 12 is a tasteful house four-tracker from various quality artists. Saison's 'Suffer' is up first as a remix from Fouk, and it is a lovely, jazzy, laidback and heartfelt sound with an infectious skip in the drums. The original is just as infused with dusty soul and warming chords and on the flip Saison remixes Pete Moss & Colette's 'Higher' 'into carefree grooves with more noodling melodies and DirtyTwo then keeps the grooves flowing with 'Rymden,' which exudes summery excellence.

Review: The No Fuss label has been busy of late and is now dropping the many fruits of their labours with several EPs landing in quick succession. The 13th outing is a various artists affair that features two cuts from Saison on the A-side, though it's a Ross Couch remix of 'The Riff' that opens up. It's feelgood house with nice dancing piano chords and a Balearic feel while 'Feel This' brings more summery chords and dusty drum loops for some open-air dancing fun. Vertigini then offers the 90s-tinged 'Box Of Pandora' and Mo'Cream closes out with the already classic 'I'm Sure.'

Review: After a lengthy hiatus, Spanish label theBasement Discos returns with a collection that fuses the essence of 90s house with contemporary flair. Rekun opens with 'Party Jean', a playful track driven by infectious rhythm. DJ Merci's 'Smack That' builds momentum with its punchy bass and relentless groove. Mindchime's 'Changes' shifts into deeper territory, offering intricate layers and subtle energy. Deepmore's 'All Night Long' closes with an unyielding, hypnotic drive that'll keep feet moving long into the night. A handy blend of old and new, proving theBasement Discos' unwavering influence in today's vinyl scene.

Review: Vintage house and disco don Dave Lee knows a thing or two about serving up irresistible and timeless cuts and that's what he does here with the 24th instalment of the long-running Attack The Dancefloor series on his own Z Records. The man himself kicks off with Maurissa Rose on the loosely chugging, deep and soulful 'Open Me Up' (a first taste of the upcoming album together). He then slips into US garage style with his popular remix of The Trammps' 'I've Gotta Stand Up' that harks back to the glory days of 90s Soulful House. Felix Buxton's Celestial Being & Citizens Of The World Choir's 'Raise The Vibration' gets a gloriously sunny and positive Crackazat club mix before Lee closes the release with squelching synth in the form of his Boogified mix of Soul Dhamma's classic 'Flower.'