Chaos In The CBD - "Emotional Intelligence" (feat Nathan Haines & Dave Koor) (6:21)
Chaos In The CBD & Lee Pearson Jnr Collectiv - "It's Up To Me" (feat K LaDawn & Joe Armon Jones) (5:08)
Chaos In The CBD & Lee Pearson Jnr Collectiv - "It's Up To Me" (feat K LaDawn & Joe Armon Jones - instrumental) (6:07)
Review: On this rare outing on Neroli, Chaos In The CBD has been joined by a wealth of friends and like-minded musicians. They first join forces with saxophonist and fellow kiwi jazz legend Nathan Haines and talented South London keys player Dave Koor aka Modified Man on A-side "Emotional Intelligence", a deliciously deep, positive and melodious affair rich in jaunty Clavinet riffs, simmering strings, smile-inducing chords and groovy, bongo-laden drums. On side B they offer up vocal and instrumental versions of "It's Up To Me". K. LaDawn, Joe Armon-Jones and Lee Pearson Jnr Collective are the guests this time round, and their contributions - hazy, soulful vocals, mazy electric piano solos, jaunty jazz-house drums and so on - help make the track a sensual, slow-burn dancefloor delight. Almost all Chaos In The CBD EPs are worth checking, but this one is extra-special.
Review: Prescription and Guidance mainstay Abacus has already done enough to assure his eternal legacy in the story of deep house. But thankfully he is still turning out superbly deep sounds that are as profound and emotive as they are heady and escapist. Here he is back on Phonogramme with 'Analogue Stories Vol. 2' which comes on a unique semi-transparent 12'' vinyl. The beats are warm and humid, thickly coated with a diffuse synth hue as the rooted drums roll on smoothly. 'How U Do It' is out pick - a musical odyssey with layers of instrumentation, piano and percussion all topped off with a Moodyman vocal sample.
Black Magic Woman (Joaquin edit & Overdubs version) (14:45)
Black Magic Woman (8:02)
Black Magic Woman (Coflo remix) (9:26)
Review: While many have imitated, no one has ever really come close to crafting the sort of spiritually affective deep house that Ron Trent kicks out with apparent ease. 'Black Magic Woman' is a prime example - an ode to the power of the feminine form with vocals from Harry Dennis, most known for his previous work with Larry Heard. The original is a deep house epic with jazzy chords and organic drums, lashing of bass and spoken word musings from Dennis. The Joaquin edit & Overdubs version is more intense and bright and the Coflo remix is more soft, mellifluous and warm. Epic stuff with great artwork, too.
Review: Diogo Strausz has previously released on Razor-N-Tape as part of the duo Balako but now steps up as a solo artist to kick off the label's 2021. A Sao Paulista now living in Paris, he brings plenty of musicality to the slick 7", firstly with 'Emancipacao,' which is awash with melancholic keys and rich bass but also plenty of fantastic leads from both synths and sax. It's splashy and splashy and colourful disco. '50 Anos Em 5' then gets playful and funky with a Latin twist as the salsa beats an squelchy bass all make you want to spin on your heels.
Review: Diego Strausz's first outing on Razor N Tape, a seven-inch single released in January 2021, was a thrillingly vibrant and hard-to-pigeonhole affair, with the Brazilian joining the dots between Batacuda, Brazilian disco, boogie and deep jazz-funk. This belated follow-up features superb, never-before-heard extended versions of those two tracks: the Azymuth-esque drums-synths-and-percussion explosion that is 'Emancipacao' and '50 Anos Em 5', a TB-303 acid-sporting slab of Latin jazz-fusion with bonus spacey synths. Perhaps the package's most notable moment though is Ron Trent's inspired remix of the title track, which in typical fashion sees the legendary deep house producer add extra layers of musicality, sun-kissed positivity and plenty of killer house-not-house beats.
Review: It's (almost) summertime which means all bets are off, sets get more playful, DJs slacken their own usual rules and reach into a wider world of vocal, uplifting sounds to please sun burnt dancers. Enter this reissue of Michel Cleis's stone-cold Ibiza classic 'La Mezcla.' It's got a chunky groove, fluttering flutes that bring Latin flair and carnival vibes aplenty. This 12" also comes with two remixes - Paul Kalkbrenner flips it into a deeper, more loose and languid groove with tribal funk and the Charles Webster club mix is pure warm and soulful goodness.
Life Forces (feat Zara McFarlane - Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm version) (6:18)
Life Forces (feat Zara McFarlane - Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm dub) (6:25)
Umoja (Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm version) (7:32)
Umoja (Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm dub) (8:02)
Soul Of The People (feat Bridgette Amofah - Joaquin's Sacred dance version) (8:23)
Soul Of The People (feat Bridgette Amofah - Joaquin's Cosmic Arts dub) (10:04)
Into The Light Of Love (feat Myles Sanko - Joaquin's Spirit Of The dance version) (9:37)
Into The Light Of Love (Joaquin's Spirit Of The dance instrumental version) (9:38)
Review: It's not often that jazz guitarists and bandleaders double up as DJs and producers, but neither is Nicola Conte the kind of person one often encounters. Here the Italian multi-talent proffers a new version of his latest spiritual jazz-house opus, Umoja. This record first came to be as a full-length 4x4 dance LP of serene, danceable tropicalias and sports-whistly whorls. They now come reincarnated, karmically re-endowed with the thermal force of an eagle, by way of an album's worth of reworks by the veteran producer's vim of fellow spiritual house height-scaler and abseiler, Joaquin Claussell. Whether invoking the exquisite voices of Stefania Dipierro or channelling the patent inspirations of Lonnie Liston Smith of Gary Bartz, Conte Conte-nues to propose endless Conte-nuations of his sound; all it takes is a little help from one's friends to evoke a sacred dance, a sonic world-spirit.
Review: The Master at Work that is Louie Vega has been a music-making machine all his life but in recent years has continued to reach new heights with various different projects. Here he is back on regular label Nervous with various different versions of his tunes 'Joy Universal' and 'Igobolo.' 'Joy Universal' (feat Two Soul Fusion) is classic Vega - soulful house music awash with Latin influences, loose-limbed percussion and funky basslines. And that template is tweaked over the ensuing tunes, with glorious pianos, jazzy grooves and tropical rhythms all making for a fine EP.
Review: Foliage has some respectable heritage in the realm of upfront house music for deep-digging heads, having released work from the likes of Mood II Swing, Mark de Clive Lowe, Jimpster and Jesus Gonsev. This new sampler brings together four immaculate joints which reach from a recent Atjazz reworking of Halo's 'Glory' to Moon Rocket's powerful Afro house throw down 'Reciprocity', Jimpster's immersive remix of Funkky to the Fka Mash 'Re-glitch' of N'Dinga Gaba's 'Summer Breeze'. It's all bursting with soul and perfectly tooled for the floor, so slip one in your bag and you'll have four gems just waiting to give your party a proper lift.
Leftwing: Kody, James Hurr & I Jah - "Music Is The Medication" (4:58)
Review: The mighty and unmovable Toolroom offers up a snapshot of where it is at right now with a fifth volume of its Sampler series. The boss himself Mark Knight kicks off with a collaborative tune with Crusy: 'Daddy Shhh' is loopy, tribal, full flavour tech with jumbled drums and lots of buffed metal. Huxley's 'All I Need' is one of the UK producers warm house sounds, a smart vocal brings a sense of pain over simple but effective beats. Essel's 'Lennon' then brings peak time energy with strobe-lit synth sequences and churning drums, and Leftwing: Kody, James Hurr & I Jah shut down with 'Music Is The Medication', a muscular bumper with dub-wise vocals.
Review: London label Mysticisms knows how to dig out some truly lush house grooves whether that's in the form of unreleased house meets IDM, classic reissues or debuts from new school artists. N-GYNN falls into that latter camp having started to make waves on the likes of Hamam House Pleasure Club and his Superlux Records label. He explores a dreamy and cuddly house world here with rolling analogue drums, wispy new-age percussion and whimsical cosmic melodies that all make for otherworldly grooves. 'Journeys' has the feeling of an ancient ritual in the sky, 'Alistera' is a kaleidoscope of colour and 'Kebaya' has a more earthy Afro feel. 'Funk Break Beat' closes with a jumbled groove peppered with dial tones, string loops and bulbous acid.
Review: Sometime Wisdom Teeth and Idle Hands contributor K-Lone has been digging drums of late, so he's decided to gather a load of percussionists, record some rhythms and serve up a six-track selection of 'Drum Tools' for discerning DJs. The key cut is lead track 'Drumz', a fine combination of drum circle style rhythms, trippy effects and dreamy synth washes. Fittingly, this is given an even heavier, pitched-up edit courtesy of Leod to round off the EP. In between these two sweat-soaked peaks, K-Lone cycles through sub-bass-enhanced Latin drums ('Cinco', the infectious 'Timbales'), weighty and tribalistic rhythms ('Bombo'), and handclap-propelled percussive deepness (the deliciously dreamy 'Clapper').
Review: Chad Pulley makes his first solo appearance on John Beltran's All Good Music label, although keener eyed spotters will know that Pulley and Beltran previously collaborated on a track under the Bel-Pull Productions moniker. He steps up to the task ably, slipping into All Good style comfortably with the calm and melodic, gracefully coasting techno of 'Through My Eyes', before the flip side reveals the wistful 'Mesmerizing Blue', where pianos and synths call and respond over exotic rhythms. 'Sticks' completes the set, slightly harder and funkier than its two predecessors but again with an emphasis on musicality, off kilter danceability and originality. On this showing, a name to watch.
Glass Slipper - "Unification Vibration" (Atjazz main mix) (6:32)
Diephuis - "Listen To This Drum" (feat Ursula Rucker - Turbojazz & Sean McCabe remix) (7:03)
Review: Reel People Music's latest Foliage Records sampler, the second so far, is another magnificent celebration of the deeper and more spiritual end of the house music spectrum. Freerange label boss and deep house don Jimpster opens up with a shimming and warm remix of Thakzin & Ray T's 'Don't Let Me See.' Atjazz also shows off his signature sound and deftness of design with his remix of Glass Slipper's 'Unification Vibration' and Turbojazz & Sean McCabe remix Diephuis's' 'Listen To This Drum' (feat Ursula Rucker) into a steamy house jam for cosy back room sessions. A rich EP for those who like their disco house musical.
Review: Vick Lavander is on fire right now having recently minted Brett Dancer's new label Ethnic Blend Music and now comes back with more of his humid and authentic deep house. This one is also to start a new label - Sophisticado, his own new imprint - and first up is 'Deep Root,' a cosmically included deep house cut with gospel-style organ chords and chunky drums that work you into a lather. 'Hustle' then picks up the pace with more superbly warm chords and this time some Balearic acoustic guitar riffs and impossibly sunny grooves. Life-affirming tackle for joyous dancefloors.
Review: Discotecas keep it catchy with another firey missive that delves deep into disco, funk and Afro. 'Heavy Dub' opens up with loose-limbed grooves that come with horn stabs and plenty of percussion, then 'LFA' gets a little deeper. Here the drums stay low and the mood is more menacing. The groove is detailed with just as many hots and toms, with diffuse chord stabs adding some warming soul and hints of Moodymann cool. As the grover unfolds it gets ever more funky and party starting with some great spoken words finishing it in style.
Review: Long-established Italian producer Nicola Conte started working with jazz trombobist Gianluca Petrella back in 2017. In the years since, they've released a string of singles that fuse contemporary house sounds with the rhythms and musical styles of Africa. Here they present their collaborative debut album, People Need People, an effortlessly soulful affair that draws deeply on the pair's joint love of deep jazz-funk (see 'Hold On To Your Dreams') and the funk-fuelled goodness of Afrobeat ('Nigeria'). Throw in versions of those previously released singles (think 'African Spirits' and 'New World Shuffle' for starters), and you've got a highly entertaining full of high-quality musicianship and plenty of life-affirming melodic motifs.
Review: New Digital Fidelity has been making sweet moves recently with a debut on the lauded Moods & Grovers label out of Detroit followed up by a single on his own Scopic Records. Now he brings his class to Crush On The Beachside and again shows off his love of Detroit house vibes. Opener 'Crush On The Beachside' is raw and intense with humid chords and jacked-up drums, then 'Shattered' brings more loose and jumbled beatdown grooves and 'Crush On The Beachside' (K15 remix) is then bubbly, jazzy and cuddly. 'Cracking' rounds out with more rich chord work and bristling drum funk.
Review: Nervous will forever be etched in the heart of house music lovers. And even after all these years the legendary New York labels continues to serve up the gems. This time out they call upon the one and only Kenny Dope, one half of Masters At Work and a legendary DJ and producer. He adds his famously characteristic warmth and soul to Kenny Bobien and Wheeler Del Torro's 'The Sun Will Shine Again.' It is a gloriously sunny tune with lively, skipping and South Hemisphere tinged beats, a great vocal and plenty of percussive action. The instrumental strips it back to more direct beat work. Both sides bang.
Sound's Good Inc - "Masen'hamba" (David Morales Red Zone mix) (6:07)
FNX Omar - "Ghomari" (feat Said Rifai) (6:36)
Re You & Soheil - "Mapawani" (main version) (7:33)
Review: After kicking off the year with the stellar MoBlack Gold Vol. 2 VA, Mimmo Falcone's label does it again with a crucial cluster of spiritually charged, Afro-rooted house jams from on-point producers. This 12" kicks off with Manoo's remix of KingSfiso, creating a delicate, melancholic trip out of 'Ilanga' with Mbuso Khoza's vocals front and centre. David Moralez gets seriously deep into the groove with his Red Zone mix of Sound's Good Inc's 'Masen'hamba'. FNX Omar offer up a brooding cut driven by organic tones on 'Ghomari', and Re You & Soheil bring a more electronic palette to bear on their own Afro-house throwdown, 'Mapawani'.
Review: Some years back, Ben Norris AKA O'Flynn looked set for a major breakthrough, with his EPs on Blip Discs and Ninja Tune getting singled out for praise. Since then, his career has stalled, though we wouldn't be surprised if this impressive debut album propels him into the spotlight once more. It's a wonderfully fluid, evocative and enjoyable set that attractively sashays between languid ambience, Afro and Latin-influenced cut-up club cuts that cannily fuse disco, nu-disco and deep house, drum dubs and percussion jams, and off-kilter affairs that defy simplistic categorization. Highlights are plentiful throughout, from the dreamy dub disco flex of "Tru Dancing" and jazzy deep house warmth of "Painted Wolf", to the huggable dreaminess of two-step shuffler "Celestine" and the loved-up haziness of enveloping closing cut "Neptune".
Time To Let Go (Two Soul Fusion Afro House instrumental mix) (8:35)
Time To Let Go (beats) (8:34)
Time To Let Go (Two Soul Fusion Afro House mix) (8:11)
Time To Let Go (Expansions NYC remix instrumental) (4:05)
Review: Last summer, veteran singer/songwriter Mike Lindup dropped 'Time To Let Go', a delicious fusion of synth-pop, Afro-pop and dreamy soul that was set to feature on his long-promised follow-up to 1990 album Changes. Now Masters at Work man Louie Vega has got his hands on it and delivered a suite of fresh, club-ready reworks. Vega's EP-opening 'Expressions NYC Mix' does a great job in wrapping Lindup's original vocals, fluid pianos, chords and squelchy synth-bass around a snappy house groove, subtly re-framing it for peak-time floors. The 'Two Soul Afro House Fusion' mix is arguably even better, with Vega adding layers of delicious instrumentation to a Tony Allen-inspired Afro-house beat. Throw in a couple of instrumentals and a handy 'Beats' version and you have an excellent package.
New World Shuffle (feat Bridgette Amofah - DJ Spinna Galactic Soul remix) (8:10)
Inner Light (feat Raashan Ahmad - Anthony Nicholson Miquifaye remix) (8:41)
Review: Earlier this year, we were treated to two top-notch Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell remixes of 'Inner Light', one of the standout cuts from Nicola Conte and Gianluca Petrella's fantastic collaborative album People Need People. Here we're treated to two more fresh takes on cuts from that essential LP. On side A, DJ Spinna gives his 'galactic soul' take on 'New World Shuffle', re-imagining the track as a languid but floor-friendly fusion of cosmic soul, neo-boogie, deep house and contemporary jazz-funk electronics. Equally as impressive is former Ron Trent protege Anthony Nicholson's remix of 'Inner Light', where twinkling jazz pianos, spacey synth sounds, evocative synth-strings and Raashan Ahmad's fine spoken word vocals rise above a sumptuous and luxurious deep house groove.
Review: Belgian DJ and producer Gratts have joined forces with London-based vocalist Mr. Beale to follow up on to success of their well-received 'Sun Circles' release last year. Here, on the sublime 'Submerge Me', they are in fine form once more with a brooding sound that features the uniquely mesmerising mantras of Beale and plenty of raw, compelling and percussive grooves that full lock you in and get you going. Versatile Records' own Gilb'r then steps up on the flip and manages to take things even deeper with some fine liquid dub excursions to complete a top 7"
Souled Out (Joe Claussell The Cosmic Arts interpretation mix) (8:10)
Souled Out (Joe Claussell Joaquin Sacred Rhythm version) (13:59)
Souled Out (Joe Claussell Joaquin Deep version FNL) (8:20)
Feed The Fire (Atjazz remix) (5:28)
Feed The Fire (Musclecars Dream dub) (9:05)
Review: Audrey Powne's eagerly anticipated debut album already had us all 'Souled Out', and now we find ourselves served more soul food than our dharmas can handle, with this new remix bundle from Atjazz, Joe Claussell and Musclecars. First comes Claussell with three exquisite and spiritual remixes, each highlighting unique elements of Audrey's original production. Joaquin's Deep Version is quintessential Claussell, merging the bassy textures of a vintage King Tubby dub with vibrant percussion and entraining beats. The 'Sacred Rhythm Mix' is especially apical and peaktime, weaving a threnody of layers that culminate in a boogied-out crescendo. Then come two new versions of Powne's album cut 'Feed The Fire', first by jazzdance maven Atjazz, then by the New York duo Musclecars.
Review: Sacred Medicine is a label, and curative collaboration, formed between spiritual house aficionadi Ron Trent and Joaquin "Joe" Claussell. Here the pair welcome producer Coflo to the fold with a black-gold vinyl EP, coming packed to the brim with fully original, smoothy squeezed sound. Aiming at a mood of transcendence, 'Tsunami's Muse' and its proceeding mix version unfurl through layers of pentatonic piano ornamentation and jazz peaks-n-troughs, timbrally backed by glistening chime trees and lush synth layers. The B-sider is a beatless reprise, enriched by the earthly resonance of a large, rare wooden kalimba.
Solu Music - "Fade" (feat Kimblee - Eric Kupper remix) (9:19)
Eric Kupper Presents K-Scope - "Electrikiss" (8:50)
Review: While not as celebrated as many of those he has worked with over the years (most notably his late friend Frankie Knuckles), Eric Kupper has built up a mighty discography, with untold production, remix and engineering credits to his name. A Lifetime in Dance Music celebrates this, picking out eight highlights (with more to come on subsequent volumes) from the New York house great's long and successful career. There's plenty to set the pulse racing throughout, from a fine revision of Depeche Mode's 'Wrong' and the classics organ-and-piano-heavy US garage flex of Degrees of Motion's 'Shine On', to a soaring house makeover of Diana Ross disco classic 'The Boss', a delicious tribal house take on Fuminori Kagajo's 'The Blue', and the immersive, loved-up deep house lusciousness of 'Electrikiss', a cut originally released under his occasional K-Scope alias.
Vente Pa Ca (feat Jimena Angel, Jah Sazzah & Poirier) (4:34)
Vente Pa Ca (feat Jimena Angel, Jah Sazzah & Poirier - Poirier remix) (3:47)
Review: This is a global single with a great story that starts with an afro-funk groove made by Italian Jah Sazzah. He wanted a vocal for it so turned to Nickodemus who handed his own touches and then sent it Grammy-nominated Colombian vocalist Jimena Angel. The result is a vibrant Afro tune with vivid melodies. Remixer Poirier is a legend in Latin music circles. The Montreal man has formerly been associated with Ninja Tune and is synonymous with lots of classy remixes and fresh takes on a modern Afro-Caribbean sound. This is another one that reworks the ring into a more bouncy and infectious sound with gorgeous vocals and a clean arrangement that allows the drums and perc to shine.
Unified Spirits - "Meant To Be" (Antonio Ocasio remix) (7:32)
Antonio Ocasio - "La Fiebre" (7:10)
Review: New York-based DJ and producer Antonio L Ocasio brings his deep house expertise to his own label as the latest release. On Side-1, 'Meant To Be' by Unified Spirits, is a smooth builder led by gentle guitar riff and enriched by lush strings. Its house groove is both soothing and uplifting, unfolding with a natural, unhurried progression that draws the listener in. On Side-2, Ocasio himself delivers 'La Fiebre', a stunning example of tribal house mastery. The track is spacious and deep, with ominous chords and a subtle tech edge that creates an immersive, almost cinematic feel. There's a beautiful balance between rhythmic drive and atmospheric depth, showing Ocasio's knack for blending soulful elements with intricate production. Altogether, this release maintains a polished and timeless quality - like his Tribal Winds label now verging on 30 years in operation.
Review: It's hard to over emphasise the role Timmy Regisford has played in the evolution of the New York house sound. The records he made with the late Boyd Jarvis in the mid 1980s paved the way for what became known as 'garage-house', and in the decades since he's released countless classic cuts and full-length excursions. On Source of House, he offers his take on Afro-house, combining authentic vocals, percussion and instrumentation with electronic rhythms, sun-splashed synth sounds, immersive chords and tech-tinged basslines. It's a brilliantly produced collection all told, with the multiple highlights including the summery deep house bounce of 'Good Morning', the auto-tune-sporting Afro-house-futurism of 'Angeke', the string-laden, Afro-disco-tinged 'Blalmam', and the warm, emotion-rich 'Track 38'.
Review: Ruvenzori makes the move to vinyl with four artists breaking new ground in the field of organic, spiritual house music. There's a Balearic tint to these harmonious jams, which melt into each other like one extended blend for the terraza of your dreams. 'Uluwatu' features Stan Tone and Izhevski collaborating on a swirling masterpiece with the steady tick of minimal tech house as an undercurrent for ascendant chimes, fluttering guitar licks and vocal murmurations. On 'Ayomi' Talemates joins the pair as they match emotive piano chords with sampled vocal loops, capturing an endearing, eyes-closed vibe in the process.
Elegua (feat Jose Cochise Claussell Of Rebel Tumbao) (3:45)
Makussa Part Three (Afrikan Basement extended demo mix) (9:14)
Diyi Mayo (live Jam extended mix) (9:32)
Afrofunkjazz (extended demo mix) (8:36)
Review: Edit king and remix master Joaquin Joe Claussell's 'Ancestral Food & Healing Medicine' 12" first dropped in 2020 and became another one of his instant classics. It found him taking things to an all-new level with the reuses all best heard on loud systems when it is impossible not to be enraptured by a religious experience of gel and soul-infused sound. The therapeutic grooves heal you to your core with their uplifting synths and meaningful messages. For that reason, an original copy has become rather experience but fear not as this new reissue allows you to cop these sounds in nice new red wax.
Review: Edinburgh-based Peacey had a little help from label boss Martin 'Atjazz' Iveson and the latter's old pal Clyde on debut single 'Hold Me Back'. He's gone solo on 'Culture Bandit', which like its predecessor is a taster for Peacey's forthcoming debut album. In its original form (side A), the track blurs the boundaries between 21st century Afro-house, the liquid, melody-driven fluidity of Atjazz's early works, the spoken word-sporting mid-2000s nu-jazz of Ursula Rucker (an effect heightened by Vanessa Hidary's brilliant beat poetry) and the dancefloor spirituality of Osunlade. It's fitting, then, that the latter delivers a typically percussive, musically rich and tech-tinged Yoruba Soul remix, with Martin Iveson delivering a typically fluid, deep and tactile Atjazz revision.
Review: Spanish producer Kiko Navarro has joined up with veteran Beninois vocalists and musical powerhouse Kaleta and the next level skills of The Ibibio Horns for this vibrant new 12". It's an inspired and Afro-infused groove exploration with funk, disco and acrobat all bottle dup in the beats that traverse Afria from East to West. The Ibibio Horns are on fire of course as they blaze up the sounds with their expressive horns and red hot keys while the vocals from Kaleta add further fuel to the fire. Instrumentals are also provided for more direct to dancefloor business.
Review: Guy J's Early Morning label continues its impressive run with a sophomore release from acclaimed producer Roy Rosenfeld. This two-track concept showcases Rosenfeld's ability to transcend genre boundaries, offering a captivating blend of electronica, tribal rhythms, and vintage synth textures. 'Forgotten' unfolds with a measured intensity, its hypnotic groove and indigenous-percussive influences creating a ritualistic atmosphere. The track builds to a resonant climax, punctuated by deep chords and a melodic break before culminating in a tribal-inspired crescendo. 'Hello' takes a different approach, juxtaposing an 80s arcade aesthetic with high-fidelity beats and ethnic percussion. The result is a mesmerizing blend of old and new, a sonic tapestry that evokes primal imagery while pushing the boundaries of electronic music. Rosenfeld's latest offering is a testament to his creative vision, a captivating journey that will appeal to both home listeners and dancefloor enthusiasts.
Review: Timmy and South African songstress Toshi Tikolo, who hails from Kwalanga Township in Cape Town, collaborate on this powerful Afro House track that showcases a deep, spiritual side of the genre. Known for its impact on Shelter Heads and beyond, the instrumental mix alone packs a punch. Joaquin Joe Claussell elevates things with his signature and sacred style that transforms the original Afro roots into something entirely unique. His remixes, including the wonderful Cosmic Arts Afro and Drum Gathering versions, add plenty of depth to an already captivating original. This is as authentic as Afro house gets.
Review: The French feel-good maestros over at Treasure dig up another pair of gems from the vaults. This time F.R delivers two more killer reworks of certified classic cuts, each of which will hear you requisition the dancefloor, be that the opening cinematic trip-hop-jazz-house smoothings of 'Pearls' or the ensuing tribal spaces and wobbly washes of 'Makes Me Wonder'.
Review: The unstoppable and irrepressible Louie Vega has commissioned a bunch of remixes of Tony Touch's 'Sacude' for his own Vega label. The man himself opens things up with a Brooklyn mix that is heavy on raw beats, percussion and Latin rhythm. Manoos goes for something a little more smooth and shuffling, while Oscar G's 305 remix is a deep, elastic groove with eerie synth work. He also serves up a dub, Tony Touch reworks his own original into something full of fire and a dark Louie Vega Bronx mix closes out the package.
Review: Antonio Ocasio is a spiritual house veteran truly embedded in the story of NYC house music since he minted the Tribal Winds label in 1998. There were a few years where things went quiet, but Ocasio has been back in action in 2023 and swiftly following up the Soulciety Music Series release with this stunning 12". On the A-side we get Sugah Lyrics offering her hushed, poetic vocal tones amidst the rolling percussion and dreamlike synth work of 'Sacred Tones'. The flip takes a different path as a mellow, soulful composition lays the groundwork for Nina Hadz Antich's sweet singing on 'That Something', once again affirming Ocasio's gifts as a songwriter and producer as well as an NYC deep house staple.
Review: Excursions in Gwoka vol. 2 is another adventurous outing for the Beauty & the Beat label that takes them ever deeper into the gwoka scene of Guadeloupe. it is the celebrated carnival outfit Akiyo who are in focus here with two tracks taken from second and supremely hard-to-find long player, Mouvman, in 1993. 'Deboule' is a real heater with bustling drum funk and chatting tribal vocals all run through with synth wizardry from Marie-Galante Jacques-Marie Basses. 'Blo' is just as steamy and intern with percussion, whistles and big beats all making quite the impact. Breakplus adds a London twist to 'Deboule' while CW adds a cosmic air to 'Blo.'
Review: Frederick Jorio is a mainstay of tribal house's long and winding legacy, with classics as Lectroluv reaching back to the early 90s. 'Dream Drums' was originally tucked away as a B2 on an Eightball 12" in 1993, and went on to become something of an underground hit for those in the know. Now Afternoon Delight are revisiting the track with some high grade remixes which stay true to the heads-down club heat of the original. Joeski leans in on a moody, percussive rhythm section version while Eric Kupper and LRX slip in some on-point DX7 bass and seductive arps. Roberto Rodriguez whips up a gleaming Detroit-styled version, and then Marc Cotterell fires off a typically sprightly garage house anthem to get the crowd out of their heads and back into the room.
Review: Set your phasers to chug - Multi Culti are back with a new compilation which follows their astrologically charged series from 2021's Multi Culti Solstice II. As ever, the Canadian label deals a strong line in globally-informed dance music with cheekiness in its bones and an inherent spirituality, faithfully upheld by their assembled disciples. Across the eight tracks there are many highlights, but a few for us include Jamie Paton's sinewy 90s dub house workout 'Sub Ritual' and Kunturi's rhythmically-elevated ritualistic acid joint, 'Eclosion'. Strap in for another wild ride far and wide with the most adventurous label in town.
Review: Following on from his recent collaborative outing with Jonasclean, James Curd now finds himself working with the deep house legend and Yoruba master Osunlade on a new track for Get Physical. 'Chocolate Puddin'' is a joyous and organic cut with life-affirming vocals that borrow heavily from gospel while Afro-house synths and drums unfold below. Three remixes take it into different territory with Kai Alce offering his signature smoothness, a Yoruba Soul mix going big on the lush chords and FNX Omar getting tribal. All in all, it adds up to a varied package and another great outing for Curd.
Mowgan - "O Pa Mi Titi Deabe" (feat Jah Baba - Armonica remix) (7:08)
Yass & FNX Omar - "Fema" (6:15)
Review: Four cruel and bewitching dances are conjured on this split EP from MoBlack Records, the chart-topping Afro house label whose music has found itself on the well-used USBs of the likes of Dixon, Black Coffee and Ame. Immediately, one can hear the incipient threads of kwaito and amapiano on this shared vinyl slab, as traditional verbed-out Afro-style vocals hear neat processing along modern EDM production. Expository dreamers like 'Rahamah' segue calmly into headier and doomier cuts like 'Amanga' and 'O Pa Mi Titi Deabe'. All are replete with rare African call-and-response vocal samples lifted from evidently obscure sources.
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