chicago house

VA – World Beats Vol. 1 [WB01]

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Neapolitan DJ and producer Lello Di Franco, aka L.D.F., presents World Beats — a project driven by the intention to carve out a new, deeper mood on the dancefloor. Rooted in rhythm, raw edits and sampling, the concept draws from forgotten and classic cuts pulled straight from his vinyl collection, reshaped with a contemporary, club-focused approach. This first volume brings together like-minded artists from different corners of the world — Jesse Bru, Chicago edit master Rahaan, and Berlin-based DJ Merci — each contributing their own unique musical perspective while helping define the project’s distinctive global sound.

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VA – World Beats Vol. 1 [WB01]

Stefan Braatz – Planet 2 Planet EP [NG171]

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Founded in 1988 by Frank and Karen Mendez as a vehicle for The Burrell Brother’s prolific creative output, the legendary NYC label Nu Groove was relaunched in 2021, reinstating its cult status and quickly becoming a home for genre pioneers. Today its eclectic catalogue continues to grow with label returnee Stefan Braatz delivering his ‘Planet 2 Planet EP’, a four-track vinyl release showcasing this Berlin underground authority’s deeply synthetic club sound and timeless influences, including a collaboration with Virgo Four on the title track.

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Stefan Braatz – Planet 2 Planet EP [NG171]

Chicago Skyway – Body Remembers EP [CCDC008]

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Calder City Development Corp. returns from Michigan with CCDC008 “Body Remembers EP” by Chicago Skyway, a raw, emotional slice of pure Chicago-Detroit house energy. This is that unmistakable blend of swing, grit and soul: dusty drum programming, deep basslines and chords that feel both melancholic and hopeful at the same time. It’s music that taps directly into the body – the kind of grooves you feel in your chest before you even realize you’re moving. “Body Remembers EP” fits perfectly into the Calder City Development Corp. universe: deep but direct, underground but timeless. This is finest Detroit house designed for concrete basements, smoky backrooms and all those moments when the lights are low and the crowd is completely locked into the groove.

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Chicago Skyway – Body Remembers EP [CCDC008]

Sweater On Polo – Almighty Grand Essence LP [LIES-222]

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NYC’s Sweater on Polo follows up his acclaimed L.I.E.S. 12 inch from 2023 with debut full length double LP, “Almighty Grand Essence”. This is pure to form 1985-1988 Chicago House worship, and while many have attempted to recreate this sound, most fail to deliver with correct reverence. Names like Saunders, Mixx, Virgo Four, undoubtedly appear in this conversation with Sweater on Polo taking cues and transforming the vintage sound into re-imagined dancefloor classics. Raw but clean, psychedelic but functional…this nine track record can move the crowd in all the right ways, with the lush deepness of “The Creation” to the nu-wave-house hybrid of “Proto Wave” or BMX beat track closer Psychotic Seance, its rare to find a young producer tapping into the vaults in such a focused, effective manner.

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Sweater On Polo – Almighty Grand Essence LP [LIES-222]

Abacus – The Relics EP [C#CC037]

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Somewhere around 1993 or ’94, a quietly profound landmark in deep house emerged: The Relics E.P. by Austin Bascom, better known as Abacus, originally released on Chicago’s Prescription Records. Now, three Decades later, Clone Classic Cuts present a fully remastered edition, including previously unreleased material from the same recording sessions.

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Abacus – The Relics EP [C#CC037]

Gene Hunt – Cosmic Destiny [SWX009]

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Sudd WAX is the vinyl only label of Sudd Records. Legend from Chicago, Gene Hunt comes up with classic and basic roots from acid, house and deep sounds, original from Chi-town. Energetic and versatile EP, playable full set time.

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Gene Hunt – Cosmic Destiny [SWX009]

Shin Watanabe – Album 1987 [HS003]

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Shin Watanabe returns to Hot Street with Album 1987, an album of nostalgic, analogue-rich and sample-heavy cuts that variously draw inspiration from early Larry Heard productions, formative Japanese deep house cuts, and the deeper end of late 80s New Jersey garage-house jams. Propper Classic House Music.

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Shin Watanabe – Album 1987 [HS003]

Timothy “J” Fairplay – Home Of The Cone [DGMD009]

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Timothy returns to Dungeon Module with six raw but playful house trax influenced by the early days of Chicago when you could still hear the wave influence. 12 bit drum machines, haunting strings, metallic percussion, cavernous flanger, stuttered vox. An antidote to over slick 90s house pastiche. This album is a fine example of the style Timothy has refined for years, from the psychedelic slam jak of ‘Junior’s Revenge’, to the heads down funk of title track ‘Home Of The Cone’.

Timothy “J” Fairplay – Home Of The Cone [DGMD009]

Tom Carruthers – House It Up [RYDM191]

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Tom Carruthers is unstoppable and undoubtedly one of the most prolific house/techno producers out there in the recent years. Here he returns with a two tracks on his label his label Non Stop Rhythm. Title track is a pure monster.

Tom Carruthers – House It Up [RYDM191]

Duke Strange – S/T [LIES-221]

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A special 15 year anniversary record celebrating L.I.E.S. Records. L.I.E.S. and Nation join forces on this huge release with a new collaborative project out of Chicago from “DuKe” and The Stranger. Two sided-12 inch housed in a full picture sleeve, once again we hear and see the scope of the broad range of what is, and can be “dance music” through the adventurous production of DuKe & The Stranger. Two eight minute versions alternating in time space and rhythm … this is the future, past and present wrapped into one from the visionaries.

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Duke Strange – S/T [LIES-221]

Tom Carruthers – Neutralise EP [WXC028]

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UK producer Tom Carruthers returns with a scorching 5-tracker for Skylax Records, diving headfirst into the primal roots of jackin’ house, proto-italo, and early machine funk, channeling the energy of the underground circa ’86 – pure drum machine soul for the dancefloor faithful.

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Tom Carruthers – Neutralise EP [WXC028]

Ron Hardy – Classics #03 [RDYCS3]

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To honor one of the most legendary figures in dance music history, here is the official Ron Hardy tee – a tribute to the fearless pioneer of Chicago’s underground sound, the wild spirit of the Music Box. Known for his raw edits, relentless energy, and boundary-pushing sets, he reshaped club culture and inspired generations of DJs and dancers. This release includes thee monstruous tracks straight from the basement.

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Ron Hardy – Classics #03 [RDYCS3]

Rahaan – SE 011 [SE011]

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Rahaan is a US edit master who can turn his hand to disco, house, soul, funk and r&b all with equal elan. He’s been doing it for 20 years but it’s still exciting to hear a new one from the legend, and the 11th Street Edits outing is another beguiling one. ‘Impure’ is a ragged and rugged, low-slung deep house drum track with cat squeals and crashing hits striking a menacing tone. ‘Answer The Damn Phone’ is a surging cosmic disco sound with driving arps and incongruous vocals before closer ‘Intense’ brings more raw, physical rhythms to a driving deep house cut.

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Rahaan – SE 011 [SE011]