Intergalactic Gary @ Kings Night, Ketelhuis (Eindhoven) 26.04.2024
chicago house
Intergalactic Gary @ Star & Shadow (Newcastle) 30.03.2024
Timothy J. Fairplay @ Soup (Manchester) 02.02.2024
JTC – All Access No Excess EP [BOPD18]
JTC returns with a four-track EP, a mint encapsulation of his signature, decades-established style, machined from original remembrances of the Midwest’s party heydays and future visions of jakbeat tekno and underground acid-house progenies. ‘All Access No Excess’ is the first release in 2024 from Tadd Mullinix (Dabrye, X-Altera, Charles Manier) under his techno guise JTC, following his 2023 Album, Intra.Actae
VA – Tracks From The Alley Vol. IV [ALV011]
The fourth installment of the ‘Tracks From The Alley’ series continues to explore the oblique edges of the jackin zone, dragging recognizable primitive elements of dance music through narcotic madness; a possible soundtrack for sleepless nights at the skate park. Involved in this 4 tracker mini-compilation are the Greek dj/producer DimDj, the Berlin-based Italian producer and part of Sons Of Traders, TANS, the Portugal-based Brazilian Unrealistic Expectations label owner Nothing Was There, and the Alley Version’s brothers FLML.
Traxx presents The Definitive Articles Of House Music Chapter 4
For the 4th chapter from the definitive days of house music, as the previous 3 chapters is education that a lot of alleged “House” DJs and Producers are obviously lacking.
Traxx plays again from the early 80s, 90s and today from vintage and out of print record labels: Westwood, Trax Records, Bright Star, Rockin House, Dancemania, Alleviated, Subscape and Neroli….
to productions from: Ron Hardy, Boyd Jarvis, Virgo, Tyree, Marcus Mixx, Pharris Thomas, Mr Fingers, Kenny Dope, Nightwriters, Deep Concentration and we have arrived..
a new joint from {3MM} as 3 musical minds bridging and building blocks of the early dance music scene honoring a legendary institution landmark still standing with selections of today and yesterday incorporating musical blueprints of Chicago, New York and the UK’s timeless heroes we admire, honor and inspired by their education.
We hope this will give people the chance to listen to music many may have never heard on this side of sound that provides a provocative and thoughtful musical workout in your mind with vinyl turntables, a vintage mix console…effects box and 2 cd players.
Bobby Dreams – Let Them Know EP [NICE001]
‘Let Them Know’ is the debut EP by Bobby Dreams, marking the inaugural release of All Nice Records. This record is a groundbreaking introduction to the label’s ethos, characterized by a raw, distorted, and authentically underground sound, paying homage to the gritty energy of Chicago’s underground house scene.
Boo Williams – Day Rise [PRTR30]
The second part of Boo Williams’ double release on Sushitech’s sub label Pariter, ‘Day Rise’, is definitely more upbeat of the two but it’s a subtle distinction – it’s certainly not full of 4AM bangers designed to keep you awake until the busses start running again. ‘Talley Up’ is a very straight forward affair, circling around a two note synth riff and gradually building percussion. ‘The Take Over’ is similarly spritely, another builder with crashing cymbals, jazzy chords and drum machine tumbles steadily building an insurmountable wall of funkiness. Breezy, bumping closer ‘Teleport’ completes the set, meaning three ultra-handy, raw but sophisticated tunes that house and techno DJs alike will find slipping into their sets with a natural ease.
Boo Williams – Night Fall [PRTR29]
Chicago second generation house hero Boo Williams joining the roster with a two-part release for Sushitech’s sub label Pariter. The first part, ‘Night Fall’, features three tracks, all of which fit the mold of early evening classics. ‘Acid Matrix’ has an early Detroit feel to its raw machine handclap snares and panther-like, stalking bassline, while ‘Deep Tech’ might be geographically closer to late 80s, early 90s Yorkshire, a compulsive funkiness emerging from its bleepcentric soundscape. ‘Service Chamber’ is sleeker and more mellow, telephone dial tones spiralling off into the ether while tinkling, xylophone-sounded keys play hypnotically. Choice, quality material that will help any DJ to subtly pick the pace up as the sun falls.
William Kincaid / Cliff Solomon / The Jak & Lex Lathan – Circuit Collapse / Battle Cry / The Call On The Edge [DB011]
DirtybLends edition is another 3 track release combining 3 different ideas together from heavy Jakbeat to old school slower style tracks of the label: Chicago Underground to early 80s proto-house instrumentals of Boyd Jarvis. The A siDe kicKz oFF wit the return of kincaid presenting a daRk n meNaciNg composition played n created wit bLood n sweat behind the vintage music boxes to come with this 12 minute riPPer of beauty entitled: Circuit Collapse. The 1st production on the B-side comes from new member of The Klan of The Beatheadz: Cliff Solomon on this production the caT honors the timeless work of the originator Boyd Jarvis & Timmy Regisford from 1985 on next plateau. Developing drum and bassline ideas with elevated drama and deepest respect for the true pioneers of the underground. The final tune on Dirtyblends 11 on the B side is a collaboration from The Jak and Lex Lathan recorded at Nation HQ presenting their idea to keep the spirit of the early releases on Chicago Underground that were produced more slower in style entitled: The CaLL {oN tHe EdgE}
Grizzly Knuckles / The Jak – Caviar (Ensemble) / From Old Days Past [DB010]
DirtybLends edition 10 is a Chicago slab of ruff business. The A-side comes from new member of The Klan of The Beatheadz, Grizzly Knuckles with ‘Caviar’ an influential continuation concept from the early days of trax records for 1 of the nastiest productions to come from The Sensuous Man & Woman Goes Disco laying on top of a drum machine rhythm that gets to the heart of the cut and the message. The B-side comes from the leader of The Klan of The Beatheadz: The Jak himself re-creating the drum rhythm of Jesse Saunders with his Kpr machine from scratch, then applying influential sounds from his keyboard to sound like DJ Rush from his proto release on relief records by creating a new blueprint for Jakbeat CHICAGO style of slam dance and mosh pit chaos that happened at The Reactor or Medusa’s (for those who remember)
Ron Morelli – Rhythm Master Volume 1 LP [LIES202]
L.I.E.S. boss, Ron Morelli follows up his acclaimed “Heart Stopper” LP with a new six track mini LP. The six tracks on “Rhythm Master” focus on a departure from the more song based structures of “Heart Stopper,” presenting a series of raw “old style” beat tracks for the DJs to use and abuse as they see fit, although these tracks are not as cut and dry as the title may imply. Check the complex, jacking, drum programming of the Fingers inspired “Loose Screw” or absolute melodic deep house mastery on the closing track “Escapes.” and the late nite mix show drama of “Disco Gridlock” with its monstrous reverb drenched kick opening the b-side. All of these standing on their own and all of them displaying Morelli’s versatility as a producer in his ability to pinpoint and execute the many styles that made djs what they were back in the days.
Sweater on Polo – Go Wild Harlem Trax LP [LIES191]
NYC’s Sweater on Polo delivers a hammering six track mini LP for L.I.E.S. indebted to the sounds of early-90s psychedelic Chicago house, names like Gherkin and Pierre come to mind over this release but the young producer tastefully and effectively puts his own vision to the forefront with this record. In the misguided world of modern dance music production, Sweater on Polo, throws all trends aside and sticking to the bare essentials…letting the 808s,303s,727s do the job and making this one of the most crucial modern House records to come out of New York City in the last 10 years.
The Kid n Cliff – Don’t Be Alarmed / Heavy Thump (Bang Dat Shyt) [DB009]
DirtybLends edition 9 is a Deep Concentration release…if you’ve been really paying close attention Deep Concentration just dropped on LA Club Resource for their 6 track homage ep even though the text reads for the artists as The Kid n Cliff, put 1 & 1 together.
the A-side of ‘Don’t B Alarmed’ is truly definitive!! the musical journey speaks volumes..the B-side is an instant BEATDOWN with ‘Heavy Thump {beat dat shyt}’ that is focused entirely on a CHICAGO style of GUTS, pianos and damage!!
The Falcon / Grizzly Knuckles / The Jak – Sound The Alarm / Mad Bell / Aftermath [DB008]
dirtybLends edition 8 is a 3 track INFERNO-SMACKDOWN combining 3 different ideas of new age/oLd scHooL Jakbeat inspired from a significant hero in the Chicago Underground scene of the early nineties dropping crucial releases on record labels: Saber, Dancemania and Relief.
The Falcon kicks the A-side into madness with ‘Sound The Alarm’ made 2 Jak 4 Crazies that’s completely bezerk n twisted!!
B1 introduces this nU cOhort to the label on this release comes from Grizzly Knuckles (a thuggish menace) bringing his weapon of choice musically in a hypnotic spell of mental riddims wit ‘Mad Bell’
this is chicago pit-tripping for those who are aware!
B2 brings The Jak as the final nail in the coffin to complete this 12 inch with ‘Aftermath’ that is for those who have any idea of SLaM dance body blows..this is that level of crazy!
Le Chocolat Noir @ bRave, Surogat (Zagreb) 15.12.2023
Boo Williams – Tribute To Chicago [CHIWAX039]
Chiwax presents another outstanding release by Boo Williams. “Tribute To Chicago” is Boo’s hommage to the Capital City of House Music, their artists and his hometown.
Tony Price – Bail Bonds [MAXEX33]
Raw Chicago flavored house track from Tony Price. 14 minutes of stone cold house music spread out over several tracks and interludes.
Specter – In Case You Forgot EP [FD-008]
After releasing heavyweights like Patrice Scott and Dego, Forbidden Dance Records continues its story with a new release from Chicago don Specter with a 4-track EP.
The Hipodrome Of Music 