Pittman returns on his own imprint with a release that has been circulating as a white label. The Detroit badman does the right thing and gives it an official pressing. A-side jam ‘Pick Yourself Up’ (feat Crystal Procedures) is dusty, loopy, trippy house with swirling vocals adding to the late-night feel, then ‘Ode 2 Juan’ slows things down to smoky basement house vibes with melancholic pads bringing hints of light to the muggy atmosphere.
NDATL continues with DJ Aakmael’s vibrant EP, ”The Xposd EP”. Kicking things off is ”Track 109” a lively and rhythmic blend of Latin jazz infused groove with a bouncy shuffle guaranteed to set hips in motion. Next ”Imagination” a mesmerizing groove and Aakmael’s signature solo work, transports the dancers into a hypnotic zone. On the B-side, we encounter the dynamic collaboration ”This Is Not A Game,” a potent creation by Aakmael and label head Kai Alcé, featuring sparse piano notes and a penetrating synth solo. Aakmael then draws upon his Windy City influences for the final track, ”102.5” characterized by a smooth deep bassline and velvety keys. With its diverse soundscape, ”The Xposd EP” with its captivating rhythms and melodies invites listeners to immerse themselves.
Curtea Veche presents another edition of their Serii Speciale, this time featuring the legend that is Reboot. 3 groovers for the dancefloor , tried and tested by some of the biggest names in the buisness.
Christopher Rau unveils his latest four-track EP, “Blade,” out on esteemed Parisian label Phonogramme Records. Rau’s signature deep, soulful sound shines through on the EP, infused with elements of jazz and funk. Each track is a captivating journey, transporting listeners into Rau’s world of emotive and atmospheric productions. Opening track “Blade” sets the stage with its pulsating bassline and hypnotic melodies, while “Alfred” delivers a soulful and groovy groove. “Comet” takes things up a notch with its energetic and upbeat tempo, while “Lee” concludes the EP on a dreamy and introspective note. “Blade” is a must-have for house music enthusiasts and is sure to solidify Rau’s position as a genre pioneer.
Favorite Recordings and Lea Lisa present Many Shades of House, a personal selection of House music tracks that have a very special place in Lea Lisa’s heart and in her record box. Amongst this selection, Many Shades Of House is including many very rare and hard to find titles, mostly never reissued on vinyl until now.
More about the world has changed than not in the decade since dance production dyad Frank & Tony, the project of house legends Francis Harris and Anthony Collins, released their last full-length record, 2014’s “You Go Girl”. Despite, or perhaps in spite of, this shifting landscape, house music has managed to stay fundamentally reliable (either a bug or its greatest feature, depending on who you ask). Where previously, Frank & Tony have been celebrated for their contemplative, studious approach to the genre, with 2024’s “Ethos”, the Brooklyn/Biarritz-based duo return amidst metastatic cultural upheaval to prove out those scholarly credentials — with an album that serves to remind listeners why dancefloors and liberatory politics consistently share the language of movements and revolutions.
After being featured on BERG AUDIOs “Horizons” compilation, Bucharest’s Jay Bliss is back on the label with his first solo release in more than seven years. What to expect? A delightful blend of deep, dub, minimal & even a disco influence for the highly awaited track “Neuromancer”.
Rekids presents ‘Nightdubbing’, the second album from Monty Luke. The Black Catalogue boss and former Planet-E label manager Monty Luke effortlessly traverses deep house and techno rife with bass-rattling low-end and experimental rhythms. It is no surprise, then, that the album is heavily inspired by ‘70s and mid-80s dub reggae, seeing Luke incorporate and modernise the genre’s iconic rhythms, spoken word poetry, and spacious bursts of harmony across the LP. Monty Luke spent ten formative years in Detroit, where the city’s unique musical spirit influenced him immensely. He has since distilled this experience into the music he has released. His raw, dub-infused sound comes with plenty of futuristic designs, and ‘Nightdubbing’ continues to push the boundaries of his music.
George from Heerd returns to the Stomping Grounds label, this time marking his debut under his new solo project George Heerd with the Acid Garden EP. Drawing inspiration from the golden era of UK tech house while adding modern touches, George crafts an EP that reminisces about the early 2000s while embracing a contemporary twist.
Underground hero and label boss DJ Steaw makes his Nu Groove debut with ‘Seascape EP’, a four-track odyssey of deep, soulful house. Opening with the powerful stabs of ‘Take It There’, ‘Seascape EP’ explores the producer’s signature, bass-heavy sound as well as the myriad of influences from further afield. The title track ‘Seascape’ contrasts breathy pads with bright, dynamic percussion, as ‘Close To You’ and ‘Exotica’ further demonstrate a recognisable, nostalgic aesthetic that is both club-ready and dreamlike in quality.
Frits Wentink, known for his eclectic blend of house, techno, and experimental sounds, with his third release for the Clone Royal Oak series. Frits comes up with a 4 track EP with his signature intricate rhythms, lush melodies, and playful approach to production. Resulting in warm deep house tracks ready for the inbound springtime.
Contrafact welcomes back Dutch icon and studio wizard, Orlando Voorn, who brings a fresh new sound with his second contribution to the label – a double vinyl album entitled ‘The Master 2’. On this long player we see Orlando delivering an album that flips the switch, moving through different shades of jazzy house, soulful funk, but still very much in Detroit zone. It’s an infectious mix of debonair soul and hi-tech jazzism injected with Voorn’s versatile palette of deep dynamics, next-level machine talk and otherworldly funk. Staying true to the velveteen house vibrations that’ve been the driving force to his seminal records through nearly three decades of mythology, Voorn drops a textbook sample of his lush and unhindered vision for innovative and soul inspiring music. This album rolls up its sleeves and pulls out a potent artillery of foot shuffling jazzy house beats, intricate drum work, and some bleached-out synths that will wash away all those the winter blues.
Cyphon Recordings presents a three-tracks electronic journey showcasing exactly why Kirk Degiorgio has sustained the level he has for so long. A melodic richness and tactile makeup, whereby Kirk’s tracks more than move your limbs, but rather meld directly to your heart.
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.
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.
Brasilian Producer Apoena kicks off 2024 in style for Hudd Traxx. “Pure Feeling” opens up proceedings in a deep and hypnotic style. “Rico Balanço” follows in a similar vain oozing with raw Berlin vibes, which is where Apoena currently resides. The B side features “In between The Beat” and the title track “Mystic” which are melodic trippy groovers for early hour vibes.
Colombian producer Felipe Gordon returns to the Razor-N-Tape catalog for his 3rd EP. It’s a signature FG affair, from start to finish with deep jazz house chuggers like Homage to Bossa and Flutes of Gold, to the wistful and mysterious energy of Beside Me and the arpeggiated synth stomper Acid Party at Santa Barbara.
Phonogramme presents “Dey Know Vol.1,” a groundbreaking soundscape of Byron the Aquarius, where innovation meets house music in a mesmerizing fusion. Renowned for his avant-garde approach in the house music genre, Byron curates an EP that pushes the boundaries of house music. From the infectious beats of “Black Is Black” with the collaboration of Brandon Banks on “Dr. Devil,” each track is a testament to Byron’s unique artistic vision. “Real MF From The Avenue” and “Rock That 808!!!” featuring Jordan GCZ further amplify the EP’s genre-defying brilliance.
Earth Boys, the collaborative force of Michael Sherburn and Julian Duron, reemerges on Public Release with their latest EP, ‘In the Sun.’ Their signature raw and smoke-infused sound is as rugged as ever, reaffirming the unmistakable Earth Boys touch. The lead single gets a hypnotic tweaky groove courtesy of an Eden Burns remix—perfect for setting the stage for a peak-time build—while Tokyo’s Mayurashka offers a deep and contemplative atmospheric chugger. This 5-track EP is perfect for a spectrum of cheeky activities on and off the dance floor.
Boo Williams is back with a sizzling 4-track EP on Phonogramme Records that’s set to ignite your dancefloor with his tripping house, spaced out, and classy beats. Williams’ signature sound combines classic rhythms with cutting-edge innovation, creating an irresistible blend of nostalgia and modernity. Each track is a testament to Boo Williams’ exceptional talent, promising a dynamic mix of deep, soulful, and electrifying house music, all with that tripping house, spaced out, and classy touch.
The Hipodrome Of Music 