Deep, raw and straight to the soul – Igaxx is back with a killer EP on Phonogramme. ‘Time To Move’ is made for late-night sessions and deep dancefloor trips.
Igaxx – Time To Move EP [PHONOGRAMME63]
deep house
Ron Trent – Lift Off LP [RHMC006]
Arriving almost 35 years since he wowed the world with his game-changing debut, the Afterlife EP, Lift Off was inspired by Trent’s desire to ‘let the imagination speak for itself’ while exploring the diverse influences that have shaped his unique musical perspective. A departure from his previous album, 2022’s downtempo masterpiece as Warm, What Do The Stars Say To You, the 10-track set features a mixture of epic instrumentals, inspired collaborations and vocal cuts whose music was written with certain singers in mind. While it features music that ripples with the experienced producer’s familiar aural trademarks – rich rhythms, warm chords, impeccable instrumentation, inspired arrangements, and lashings of heady hand percussion – it also consciously explores a variety of sounds and tempos, in the process blurring the lines between dance music’s past, present and future. It’s a vision, in his words, of what dance music can become.
Rick Wade – Dusk Runner [PHONOGRAMME62]
Detroit deep house don Rick Wade back in full force with four cuts of pure groove, lush vibes, and soulful grit on Phonogramme.
R-A-G – M>O>S All Stars EP [MOS036]
The notorious R-A-G team up once again on their homebase M>O>S to present four of their excellent acidic deephouse affairs. The whole squad featuring Aroy Dee, MaSpaventi and G-String giving a perfect representation of their long going Amsterdam studio sessions.
Vakula – Quantum Voyage EP [PHONOGRAMME61]
Cosmic frequencies and deep rhythms straight from Vakula’s universe. A 13-minute journey backed by dubby grooves and sunlit vibes.
Theory Of Movement – Structural EP [WTMC003]
Dan Piu and Grant’s Theory of Movement project has served up gold for lovers of heady tech and minimal. After something of a hiatus, it is now back on When The Morning Comes with more of the sort of tuneage that is going to quickly sell out and soon become the ID request du jour at your favourite underground parties. These are of course sophisticated sounds from the silky house bumps of ‘Now & Then’ with its seductive vocal allure to the throwback 90s sounds of ‘Over Time’ (Acid Mix). ‘Basis’ (Foundation mix) is another immediately classic house sound with analogue and dusty drums and zippy melodies next to more smooth chords. ‘Motion Of Objects’ shuts down with a more zoned-out vibe and widescreen melodic architecture for late nights.
Felipe Gordon – Profundo [ROYAL058]
The prodigious producer Felipe Gordon returns for the fourth time on Clone Royal Oak. This time with an expansive six-track release that showcases his signature blend of rich, groove-laden tracks. The instrumental Profundo sets the tone for a fusion of jazz, soul, and vocal club-ready tunes. More than just a collection of tracks, Profundo is an exploration of Gordon’s inner world through warmth, emotion, and refined musicianship. Showing once again why Felipe is at the forefront of house music right now.
XDB @ HÖR (Berlin) 22.03.2025
Andy Vaz ft Black M1D1 – The New Germans EP [PHONOGRAMME58]
Andy Vaz delivers The New Germans EP, a deep house heavyweight straight from Deutztroit Studios in Cologne. Tracks like ‘2 Brown Skinned Brothers’ and ‘Hometown CGN’ bring a raw, soulful vibe that hits different. This is underground fire for those who know what’s real.
Life Recorder – Natural Instincts EP [QUINTESSE094]
A new signing for Quintessentials: Life Recorder. The man from the south of France represents a very Detroit and Chicago inspired house sound, with deepness, melodies and groove. To complete the full french package, another hot producer adds the remix : Aleqs Notal.
Amir Alexander – Feel Me EP [PHONOGRAMME57]
Phonogramme drops Feel Me EP by Amir Alexander—four potent tracks blending raw house grooves with techno intensity. A must-have for peak-time energy.
VA – Echoes Of Italy – Artists In Wonderland – Early 90S House Vibes Vol. 1 [JF001LP]
Patrice Scott – Solitude [SIS033]
‘Solitude’ is a perfectly apt title for anything Sistrum label head Patrice Scott does. The US deep house master makes such introverted and introspective sounds that they have you utterly transfixed in the moment, locked into thought and gazing on at his gorgeous synth designs which are cosmic, meaningful and jazzy. The title track here does all that and more with some deft vocals laced in and gentle tambourine sounds. ‘Inoffensive Dance’ is another meditation of deepness with loose drums and lovely melodies all soothing mind, body and soul.
Byron The Aquarius – Dey Know Vol. 2 [PHONOGRAMME54]
The second volume of Byron The Aquarius’ Dey Know on Phonogramme. Four serious grooves on a green coloured vinyl.
Alton Miller – Afrika Alright EP [MB005]
The deep house maestro Alton Miller turns out supremely designed sounds as this one on Mister Bear evidences. ‘Afrika Alright’ opens with smoky, soulful vocals and lovely flute melodies next to wispy synth explorations, ‘Dub Afrika’ pads it out with some extra pillowy low ends, then ‘Hang On’ brings some bright xylophone melodies and jumbled percussion to a more Afro tinged house shuffler. Last of all is ‘Super Hero’ with its whimsical synth leads and interesting sound designs adding rich detail to a dusty deep house groove.
Black Eyes – Hydro-Trip Vol. 2 [LC2097-005]
Lost Control 2097 present the follow up to last years debut Hydro-Trip Vol. 1 EP from Berlin based producer Black Eyes. Hydro-Trip Vol. 2 is a mixture of warm rugged soulful house drawing inspirations from the oceans wildly flowing life. A combination of subterranean chord rawness, crunchy drum workouts, sleazy basement vox and a very dope remix from Detroit myth-like producer ‘Walt J’ round off an EP constructed for the real deep house katz. As per usual, scuba gear is heavily encouraged.
RekaB – Random Fragments EP [YRE-054]
ReKaB drops a strong four-track EP, rooted firmly in the Detroit sound with a nod to the soulful techno styles that shaped the UK underground in the 90s. This is his second EP for Cologne’s YORE Records. The production, as always, is spot on—sharp, detailed, and endlessly listenable. While the tracks carry the weight of tradition, they’re not stuck in it. There’s a fresh, forward-facing energy here that keeps things exciting.
Fred P – Singular Point Of Focus EP [SYNCRO56]
New EP by Fred P brings a definitive futurist vision of Dance floor mayhem of the late night variety. ‘Singular Point of Focus’ is an EP packed with weapons of mass euphoria for the discerning selector and enthusiast alike. Incorporating augmented vocals by the Artist himself with a character that can’t be pinned to his natural rich deep voice yet an exact fit that represents the current moment in time. Fred P seems to be entering a zone most dare to tread boldly going beyond in service of the music that he so dearly loves to provide the everlasting sonic voyage for the people who understand there is more than meets the eye.
Don Carlos – Alone [A004]
Anorax has got a vital 10″ here featuring a stone cold classic Balearic house tune from Don Carlos in two different mixes. First is the Paradise mix which is as Ibiza as house music gets – the swirling pads, the subtly joyous feeling in the piano chords, the blistered bassline. It all immediately transports you to the White Isle and gazing out to see as the sun sets and the party ratchets up a gear. On the flip is a Lute Mix which brings some more mellifluous melodies and makes the drums a little more bouncy.
Voices – Give Me Your Body [CCE044]
Rawax presents Ron Allen and Hayden Andrew Brown aka VOICES, with a reissue of “Give Me Your Body” (12″) from 1990 on Chiwax Classic Edition.
The Hipodrome Of Music 