A gentleman from the UK with roots in classic house and deep house. Superb 1990s Detroit school leaning Retro-House EP.
deep house
VA – From Chicago To Detroit Vol.1 [DOFTD1-9]
Descendents of The Deep launches the From Chicago To Detroit series, bringing together a quartet of deep house tracks from Michigan and Illinois-based producers. Jordan Fields kicks things off with the electric piano-laden strut of the surprisingly trippy “Excitement”, before Vincent Floyd offers up a masterclass in deep, New Jersey-influenced analogue deepness in the shape of “2gether”. Flip for the wonderful blissfulness of Leandre’s “Images of Spring” – think starry melodies from Detroit, coupled with the rolling swing of Chicago – and “Detroit Dubz”, a killer exercise in spooky beatdown from Norm Talley and Mike Huckaby. With its’ heavy, compressed bassline, creepy chords and reverb-laden textures, it sounds like it was tailor-made for Halloween.
Hiver / Stephen Lopkin – Pillowhead [BK013]
Bokhari enlists Hiver and Stephen Lopkin for four impeccable cuts of deep dancefloor delight. Kicking the package off with aplomb, Hardware fanatics Hiver illustrate the power of simplicity on “Pillowhead”, submerging us in deepest tech-house joy through globular bass, hypnotic stabs and immersive textures. “Whatsoever” ups the pace a little and loses a touch of the rubbery bottom end, flying free with celestial pads, sweeping synths and emotive chords. Over on the flipside, Lopkin’s “Theme from SAPL” sounds like a missing cut from Autechre’s classic “Incunabula”, pairing Miami drum patterns and beefy bass with moody vocoder and chirping synths for a healthy dose of machine funk. Lopkin closes the set with the Garnier approved “Speedbird Heavy”, a perfectly realised excursion into deep and moody techno that’s just waiting to bounce of those warhouse walls.
Mihai Popoviciu – The Swindle [PFR169]
A decade on from his debut release, one of Romania’s finest cultural exports returns to his favourite stomping ground with a trans- mission that showcases variety, technical skill and an intimate understanding of the dynamics of the floor. The stripped-down, moody menace of ‘The Swindle’ kicks things off, dancing semi- quavers panning left and right, a mysterious male voice incanting. A bass synth motif carries the tune to a climax before its buoyant, trancey conclusion. At all times, elements unfold organically, carrying the listener away. ‘Rotate’ casts a busier, jacking vibe, its analogue synth cycles pinging against each other. Glimmering layers of sound create an endlessly immersive, deadly deep groove. ‘Feed Me’ is slower, slinkier and rougher in equal measure. The sustained synths create a gliding sensation, the male vocal first mellifluous and sung then husky and spoken. ‘Chance’ is a shuffling, fizzing deep house groove, precision-tooled for the dance- floor. “Let it take control” urges a male voice. Sound advice for this deliciously hypnotic groove.
DJ Aakmael – Alternate Takes [KLRLTD023]
Dusty and soulful deep house jams from DJ Aakmael aka Greg Stewart. First track “Roses” utilizes some stunning grand piano and trumpet solos as well as a sample from ‘Jean” by Rod McKuen to accompany some tight rhythm patterns and rich strings. “Fourpoint-5” is classic deep house reminiscent of old Mr. Fingers, in all its emotive and melancholic glory. On the flip there’s “Equinox” keeping on with a deep and soulful Detroit deep house sound that fans of Kai Alce would appreciate while “H4” ends things on truly uplifting note, with its dreamy xylophone vibes working with some more nice trumpet sounds and rich strings on a seven minute epic.
Colonel Abrams – You Got Me Running [EVRE004]
“Music Is The Answer”, Colonel Abrams’ landmark 1984 debut release, was mot his first stab at stardom. In fact, earlier the same year he’d recorded a series of dubbed-out demos with Boyd Jarvis at Timmy Regisford’s apartment. Here, those demos – mastered from dusty eight-track tape – get a public airing for the first time. Despite their vintage, all three tracks still sound phenomenally soulful and futuristic, as if all three men were laying down a blueprint for deep house (albeit with the addition of the delay-laden drums that were such a feature of NYC productions during the period). “You Got Me Running”, in particular, is superb, with Abrams’ putting in a superbly impassioned but bittersweet vocal performance.
Trinidadian Deep – Native Bush EP [PERP006]
The Chicago based Perpetual Rhythms label welcomes Trinidadian Deep to the family for their 6th release; “Native Bush EP”. Trini is known for his deep, spiritual, and tribal sounds on labels such as Ron Trent’s Future Vision Records and Neroli.The same holds here for his EP; three deep house tracks exuding love through percussive and atmospheric vectors.
Professor Inc. – From Scratch to Formula [BOE029]
Professor Inc. returns to boe with a four track EP of low slung heady house vibes, thumping drums and searing soundscapes. Punchy 4/4 rhythms and throaty chords of Crazy grace the Aside where neat percussion sections break up dubby sweeps and deft ambient samples. The rolling loose beats and haunting synths movements of Underground sit nicely inside and offer a pumping club cut. The glorious strings of Life After Asylum play nicely with vox synths, weird samples and some weighty low end. Rounding out the EP, Put Up the Vibe skips and swings with fizzy stabs, modulated percussions and warm grooving bass.
Levon Vincent & Marcel Dettman – NS 10 T Rex Edition [NS010]
New Novel Sound. “Fear” has been an in-demand since it was featured on his Fabric mix back in 2012, and remains one of Vincent’s most striking compositions – a spacey, melancholic mixture of classic Detroit influences, unfussy deep house beats and new wave-era synth and bass touches. The flip boasts a more recent collaboration between Vincent and Marcel Dettmann, which is equally as tasty. “Vengeance” is synthesizer-heavy and intergalactic in design, with EBM style motifs and tumbling, atmospheric melodies riding a similarly no-nonsense groove.
VA – Future Times Catalog + [FREE DOWNLOAD]
FUTURE TIMES CATALOG + is a special digital Future Times compilation, and a must for the uninitiated. Past + Present + Future tracks from the likes of Hunee, Hashman Deejay, Beautiful Swimmers, Jordan GCZ, Protect-U, Huerco S, Tom Noble, Maxmillion Dunbar or Steve Summers.
Name your price for this compilation.
Mculo – Bunzlau Tape EP [RBTO001]
Debut release on new label Roots By The Oder comes from Berlin-via-London producer Mculo. 3 Tracks of precision, atmospheric House & Techno.
12 To 30 – Orchestral Dimensions [SIS025]
Sistrum looks outward for release #25, summoning the talents of Bacanito, Giovanni Randisi and Tazz under their 12 To 30 moniker. The Orchestral Dimensions EP is a welcome addition to the Sistrum catalog, sitting comfortably within the sonic palette of the label whilst offering a unique take on deep electronic music. Raw, authentic, underground sounds to keep the Sistrum tradition moving ever-forward.
Octa Octa – Further Trips EP [DBRV026]
Brooklyn based producer shows off his knack for rich grooves, & melodies that are intoxicating in nature. The drive, & atmosphere are what led Deepblak’s Aybee to his work, & these ingredients on display as they speak to the head, & the feet.
Marvis Dee – EP 1: Sailing Over Alpha Moon [DREAMS001]
Marvis Dee opens the newly varnished In The My Dreams imprint with a boogie-led 5-track EP of late-night 80’s house and slow groove-soaked beats. Drawing from the magical influence of the conga-a-plenty TR-727 drum machine along with stomach rumbling basses and glistening synth romanticism conjured from the same machine. Sailing Over Alpha Moon is the first in a 3 EP series exploring these ideas, machines and the nostalgic attachment to things we have once experienced but may not remember. Trapped solely in the memories of others, but returning in our dreams.
Floating Points – Elaenia [PLUTO001]
For the past ten years, all roads Shepherd has followed have been slowly leading to ‘Elaenia’ – an album with roots deep in his formative years, and one that draws upon everything Shepherd has done so far. An album that provides context to the music that Shepherd has been making to date. Every DJ set he’s performed, every talent he has produced, every composition he has written are thought of as precursors to ‘Elaenia’ – a dazzling score which puts Shepherd in the spotlight as a composer who has produced an album that bridges the gap between his rapturous dance music and formative classical roots. Drawing inspiration from classical, jazz, electronic music, soul and even Brazilian popular music, ‘Elaenia’ – named after the bird of the same name – is the epitome of the forward-thinking Floating Points vision in 2015.
Alex Falk – What Is Free [FS031]
Finale Sessions is excited about this release from Knoxville, Tennessee artist Alex Falk. He has been on our radar for some time now so we are pleased to share this with you! The A1 track “An Ever” is one of our favorite tracks on the EP, with dreamy pads and monstrous stabs making for a fantastic floor-stomper. Rounding out the A side is “Rrecs”, a deep Techno cut with clattering chords and moving drums and claps. B1 track “What Is Free” is another solid peak time killer with thick stabs and cut-up vocals making for a perfect Finale Sessions release. Finally, “BR56” brings up the tempo while chilling out the vibe with dubbed-out chords, nasty filter work and a sound floating somewhere between Techno and House.
Jordan – What We Have Forgotten EP [SPMB010]
A young DJ/producer from Brooklyn pushing the line where deep house and techno join in emotive rawness. A deep moody selection of movements that suit any occasion as the vibe grows & culminates.
Amir Alexander – Anthology One [ACWL001]
Amir Alexander’s Anthology one brings together 4 of his most in demand tacks spread out over 3 EP’s onto one 12 inch compilation. ‘Necessary Sanctuary’ has proven to be an instant classic since it’s quiet and humble release 5 years ago. Both tracks are included. The Original Mix and the 3 AM Dub. Also included is ”The Universe’ from his Deep Vibes released Outsider Music EP, as well as The lovely ‘Transcend’ for Amir’s first full solo EP on Machining Dreams.
Anaxander – A Question About You [LVNO004]
Anaxander, contributes two beautiful pieces and has one of them reworked by Amir Alexander. Lost My Soul (in Yours) is twisted little number, with dual synth riffs echoing off each other for maximum effect. A Question About You uses jazzy chords and flutes over its undeniable bassline to retain some soulful flavoring, but Amir strips all of that away on his interpretation, preffering instead to let the acid and the warehouse vibes have their way, taking things right into a 6am rave nightmare.
Marvis Dee – Subconscious EP [LSM001]
With the birth of this new Dublin based record label, Lime Street Music, we have the first debut EP from Marvis Dee the more house leaning alias of mysterious producer Jeremiah R. Marvis offers up six varied analogue house jams from the spacey sounds on Dreams of Another Planet through to the acidic vibes of Jungle Trip and Subconscious then rounded up with the reflective moods of Tapedeck Adventure, Cancun Seventies and Weeks.
The Hipodrome Of Music 