Vakum with this third instalment, featuring the undeniable talents of none other than The Shake Up Connection, Scott Ferguson, Homeboy and Lerosa.
deep house
BLM – This Bup Is Close [BUSH002]
“The Bush is a homage to the place where I have lived for the last decade (Askew Road). The Askew Road itself is slowly changing so I wanted to document all the places that play a big part in mine and my families lives before they eventually get sold for more flats or Tescos. First up was Peckings Studio 1 record shop, which has been on this stretch of road since the 1960s. Next up is the mighty Sun pub which became a local talking point when they sold the place because a sign sat in the window that announced “This Bup Is Close”.”
Hinode – Interstate Highway EP [D3006]
D3 Elements continues its carefully curated run with a new EP from Berlin based Italians, Hinode. Featuring four cuts of tough deep house. Opener ‘State to State’ is a raw, punchy house track with jazzy chords injecting some real soul into the physical beats. Rasping synths and rainy melodies have a hint of the old school about them and ensure that dance floors will be in raptures. ‘Endless World’ is more spacious, with a drunken acid sounding bassline roaming beneath a nicely mechanical groove. It’s one to make you stomp, and so is b-side opener ‘Shades of Grey’ with its bombastic, kicking drums, twinkling melodies and lazy chords. Despite being a sweat inducing house banger, plenty of warmth and musicality remains. Lastly, ‘Memory Alpha’ hurries along with muddled voices, icy hi hats and a flurry of rubbery kicks and squelchy acid stabs. It’s beautifully authentic house music that takes subtle cues from the best of Chicago and Detroit.
Dona – In My Bed EP [POINTS005]
The fifth release on Points Records with three originals by Dona and an Eduardo de la Calle remix.
Ron Trent – Rawax Aira Series Vol. 2 [AIRA002]
Rawax launching a new series of ep’s dedicated to music made on Roland AIRA equipment. Part 2 by the don of Chicago deep house, mr. Ron Trent.
Kai Alce – Sunday Transit [POEM001]
Detroit house hero Kai Alce inaugurates People Of Earth with a stellar EP showcasing his knack for the most soulful of modern, Motor City deep house. First up “Quiet Revenge” has that classic Three Chairs kind of vibe; all soulful deepness that this circle and their extended cast of peers have the knack for, complete with smooth Rhodes piano and dusty rhythms. On the flip “Sunday Transit” is a more straight up deep house jam with female vocals shouting out the lowdown loud and clear; wicked groove on this one. The dub version of this surpasses the vocal for those less keen, but why would you.
Natan H – Lignes EP [FS029]
Finale Sessions presents this release by Natan H hailing from the “City Of Angels”. The track “Lignes” with its melodic pads and its wavering synths make for a late night beauty. Track 2, “O (Phase)” is another late night stomper with moving chords and melodic drum patterns that keep it a smooth sounding piece. The dub techno song “Invariant” (Feat.Jordan) is floor filler for sure with its heavy laden pads and synths and its monstrous sounds.
Christian Kroupa – A Dangerous Game [FARB014]
More and more becoming the central hub for adventurous new sounds from the still largely unexplored Central European scene, Budapest-based Farbwechsel Records has unearthed young Slovenian producer Christian Kroupa, whose first 12″ for the label is a strong and confident statement.
Mick Welch – Octaves Of Energy [AMR034E]
Altered Moods Recordings releases its next vinyl EP “Octaves of Energy”. This three-tracker by Mick Welch is a smooth, sultry adventure into the core ethos of AMR music. The “Octaves of Energy” release represents his latest foray into the deepness. “Conscious Field” kicks things off with a tambourine- and high-hat infused beat with rich, dark leads burbling up throughout, interrupted now and then by a wistful bridge with an echoing voice telling you not to be afraid. “Mind Force” is another laid back jam, with a bright, crisp cowbell intertwine with an accouterment of lush pads and silky leads. The final track on the flip side, “Octave 50,” is the deepest cut of the three and also the easiest to work the dance floor with. With its sinewy, filtered pad and bubbly bass line combined with warm, warbling leads, it fits both in the studio and at the club.
Kuba Sojka – Multiple Faces [DMK003]
Kuba Sojka returns to the London based DMK label to deliver an impressive album of deep, techno inspired grooves.
60 Miles – 60 Miles 01 [60MLS001]
60 Miles are John Daly and Cian Frawley aka Frawl. They got together in the studio after one of the infamous Backwards parties in Limerick and 60 miles was born. It arrived fully formed. Label, live act and mindset. They cut their tracks in the moment. 2 self contained setups, no sync between them. No going back. Drums. Jazz. Techno Soul.
Scott Ferguson – Tribute To My Twenty Something Year Old Self Pt#1 [FPR043]
Royer – Day Of EP [MATIMG003]
William Thurman aka Royer delivers his second EP for Material Image. Day Of is an effective – and masterfully detuned – EP containing four killer cuts: “Afre” is a mid-tempo scorcher with wavy chords and dusty drums, “Marien” is more of a straight up house jacker, and “Window Sun” heads into deep house territories thanks to those pulsating beats and subtle melodic twists; Aschof’s dub version for a more full-bodied, faster paced reinterpretation.
Hugo Gerani – EP [GCR001]
Golden Ivy – To Elvira From Ivy With Love [ZZV15020]
Music For Dreams continues to roll out the Balearic goodies with this superb new mini album from Golden Ivy. Golden Ivy aka Ivar Lantz is a Malm based composer, producer and founder (along with Prins Emanuel and Gucci Jehova) of esteemed Swedish record label Fasaan.
Hodini – Money $ex 03 [MS003]
The mysterious Hodini takes the wheel on this, the third outing on Money $ex. Another triumphant tapestry of sample sources, reinvented and ramped up into an effortlessly effective extended player, taking dusty MPC sample sessions through a variety of moods from head-nod bumpers to wayward House numbers – Swing set to stun all the way and another top quality outing on this label Collaborating with the very best of Germany’s new school.
Aroma Pitch – Present From A Small Distant World [APR003]
The DJ Trio and Live-Act (Jesse Scherwitz, Julius Richter and Magnus von Welck ) finished their third EP on Aroma Pitch Recordings. With this one the boys have reached a new level of production and maturity. Three tracks full of twists and turns making this a perfect kickstart for a timeless summer. Beautiful & moody deep techno the oldskool way.
Dan White / Khotin – Split [NRML017]
Khotin (Normals Welcome resident) returns for his second release on our imprint. He joins up with Australia’s Dan White, whose release on Forbidden Planet found its way into our record bags this past year. Deep space acid vibe on this one.
Kurt Baggaley – Family Resemblance EP [HM016]
Qnete – Lessons In Finding [LTWHT006]
Prior to joining up with Lobster Theremin for this volume of their white label series, Qnete’s output had largely consisted of powerful but spacey tracks in an intelligent techno-meets-classic Detroit vibe. While hints of that style are still present on his first Lobster Theremin outing, there’s a much more “classic deep house” feel throughout. Opener “A Luv Jam” comes across as the sort of expansive, star-gazing, Larry Heard inspired jam that moves the head just as much as the feet, while “I Might Be Wrong” doffs a cap in the direction of the Motor City whilst retaining an early ’90s feel. As for flipside “Dresden”, it offers a magical fusion of fizzing, Chicago-inspired drum machine rhythms and spacey, almost endless deep space chords.
The Hipodrome Of Music 