That Place is a musical journey through the artists emotional and inspirational landscape. The 2nd release on the label is coming from MZKBX aka Sacha Mambo from Macadam Mambo who lives in Lyon and is the resident at Le Sucre. He brings here a taste of his musical roots.
Delsin kicks off 2015 with Micronism’s Steps to Recovery EP. Originally released on Nurture records in 1999, the EP, which comes in black and limited coloured vinyl, is a bonafide deep house classic from the short live career of New Zealander Denver McCarthy. ‘Engaging Causeless Mercy’ is a contemplative, atmospheric affair with soft drums and celestial pads that could roll and roll forever and you’d never get tired. ‘The Quiet Mind’ is just as deep, but the spiralling pads and rippling melodies here are more colourful and charming. Both tracks are hugely spacious, luxurious affairs whilst ‘Constructing Space’ on the flip is a more stripped back and humid number that is more enclosed and oppressive for cosy back room spaces. Finally, the title track is a playful, elastic house track with heartwarming hooks and pinging drums.
Rio Padice pitches up on Housewax for the Looking To The Sky 12″. The two tracks here explore Padice’s deeper side, but it all still feels vintage in origin, with “Looking To The Sky”, in particularly, coming blessed with the sort of dreamy warmth and undulating low-end shuffle. “Summer Season” is a little brighter and breezier, with twinkling electronics, cheery melodies and drawn-out chords riding a synth bass-heavy late ’80s deep house groove.
The first Lobster Theremin EP of 2015 comes from London-based newcomer and hazologist, Ozel AB. Striking a distinct tone with his lucid day-dreamer pads, blown-out MPC drums and Werkdiscs-inspired weirdness.
Christopher Rau, best known for reliable, soothing and airy deep house, debuts on Nsyde with a fresh alias T.R. Early Earl / The Royal Earl Company.
Downbeat Black features some heavily cerebral deep house founders Urtzi and Jose Rico. Urtzi impresses with his two contributions, the undulating, pad-heavy bliss of “Memories From Another Life”, and “No Back Memory” – a pensive slither of rich, piano-laden beatdown. Jose Rico opts for a slightly more energetic approach on his two cuts, though both “Small Island” (built around some superb percussion and tumbling chords) and the sun-kissed “Aint” are still lovingly melodious.
Irish maestro John Daly kicks of the new year with a release on Love Fever Records. Layered, progressive, modern electronic music with ethereal harmonics and a nod to analogue forefathers is a universal in John Daly’s musical cannon. And with Shine he’s formulated a song that could encapsulate a moment in time at a Love Fever party. That 5am throb. Peaks and lows of a breather in the night, the sweating crowd, the stabbing baseline and fluctuating strings played loud and proud. In short an unstoppable single from a producer on the very top of his game. A Detroit influenced yet clearly very contemporary release with strong support already on this one.
Lerosa takes his unique approach on house even further. Private View is exactly what its title promises: an exclusive visit into a enigmatic and fascinating world of groove and sound. It’s full of puzzling places and mysterious events. Delicate arrangements and artful sound combinations amount to a unique record without turning to caprice or flourish. Simplicity that makes sense.
The improvised electronics of Dave Moufang’s long running Magic Mountain High project with Juju & Jordash is no stranger to the vinyl format, first appearing on a Workshop 12″ back in 2012 and gracing that label as well as Jordan ‘Jordash’ Czamanski’s Off Minor with further material. However, as anyone that’s witnessed Magic Mountain High in the flesh will attest, the trio are best experienced live, but for logistical reasons that might not always be possible. This 12″ which consists of a recording of Magic Mountain High straight from the mixing desk at Brussels venue Fuse last year will satisfy the cravings of anyone whose yet to see them perform, with three next level deep house workouts to lose yourself in again and again.
While their sporadic appearance remains a frustration, it’s hard to find fault with Boe Recordings’ Halal Prepared series of EPs. This third installment of the series, which lands 12 months after it’s’ predecessor, contains another quarter of high quality deep house jams. The real highlights – to our ears, at least – are the two tracks that doff a cap to classic Detroit techno, whilst keeping their feet firmly rooted in deep house. Both “Star Struck” by Chicago Deep and Havantepe’s “Plane Waves” capture the retro-futurist spirit and stargazing electronics associated with the Motor City perfectly. Elsewhere, keep an eye out for Taelue’s “Desolate Dreams”, which offers a bittersweet trip into ultra-deep house territory.
Iron Curtis delivers his 2nd full 4 track EP for Hudd Traxx. The opening track ‘Care’ demonstrates IC’s diversity as a Producer as he lays down a killer bassline with melodic keys which will find it’s way into many big hitters bags. ‘Sing Along With Your Friends’ has deep laid keys and an MCDE esk feel to it accompanied by some heavy snares for good measure. Flip for the B Side and find ‘Shouting & Screaming’, a dark driving track that even Spencer Kinsey would be proud of. Iron Curtis rounds off the EP with a solid groovy little number entitled ‘Lasga’s Return’
Side A contents two masterpieces of nu soul remixes produced by Abicah Soul Project and vocals featured by Harold Brandon. Yotam Avni presents the first piece (Sign it away) which he is mostly known for his soulful background. Side B is represented by the two label fellow of deepArtSounds Ernie and Jenifa Mayanja with two magnificent deep house tracks.
Finale Sessions brings another fine release from Nick Lapien. “Lost Days” has such movement to it with its rolling pads and its systemmatic keywork and deeep basslines. “Pigment” is a mid tempo dream come true with it acidy pad synthed structure and lush keys and wicked drum work. “Motif” is a peek time killer with its nice key work and its nice pads layering into a nice kick perfect for a B side jam.
Appian’s forthcoming release ‘Chatter EP’ on Fina Records is a testament to his varied and experimental production style; a distinctive sound borne out of inspirations as varied as funk, experimental electronica, disco, “80s stuff” and early house. Monty Luke showcases his freethinking and flamboyant production prowess with a bad ass reworking of ‘Operator’.
2DeepSoul’s A-side, “Home”, is effortlessly melodious – a warm, rich and enticing blend of shuffling rhythms, swirling chords and the kind of blissfully electronic melodies that make you want to dance with your eyes shut. There’s a more organic and quietly soulful feel about Owen Jay and Melchior Sultana’s flipside effort, “Deserted”. Blessed with a delicious double bass line, bespoke keys and a whisper of Motor City techno (in terms of the electronics, at least), it’s a sublime chunk of sensual deepness.
Analog Superhero Perseus Traxx, known for his live performances and releases for Bunker, Chiwax, BOE, M>O>S> & Snuff Trax finally makes his way to the city of Chicago via Jordan Fields’ Klapmaster Records label. This was created based on a real life occurrence in Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest.
Appian Sounds is fast becoming a reliable source of extra-special deep house. This latest split EP, featuring tracks from a trio of rising talents, is another must-have release. Newcomer Jock Burton impresses with “Dolmen”, a chunk of loose and spacey deep house, that comes with a Slowburn’s remix, which adds a bleep style sub bassline and tools up the percussion. RDMA’s “Syeeda” is ultra-deep and heavily electronic – the kind of track you want to both dance to and immense yourself in while horizontal – while Route 8’s “Hemitropy” is a pleasingly dusty trip into yearning, half-remembered deep house
Legwork’s 2nd single comes from Brett Johnson. The Mission harks back to some of our favourite dub-techno moments, but keeps it’s own flare with Brett’s signature robo-rhythms and chopped and screwed vocal cuts. On the remix tip, it’s label head Lance DeSardi & Convextion bringing their own flavour to the table respectively, with Lance stepping to the chord memory, deep bass, and over sampled drums, and Convextion going all the way out into hyper space with his usual sub-aquatic space funk.
The Hipodrome Of Music 