Big Strick – Simple Pleasures [7DAYS1012]

Big Strick can usually be relied upon to deliver solid, soul-flecked deep house with that distinctive Detroit touch. That’s certainly what he delivers on Simple Pleasures, the latest 12″ for his 7 Days Entertainment imprint. There’s a lovely warmth and sun-kissed fluidity to bongo-laden opener “Ghetto Man”, whose enduring appeal is partly based on the delicious melodiousness of Strick’s hazy electronic pianos. “Don’t Wait Up” successfully riffs on a similar theme, before “48 Hours” displays the veteran Detroiter’s skills with dense percussion and ocean-deep chords. Best of all, though, is the dreamy beatdown of “Illuminated”, whose thicket drum machine beats and glassy-eyed pads are particularly memorable.

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Big Strick – Simple Pleasures [7DAYS1012]

Lawrence – Manhattan [SMALLVILLE041]

Two years after his In A Rush EP, Lawrence is back on Smallville with another release dedicated to the island of lunacy and love: Manhattan. Approved by visionary dancers from all around the globe, Smallville41 presents three enthusiastic tracks- the pulsating tech-jazz ballad ‘Nowhere Is A Place’, the title track featuring Ghostly Internationals most wanted Heathered Pearls and a particular forward stepping bouncer sending greetings from Sten.

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Lawrence – Manhattan [SMALLVILLE041]

Fit Siegel – Carmine / First Found [FIT012]

A moody techno classic perfect for the lonely season. Subtle, low-key and thumping, the title track revolves around a bittersweet piano lead, elegiac 303 and Blade Runner string swells. It’s a high-tech driving song in the tradition of Model 500’s low-key classic ”Pick Up The Flow” and FIT sounds more assured than ever. ”First Found” is Mills-ian jigsaw puzzle techno imbued with breathy and addictive humanity. Stacatto, free-jazz informed piano solos lock into ping-pong synths — eventually, a female vocal emerges over a bed of arpeggiated bass. Loose yet robotic, ”First Found” is first-rate Detroit techno mysticism.

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Fit Siegel – Carmine / First Found [FIT012]

Ben Boe – Leagues To Light Years [BOE026]

Ben Boe drops his very first solo EP on the label he conceived over 8 years ago. Narratives of deep space travel and journeys into the abyss permeate the release from start to finish. Ganymede graces the A-Side with its interstellar funk and sci-fi chords cutting through a heavy atmosphere like that of the namesake moon itself. A sampled, spooky tale of watery destinations round off the a-side and lead into the depths of DEEeeP-r on the flip. Fuzzy saturated textures, whispering chords and heavy bass soften the descent whilst a chopped and maipulated vocal drones “Go Deeper, Stay Longer”. Drawing influence from his home county, the early Sheffield stylings, machine-precision breakbeats and soft harmonies of Atomic Fuzz round off the EP.

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Ben Boe – Leagues To Light Years [BOE026]

Binh – Visions Of Love [PERLON104]

Perlon’s latest release is coming from a lesser known artist, Binh aka he production alias of Berlin based Germann Nguyen. He shows some punchy Perlon-worthy productions skills on the basis of his two tracks here with opener “Visio” a quite haunting cut where stripped back drum programming allows a neat bassline and detailed synth work to shine. Complementing this, it feels like “Ruski” is Nguyen letting his more urgent desires reign free and is likely to become a B side many selectors cherish.

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Binh – Visions Of Love [PERLON104]

Manabu Nagaya & Soichi Terada – Low Tension [UTA001]

NAGAYAMA, Manabu/SOICHI TERADA - Low Tension

New label from Alex Bradley touching on Jazz, Techno, House, Ambient, Disco and Boogie through to left-field Cosmic, Balearic Soul and Rock. The first release comes in the form of an essential ambient Japanese house track by producers Manabu Nagayama and Soichi Terada. This highly sought after version of Low Tension originally released on the ‘La Ronde’ EP on BPM Records Japan in 1991, has been remastered for single release for the first time. Also featured, a stripped back rework by cult Japanese producer Yukihiro Fukutomi and Bradley himself with an extended deep, dubby and melodic Utopian mix.

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Manabu Nagaya & Soichi Terada – Low Tension [UTA001]

MZKBX – E2322 Space Capsule EP [TPL002]

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.

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MZKBX – E2322 Space Capsule EP [TPL002]

Micronism – Steps To Recovery [DSR/X8]

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.

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Micronism – Steps To Recovery [DSR/X8]

Rio Padice – Looking To The Sky [H1002]

PADICE, Rio - Looking To The Sky

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.

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Rio Padice – Looking To The Sky [H1002]