Derek Carr – Allez EP [TRECS008]

Derek Carr has been pretty untouchable in the last couple of years. His work in the fields of deep house and deep techno has been consistently innovative and captivating. He takes care of the eighth EP on the Trident label now with more of his serene sound designs and dynamic grooves. ‘Allez’ heads off into the cosmos with balmy pads and smooth drums then acid lashes about the mix of ‘I Want You’ which rides a nice tight, clipped, locked-in drum line. Things get more loose and star gazing on ‘Revival’ while ‘Typhoon’ closes with playful synth patterns tumbling down over invitingly warm deep house drums.

listen

Derek Carr – Allez EP [TRECS008]

Alton Miller – Remember Who You Are [SPLTE001]

Detroit’s premier creative space, art gallery and club Spot Lite kicks off its brand new label. This first deep house EP from staple Alton Miller radiates strong energy, warmth and vibe with a versatility to fit in almost any house set. “Remember Who You Are” (Side A,) sets the record’s tone with a big sound, infectious bassline, keys along with lush vocals from Nina. Flip it to the B-Side and you’ll find the instrumental along with another deep banger called “Impilo.” This effort complements both tracks completely, ensuring future classic status.

listen

Alton Miller – Remember Who You Are [SPLTE001]

Reggie Dokes – We Was Bad EP [CONTRA-006]

Without question, Reggie Dokes is a soldier of Deep House. Touches of jazz and otherworldliness find there way on his latest EP with Contrafact Records. Three tracks ranging from the sultry to the beyond, putting the listener into a blissful state. A must have for the fans of Deep House.

listen

Reggie Dokes – We Was Bad EP [CONTRA-006]

Marcellus Pittman – Facid Trunktion [ACIDTEST019]

Detroit’s Marcellus Pittman returns to Acid Test following his Unknown Species track featured on the ’10 Years of Acid Test’ compilation. H|e’s back with his debut EP for the label. Juddering mechanical beats, layered percussion and gurgling 303 basslines are on the menu, from one of Detroit’s finest.

listen

Marcellus Pittman – Facid Trunktion [ACIDTEST019]

VA – Music In Motion [UAR013]

Norm Talley’s Upstairs Asylum label only arrived in 2021 but is already up there with the great Motor City imprints. The boss has been busy putting together a trio of new EPs for the first half of 2023 that showcases a wealth of Mid-West talent. House hero Boo Williams kicks off this one with his typically tight drum programming and party-starting synth work on ‘Tickin Clock.’ Eric Johnson keeps it raw, deep and loopy on ‘Melodic Gruv’ then Reggie Dokes brings his signature Atlanta house sound to ‘Mother’s Child’ with its melancholic lead sax and ‘End of Time’ is a broken beat bliss out.

listen

VA – Music In Motion [UAR013]

VA – Raw Viz-Shun EP [UAR012]

Upstairs Asylum Recordings is one of the many seminal Detroit labels run by local legend Norm Talley. It’s right in the middle of a busy run right now with no fewer superb run with three new EPs all dropping in quick succession. This one is a split EP with US duo Solid Gold Playaz taking care of the a-side. As always with this pair, their sounds are deep and dusty house with exquisite melodies tugging at the heart. On the flip, Gari Romalis steps up with the slick percussive skip of ‘Detroit After Dark’ then ‘Panties’ from Brian Neal brings jacked up analogue groves that lean into techno with a big fat bassline.

listen

VA – Raw Viz-Shun EP [UAR012]

Deltamaxx / O-EN-ONE – Redundant Systems [TRECS009]

 Trident Recordings drops a double pack on solid white vinyl, that finds Deltamaxx and O En One join forces. They take us on a storytelling trip through cosmic techno that varies in mood and tempo. ‘Conexxion’ rides a nice rubbery, bumpy groove with incidental and wispy synth sounds, then ‘Delta Pavonis’ seems to soundtrack a beach party up amongst the stars. There are darker, more heady cuts like ‘Donnager’ and icy electro cinematics on ‘Isonoe’ to make for a worthy collection of sounds that work on the dancefloor and beyond.

listen

Deltamaxx / O-EN-ONE – Redundant Systems [TRECS009]

VA – Sugar Crystal [SRT178]

Detroit’s finest with another nice various artists release. Drivetrain (Detroit, USA) taking flavorful elements from his deep house original, this is a killer dose of thick-set, granular house-meets-techno. Motomitsu (Paris, FRANCE) perfectly appointed, synthetic strings rise and fall; back-dropping deep, purling bass, anesthetic keys and distant, wraithlike vocals drifting in and out of view. Jani Ho (MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA) club weaponry delivering an exhilarating, full-throttle ride through a menagerie of ever-shifting layers, which themselves are in a constant state of leg-sweeping flux.Owen Ni (ATHENS, USA) a stratospheric, psyched-out house heater, fired up of aerial synthesizers, whisking off to beatific and unearthly sonic euphoria.

listen

VA – Sugar Crystal [SRT178]

Game Plan – Club Negotiations [BIENV004]

Game Plan is the meeting of Gabriel Rei and Gene Tellem. A longstanding friendship unfolded through mutual love for dance music and experience. ‘Club Negotiations’ arrives on Bienvenue Recordings as their first official studio collaboration. Three melodic and hypnotic compositions to help find your focus from the ecstatic nature of the party to the daily hustle of modern life.

listen

Game Plan – Club Negotiations [BIENV004]

Linkwood – Stereo LP [AOTNLP061]

Linkwood returns to AOTN in 2022 with Stereo, the follow up and part two, to his killer and hyper focussed LP Mono, which turned heads in 2021. All recorded live at the AOTN studio, he’s kept the essence of the first LP which worked so well, but moved it on in a much deeper direction. Fusing many of his influences, Boogie, Detroit and early 80’s synth joints to name a few, stereo has its own identity and showcases Linkwoods ability to write and produce on the fly but maintain that warm, fuzzy and intricate sound we all love him for.

listen

Linkwood – Stereo LP [AOTNLP061]

Rick Wade – Deeper Things EP [TYR011]

Rick Wade needs no introduction. The motor city’s own deep house legend has been releasing the best of deep since the mid-nineties on nearly every record label of note. TYR is proud to be one of those and bring you 4 tracks of this legendary output.

listen

Rick Wade – Deeper Things EP [TYR011]

Simoncino – Resurrection Part 2 [LAX154]

Simoncino is back again on Skylax with the volume 2 of the Resurrection series. The made in Perugia prodigy delivers once again 3 titles paying homage to the sound of Chicago, the fabulous triplet lost tape 1, 2 & 3. On A1, the aptly named Lost tape 1 us leads into the meanders of the jungle house in direct tribute to the great marshall Jefferson all sprinkled with some ”detroit” sauce, this peaktime track will delight the most humid and demanding dancefloors. Lost tape 2 is more airy with these sparkling bells and its bass that lifts your guts, mental we tell you ! A bit as if paris gray was remixed in a hovering dub version. On lost tape 3, it is clearly the quintessence of the spirit of simoncino, his genius. This way of creating a universe that is both a tribute to the original chicago house and the italian dream house straight from the 90s. Completely trippy. And cherry on the cake on B2, we have a remix of the now classic ”on the dancefloor”, a title created in collaboration with Merwyn Sanders from Virgo Four (Chicago), from Detroit legend : Marcellus Pittmann ! 9 mn of pure madness. The Detroit – Chicago axis has never been so obvious. A must. Comes out on clear vinyl. Note that on the label’s bandcamp, with the purchase of the vinyl, you can get 1 exclusive bonus track (& what a track !) : Simoncino & Merwyn Sanders of Virgo Four ”On The Dance Floor” (Marcellus Pittman smooth remix).

listen

Simoncino – Resurrection Part 2 [LAX154]

Theo Parrish – DJ Kicks: Detroit Forward [K7414LP]

Growing up in Chicago, later Detroit-based music producer, Theo Parrish is internationally well known for his own inimitable downtempo house music style. The approach Parrish took to compiling DJ-Kicks was very ambitious, inviting his Detroit peers to produce a collection of brand new material, and in turn creating the first ever all exclusive entry to the esteemed series. “Detroit creates. But rarely imitates. Why? We hear and see many from other places do that with what we originate. No need to follow. Get it straight. In the Great Lakes there are always more under the surface than those that appear to penetrate the top layer of attention and recognition. What about them that defy tradition? Those that side step the inaccurate definitions often given from outside positions? This is that evidence. Enjoy.”

vinyl / mixed CD

Theo Parrish – DJ Kicks: Detroit Forward [K7414LP]

Tom Carruthers – Programmed World LP [LIES190]

Hot off his debut for L.I.E.S. young music prodigy Tom Carruthers delivers a new 6 track LP of total Transmat worship. Jam packed with huge DX basslines, slamming 909s, and catchy melodies – this LP is made for the floor and would be hard pressed not to be thought of as a lost relic from ’89. Where as his last LP channeled more bleep elements, this one goes right to Detroit and moves the crowd as it should be…anthem after anthem.

listen

Tom Carruthers – Programmed World LP [LIES190]

Reggie Dokes – Universe Speaks [STILLT003]

With “Universe Speaks”, Reggie Dokes is at the helm of the third release for Still Techno. It is rare for Reggie to drop 4 deep techno tracks on one serving but here we are. All tracks featured on “Universe Speaks” are an ode to the dancefoor and Detroit, where melodies, jazz, percussions and real electronic music collide to create a new and subtile soundscape.

listen

Reggie Dokes – Universe Speaks [STILLT003]

Theo Parrish feat. Marcellus Pittman – Ooh Bass [SS088]

Theo Parrish and Marcellus Pittman’s collaborations run deep, from those seminal Essential Selections 12″s some 20 years ago through to the T.O.M Project with Omar S, the 3 Chairs super group and on and on. In the usual Sound Signature style, a new link-up between the two Detroit legends arrives with a minimum on fanfare, just a killer jam with all the grit and soul you’d hope for from this pair. The drum levels push and pull in the mix from red line pressure to back seat driving, while a mellow blur of soul sampling comes calling through the mist until the titular low end glues everything together. It’s understated and casual brilliance, everything a Sound Signature club drop should be.

listen

Theo Parrish feat. Marcellus Pittman – Ooh Bass [SS088]

Theo Parrish – It’s Out Of Your Control EP [SS087]

New Theo Parrish single appears on vinyl in the form of two mixes differing in vibe but consistent in quality and suitability for DJ use. The original rides along on a shuffling, almost Afrobeat version of house, with Maurissa Rose’s gorgeous vocal floating above the gloopy, hypnotic bassline which gets the full filter treatment. The instrumental dub places that b-line very much at the centre of the mix, starting from a single kickdrum before building up to a more techno-edged, vocal free climax. all throbbing bass, solid bears and minimal, glitchy keyboard interjections.

listen

Theo Parrish – It’s Out Of Your Control EP [SS087]