First release on the vinyl only Label Topic Drift comes from Halvtrak. This 4 track EP got some detroit house influences and easy going chill out vibes on B1.
detroit house
Marcellus Pittman – Sneak Attack / Random Acts of Insanity [UNI1003]
Amid whispers of a new album from Unirhythm boss and Three Chairs stalwart Marcellus Pittman, two tracks from his excellent debut LP Pieces finally get committed to wax. It’s a shame Pieces never got a vinyl release, but the chance to grip “Sneak Attack” and “Random Acts Of Insanity” on 12″ should not be passed up. This 12″ was actually released in ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ white label format in 2014, but finally gets a proper issue! For those that don’t have the LP, “Sneak Attack” is a curious concoction, with Syclops style electronics occasionally flowering over deep, dusty, intricately programmed rhythms. “Random Acts Of Insanity” feels a little bolder in approach, though its’ rich chords and odd, off-kilter rhythm track are contrasted with some notably bonkers electronic touches.
Scott Ferguson – Tribute To My Twenty Something Year Old Self: Part 2 [FPR044]
The Second release in a series of 12′ records from Scott Ferguson. House Tracks that were recorded in Detroit during the Late 90’s early/realy 2000. Previously Unreleased until now.
Mike Huckaby – My Life With The Wave Vol 2 [SYNTH005]
Way back in 2007, Mike Huckaby released an EP that joined the dots between Detroit deep house and dub techno all made exclusively on his Waldorf Wave synthesizer. Some nine years on, he’s finally got around to releasing a follow-up. My Life With The Wave Volume 2 eschews the dub techno influences of old, instead focusing on the fluid, rich, soul-flecked Motor City deep house he does so well. He begins with the looped, minor key melodies and strutting grooves of “Let The Dancer Do His Thing”, before increasing the rhythmic intensity via the cymbal-heavy waviness of “Phuture”. Flip for the sun-kissed breeziness of “Baseline 313” – all repetitive electric piano motifs, handclap-heavy percussion and tribal vocal samples – and the fluttering, picturesque deepness of “Another Fantasy”.
OB Ignitt – 8 [OBONIT005]
OB’s onit! Two on-point Detroit nailers. Solid grooving wild-pitch style tracks by OB Ognitt with a Omar-S vibe to it. This will go straight in the box and it will stay there for some time.
STL – Amplified Bleep Package EP [PHONICAWHITE014]
STL has been a firm favourite of Phonica Records ever since his first releases surfaced in the early 2000s. Although he is highly revered within the underground scene, he’s always kept a low profile and consistently pursued his own blend of boundary pushing abstract and experimental House & Techno. The two tracks on ‘The Amplified Bleep Package’ EP marks his first contribution to Phonica’s white label series.
Byron the Aquarius – Highlife EP [SS060]
Sound Signature’s latest missive comes from Byron The Aquarius, a former Onra collaborator best known for his dusty trips into MPC beat-making territory. Here, the Atlanta-based producer successfully turns his hand to dusty, soul-flecked deep house, peppering the bumpin’ groove of “Aquarian Voyage” with a toasty bassline and twinkling Rhodes motifs. It’s the kind of hazy, jazz-flecked deep house that Sound Signature has always done better than almost anyone else. Flipside “Run Sa”, featuring the fluid and intoxicating playing of drummer Dmitri Walker, is even better, with warm chords draping themselves over snappy snares, hissing cymbals and killer fills.
Reggie Dokes – Afro Sci Fi [POEM002]
The second release on People of Earth is from another Detroit native that calls Atlanta home, Mr. Reggie Dokes. The Psychostasia Boss is back with his trademark jazzy, soulful house tracks that blend techno and house in a way that only Reggie can. Straight dance floor heat.
Kyle Hall – From Joy [WO018K]
Wild Oats presents the triple LP entitled From Joy by Kyle Hall. The title is derived from the idea of finding a way to live life in a state of presence; detaching oneself from the mental, self imposed narratives echoed by society’s traditions and judgement. We as people tend to be at our most honest and present in our childhood, so in some ways From Joy serves as a mechanism and reminder to return to one’s youthful energetic state. The 8- track album, all produced before 2010, is a homage to where Kyle lived at the time in his father’s basement on the westside of Detroit on Joy Rd.
OB Ignitt / Luke Hess – Star Gazing [OBONIT004]
Considering the spacey title, artwork and long-standing Detroit credentials of both Luke Hess and Omar-S collaborator Ob Ignitt, you’d expect these two tracks to be on the intergalactic side. The duo kicks things off with “Jefferson Reserve”, a tactile, floor-friendly chunk of energetic deep house blessed with classic electrofunk bass, deep space pads, and the kind of glistening, far-out synthesizer melodies you’d expect to hear the Cantina Band play in one of the Star Wars movies. They move further towards techno territory on flipside “Calm of Night”, where warring lasers fizz between the speakers whilst progressive house-influenced chords and rhythms propel the track forwards at the speed of light.
Shanti Celeste / Funkineven – SSS [APRON020]
In recent times, Bristol’s Shanti Celeste has proved more than adept at blending tough, body-popping electro beats with picturesque electronics and luscious, eyes-closed melodies. She’s at it again here, following up two excellent outings on Future Times with the brilliant “SSS”. Expect just the right blend of tactile, eyes-closed melodiousness, snappy drum machine work, and a fluid bassline that subtly doffs a cap to Syclops’ “Where’s Jason’s K”. Apron boss Funkineven offers his own interpretation on the flip, bringing it closer to early 808 State territory, while adding some neat, boogie-influenced synth touches and saucer-eyed piano flourishes.
Fred P – Rawax Aira Series Vol.3 [AIRA003]
Fred P aka Black Jazz Consortium’s musical set phrase isn’t following new trends. Fred is often simply melting shuffling percussions with elementary melodies. but he does it in a sense that the heavy used and abused phrase ”deepness” finally gets a fresh truthfully new meaning.
Leonid – Otherworld [ELEVE006]
Eleve welcomes Leonid into the family with Otherworld EP. He brings a three-track EP whose amazing sound and percussion, trademark basslines and detroitish leads and pads promise to transport many dancers to other worlds. A side starts with ‘Xana’, an esoteric house excursion with a mechanical edge. Next track is ‘Púca’, in the spirit of his deepest previous work with a characteristic syncopated bassline. B side long track is ‘Embarr’, an adventurous imagination trip across the sea; classic Leonid elements such relentless percussion and heavy bassline meets acid elements to create a one-way ticket to universal sub-conscience.
Santiago Salazar – Chicanismo [LWYFLP001]
It’s been a decade since Underground Resistance affiliate Santiago Salazar made his debut on Los Hermanos. Surprisingly, this double pack represents his first attempt releasing an album, though whether Chicanismo was intended to be a ‘proper’ full length is a moot point. There’s certainly plenty to enjoy, with Salazar melding his usual influences – deep house, Detroit techno, tech-house, Latin rhythms and dreamy, rave-era, breakbeat driven grooves – into a range of attractive, floor-friendly cuts. There’s naturally much to enjoy throughout, from the title track’s Motor City beats, heavy bass and swirling pads, to the bumpin’ tribal rhythms and mangled tropical bird noises of ”UKB to LAX”.
Orson Wells – A Connection [777005]
Transcend into the next season and connect with Orson Wells! As always 777 s vinyl only releases come in silk-screen printed covers and lots of love.
Scott Grooves – Parts Manager (First Four) [NM008]
New Scott Grooves 12inch on Natural Midi representing the first four parts of the Scott Grooves sound – Basic Part, Synth Part, Jamaican Part, and the Gritty Part. Even though all four tunes differ from each other, they all have Scotts unmistakable groove.
VA – Seven of Nine [LACK007]
A record for dancer and lover and a beauticut through all aspects of dancemusic . The rave must go on.
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.
Unknown – 313 / 212 [EE313/212]
Two warm and deep analog Detroit & Chicago tracks… Word on the street is these were produced in the late eighties and never released before.
The Hipodrome Of Music 