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’.
Twenty-five years after the first release, and ten years since the Paradise Original has gone out of print, Expanded Music and Manuel Goettsching have therefore decided to release this unique tune once again. Derrick May remix included.
Sam Shepherd has long been a master of the kind of ultra-deep, rolling, soft focus deep house that raises the spirits and soothes the soul. Even so, there’s something incredibly special about “Nuits Sonores”, the lead track from this EP. Based around a deep, tactile groove and blessed with rising synth solos, dancing acid lines and his usual fireside Rhodes antics, the track rises magnificently for 12 spellbinding minutes. As it progresses, further elements make their way into the mix, until it reaches the kind of organic deep house climax that makes even the grumpiest souls go weak at the knees. Flip for “Nectarines”, the kind of loose-limbed fusion of deep house sassiness, Detroit techno electronics and fluid jazz drumming at which Shepherd has always excelled.
Few projects in electronic music have remained at the very cutting edge for as long as Reagenz, a collaboration between San Francisco based Jonah Sharp aka Spacetime Continuum and Heidelberg based David Moufang aka Move D. Twenty years after their first project, comes The Periodic Table, a stunning live album captured at The Bunkers tenth anniversary party at Public Assembly, Brooklyn, January 2013. The Periodic Table incorporates elements of house, techno and ambient in an organic flow that few artists could replicate.
Long established Detroit talent Keith Worthy traverses a fine line between deep, bumpy house and raw techno on his debut double album, The Price of Non Conformance. A conceptual project that takes you on a virtual walk through the streets of Detroit. From a musical standpoint, the sound and feel of T.P.O.N.C. aligns with Worthy’s own DNA, a complex blend of house and techno, and all while incorporating a degree of fantasy into every composition.
Given that this is the first album from the great Theo Parrish since 2007, it’s unsurprising interest in American Intelligence has rocketed over the course of the year as Sound Signature left a trail of hints. American Intelligence is a fine album; deep and woozy in parts, undeniably soulful, shot through with jazz influences and full to bursting with killer cuts. By now, everyone should know the brilliant “Footwork” single; soon, clubs will swing to the off-kilter dancefloor jazz of “Make No War”, the 21st century broken house of the epic “Fallen Funk” and the decidedly odd – but brilliant – “Helmut Lampshade”.
Wild Oats is proud to present the latest release from London artist K15. K15’s music always radiates soul and promise. He has been in the music scene in London for a while, but is a bit of an unsung hero in our eyes. His skill of mixing genres is unmatched. Pulling from different influences regardless of genre or era is what gives his music its distinct style. “Insecurities” is K15’s debut on Wild Oats; a 5-track EP with sampled dancefloor classics, re-works, and original music.
It’s been some 10 months since the last release from the Austere imprint. Here, the label re-boots with a split EP featuring a variety of sinewy deep house gems. There’s something particularly delicious about Gradul Lashton’s “Summer Solace”, a sweet mixture of darting acid lines, jaunty rhythms and dreamy melodies. Fat Dog’s “All That I Own” is a fluid, bluesy delight – with a little dubbiness about the drums, naturally – while Life Recorder’s “From Above” sounds like a long lost Detroit techno classic – all stargazing pads, intergalactic synth bass and relentless cymbals. Best of all, though, is Arnheim’s “Late Night In The Loft”, a bittersweet fusion of mournful pianos and shuffling, ultra-deep grooves.
A long and distinguished recording career for the always faithful Norm Talley has been lacking something Tsuba shapes until now, so kudos to Kev Griffiths for coaxing three drops of powerfully deep and danceable house from the Westside Detroiter. Each track here offers a different mood with A-side cut “Mid-Nite Madd-Ness” the peak time burner with classically Detroit house styled cymbal clashes cuing breakdowns, while vamping chords ascend and descend. “Holiday” is the warmer summer house jam with woozy Rhodes on loop, while “One Track Mind” is deep and rhythmic with a sultry vocal to boot.
To the uninitiated, Zennor is Bristol pair Andy Mac and Peverelist and on the basis of this debut release for The Trilogy Tapes, it looks to be an opportunity for them to approach the form of club music from a straighter angle. Indeed, there is certainly a less complicated feel to the three tracks here and it’s no bad thing, with a certain Newworldaquarium charm to the manner in which lead cut “Never In Doubt” gracefully covers the A side. The slippery broken beats which surface deep into the production’s duration are perhaps the one concession to current Bristol dynamics. There are hints of Detroit in the chords and keys of “Storms” whilst the brief, twisting “Tin” is perhaps the closest thing to Livity Sound here.
Rawax welcomes Mr. Rick Wade back on Housewax. The Detroit Master delivers again 4 great tracks for our sublabel. Four slices of Detroit House music in the wellknown deep sultry Rick Wade vibe.
Experimental house and techno producer Community Corporation joins the Argot family. Predictably, pinning down the sound of Aquifier is tricky. Contrast, for example, the dub-influenced deep house looseness of “Sunken Water Table” – all tumbling keys and strange noises – with the clanking rhythms, mutant bass and ghetto-tech inspired swing of “Crystalis”. “Patent Lies” and the more Detroit-influenced “Subterranean Limestone”, meanwhile, sound like a tougher, more out-there take on the heady sound of the Mood Hut and Future Times camps.
The fourth installment of the classics series features two of the label’s most successful artists Kenny Dixon Jr. and Rick Wade. KDJ’s untitled tracks were previously issued as a limited pressing so here’s your chance to get one if you missed out the first time. Longtime and well respected deep house soldier Rick Wade is featured on the flip side with two classic deep house offerings from his first appearance on Moods & Grooves.
The second to last Black Boxx EP serves up a heavy 808 dance floor crusher on the entire A side, flip the record over for 2 more heavy, and melodic tracks unique to the Black Boxx sound.
Generation Next aka Tre Strickland – son of Omar-S associate Big Strick – has impressed since first joining forces with his dad on 2011’s Like Father, Like Son LP. Here he proves his continued development as a producer with an excellent collection of warm, deep, soul-flecked house cuts for Strickland family imprint 7 Days Entertainment. As you’d expect, highlights are plentiful, from the skittering machine drums, dreamy chords and occasional organs of “Vanilla Sky”, to the tech-tinged simplicity of the melodious-but-tough “Chilli Cheese Fries”. Best of all, though, is the blazed beatdown feel of “The Tomorrow People”, a hazy saunter through rich chords, shuffling percussion and snaking electronics.
A nice selection of previously unreleased tracks from the studio of Scott Grooves, including ‘Movin’ On’ – the first vocal track Scott has released in the past 10 years!
The first release from the Future Reactions label. Top notch Detroit late night house music by Norm Talley, Rick Wade, Satore and Cris J.
Altered Moods Recordings prepares its 28th release, “Our Ways” by Birmingham, UK producers LAAK. The release features four deep, melodic house tracks for your listening pleasure.
The Hipodrome Of Music 