Detroit’s Walt J has undoubtedly become a legend of the house/techno scene since his first release in 1995 on Vigilante Records. After 17 years of absence, M. Jones is back and chose parisian imprint Unlearn to share his unique style with the world. This EP sets another step to the unlearn foundation, underlying the founders thirst for eclecticism in electronic music.
Considering the combined talents of Detroit veteran Terrence Dixon and Black Jazz Consortium man Fred P, you’d expect this split EP for Finale Sessions to be a lesson in warm, soul-flecked depth. Pleasingly, that’s exactly what it delivers. Dixon excels with the sub-sporting alien futurism of “To The Bridge” – the aural equivalent of staring into space while dancing to electronic jazz – and the sumptuous, minor key bliss of the casual deep house jam “Starting Over”. Fred P, meanwhile, delivers two contrasting cuts. There’s some acid-fuelled deep house futurism in the shape of “Circuit”, and a chunk of bongo-laden dancefloor humidity in “The Road”, whose rising strings and sweet melodies are arguably the highlight of a superb EP.
Two tantric dancefloor jams marks the return of Theo Parrish to his spiritual home and life’s work Sound Signature. Building on the same rhythmical territory as the recent 12” for The Trilogy Tapes/Palace/SS.
With Landed marking one of the recent high points in an illustrious career for Detroit producer Norm Talley, the man himself returns to Landed to examine lead track “Travlin” with a pair of revisions that showcase different outcomes with the confines of slender, refined deep house. “Part 1” takes a dubby path, anchored by a hypnotic chord pattern while the beat ticks away in an unfussy manner. “Part 2” is the more sublime turn though, paring things down even more with a thoroughly minimal set of drums and a wonderfully hypnotic melodic tone undulating throughout. For a classy set of stripped down house shakers, look no further.
Given the “contemporary classic” status of Danilo Plessow’s Raw Cuts series – arguably a string of 12″ singles that helped redefine deep house for a new generation – the announcement of a surprise remix 12″ is enough to make even the most level-headed DJs go weak at the knees. Pleasingly, said remixers more than live up to the hype. Marcellus Pittman’s version – smooth and deep, but with enough raw disco cut-ups and wonky Detroit swing to impress those who like it raw – is particularly good, though Mike Huckaby’s locked-in deep house groover is not far behind. There’s also a superb version from Recloose, whose crackly, shuffling beats, sweeping pads and soulful vocal samples recall his earliest productions for Planet E.
“Straight from the Mahogani Music camp, Joy Of Sound are back with another deep detroit vocal house single that includes mixes by Black Boxx & Scott Ferguson…”
Stunning tracks by Monty Luke on his own Black Catalogue label. Beautiful emotive tracks about the streets of Detroit. Beauty and unexpected danger.
FXHE return with the master of the mysterious OB Ignitt! Arriving roughly a year on from the last slab of Ignitt goodness, Mysterious finds OB on imperious form, once more showing off his penchant for excellent track titles and singular slant on bumping Detroit business. The title track is a veritable epic of unquantifiable emotive stakes, emerging from a heat treated fog and easing into a subtle yet beguiling rhythmic framework which coaxes you into a spell that grows stronger as the track charges electrically forth. Face down, “Celestial Salacious” has that same rough edged bass line growl to it, but the skipping percussion and building layers of instrumentation give the track real energy, whilst you can almost feel the funk dripping off final track “Chocolate City”.
Big Strick and Generation Next have come together to bring us three tracks that are made for the dance floor. ‘Rain Dance’ by Big Strick is the first song off of the new EP. It definitely has various aspects of deep house and soul of a Detroit native. The next song is ‘And You Too’ by Generation Next. This is a groove where you can get up and dance as well as casually listen. The bass makes you move and it is accompanied by a simple yet affective drum pattern. The last track is titled ‘Like Father, Like Son’ – Generation Next and Big Strick collaborate to bring us a melodic dance tune. This track will be played in clubs around the world. Simple chords, groovy baseline and knocking drums.
The ever-loving team at Still Music present yet another unmissable selection of East side beats, this time shifting focus from Chicago to Detroit to shine the light on some of the less celebrated talents operating in the city. There is boundless quality at every turn here, from the jazzed out tones of Craig Huckaby to the raw chemistry of Marcellus Pittman. Terrence Dixon does an excellent demonstration of wormhole techno with “The Fall Guy (Part 1)”, and DJ 3000 brings a demonic brand of slow-chugging house to the table. Alex Israel also reminds everyone that he truly is one of the most slept-on gems the Motor City has to offer, so get busy and connect with this utterly essential selection.
Fly by Night Music present the next release from Italian producer Giorgio Luceri. Giorgio delivers two sumptuous house tracks here with completely opposite dispositions, the breezin’ Balearic bliss of Prophetic Vibes versus the dark Detroitian dissonance of Woman. Woman, with thudding drums and deep subs setting the picture right away. Warbling synth begin to layer before the crescendo begins with fat analog stabs, rushing synth pads and airy groans. Lastly Kai Alce remixes of Woman. Simple but effective KZR delivers a retro house groove fitted out with lo-fi samples and old school sequenced MPC drum.
The last time a newcomer graced Theo Parrish’s Sound Signature, it resulted in widespread praise for the Flowers EP from London based producer, DJ and singer Andrew Ashong, somehow we get the feeling this latest release on the label will prove to be as memorable. The Scorpio Rising EP sees Parrish look much closer to home and grant the DC-born, Detroit-bred producer Jay Daniel his debut release and the four track 12″ more than lives up to his billing as one of Boiler Room’s most exciting new discoveries at DEMF. Wild Oats obsessives will probably know Daniel from the Fundamentals residency shared with Kyle Hall and he’s clearly spent some time honing his Detroit influenced craft, with cuts like “No Love Lost” expertly balanced between melody and rugged drum grit. “Brainz” is the kind of no-nonsense DJ tool you might have heard on a FXHE B Side circa 2008 whilst “I Have No Name” demonstrates Daniel is eminently capable of the sort of hope inducing Utopian house from the D that the much missed Aaron Carl was renowned for.
Berlin-based producer Palms Trax offers up the inaugural release for new imprint Lobster Theremin with three slices of Detroit and Chicago-inspired house. Palms Trax and label chief Jimmy Asquith first met at London club night Streets Of Beige, forming a partnership based on a shared affinity for vintage US sounds, analogue workouts, and rough-edged intersections of house and techno. What began as an experiment in pad-driven Detroit workouts soon became Palms Trax’ calling card, the young producer building valve-heated, dust-treated slabs of house in his home studio, shot through with melodic synths and smooth, undulating drum patterns. Cheeky, groove-heavy “Late Jam”, referencing the randier sides of Miami boogie and glitter funk, “Equation”, an original Detroit cut, and “Houses In Motion”, a percussive, balearic-tinged jam, comprise the EP’s three original tracks. Willie Burns turns in a spacey remix of the EP’s opener that hits like an early 80’s drum jam, flipping between off-kilter, warped synths and stripped-down, hammering Chicago house.
Leonid delivering some real deep house gems! Amazing warm & subtle groovy tracks with a techy edge and some distant Detroit echo’s… pure bliss. Maybe not peak time tracks but very well suited for building up tension, or for the early after hours… when the sun rises again.
Remixes from Rick Wilhite’s Vibes compilation on Rush Hour, with Andres & Ricardo Miranda stepping up and delivering.
The Hipodrome Of Music 