Simoncino – The Warrior Dances Remixes II [LAX-SE6]

Originally released early last decade, Simoncino’s four-part The Warrior Dance series boasted a mix of inspired original productions and superb remixes. This 12″ contains four of the best remixes, all of which first appeared between 2010 and 2012. Ron Trent’s EP-opening revision of ‘The Warrior Dance’ is little less than analogue deep house perfection – all sparse drum machine beats, bittersweet chords, sci-fi synth sounds and the producer’s usual emotive piano motifs – while Gene Hunt’s take on ‘Do It Again’ is hypnotic, bass-heavy and reminiscent of Larry Heard’s most bittersweet early works. Merwyn of Virgo Four drops two takes on ‘Mystery Girl’: a raw, analogue-rich deep house main mix, and a sparse, jacking and groove-based Dub.

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Simoncino – The Warrior Dances Remixes II [LAX-SE6]

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).

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Simoncino – Resurrection Part 2 [LAX154]

Virgo Four – Do You Know Who You Are? [TX175RED]

Every home should have this record from the 2 of the originators of deep House.  “Do You Know Who You Are?” EP from 1989 is as flawless as it gets, often imitated over the years but never, ever bettered. Every single track on this slab of wax is a classic. Virgo manage to reach right inside & take us somewhere on every cut while maintaining an otherworldly sense of melody & rhythm, some of the playing on this record is incredible & so accomplished, “In A Vision” for example still sounds like it’s beaming right at us from the future while “Take Me Higher” carries it’s stately, Reggae-like vibe along smoothly while retaining enough bounce to keep the floor locked in.

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Virgo Four – Do You Know Who You Are? [TX175RED]

Virgo – Virgo [TX2018002]

Released on TRAX in the golden year of 1989 Chicago’s Virgo aka friends Eric Lewis and Merwyn Sanders, gently pushed House music towards a more musically sophisticated realm that hadn’t been explored previously. Across 8 tracks Virgo took us on a deep exploration of sound that was both masterfully arranged and produced and in direct contrast to a lot of the rudimental and jacking drum tracks that were the flavour of the day. There are few debut albums in the electronic sphere that can claim the title of ‘classic’, but this is surely one of them. A defining turning point in dance music, the dawn of what would later be referred to as the ‘deep house’ movement and sound is all evident with the grooves of this legendary record. Often listed as one of the ‘greatest LP’s of all time’, this self-titled odyssey remains an essential, must have record that never loses it’s magic, flawless in every way and still trailblazing today.

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Virgo – Virgo [TX2018002]

The Power Plant Experience – The Power Plant EP [MATH073]

Mathematics Recordings presents a new classic deep house collaboration between former founding member of Virgo Four Merwyn Sanders and Italy’s prolific Simoncino. Emotive sounds of organic roots for the basement and bare bones sound systems. The 12″ also includes a remix from Kai Alce.

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The Power Plant Experience – The Power Plant EP [MATH073]

Merwyn / Inkswel – Cloud Eaters EP [HS003]

Hot Shot Sounds label with former Virgo Four producer Merwyn Sanders teaming up with Inkswel on a heavy hitting platter that has a pair of killer remixes tucked away on the B Side. Ultra cool funk drenched tracks, with remixes by Linkwood and Gifted & Blessed (aka GB). New label coming from the Peoples Potential Unlimited guys.

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Merwyn / Inkswel – Cloud Eaters EP [HS003]

Jason Grove – Late Night Connections #1 [LAXES001]

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Skylax presents a new sublabel Skylax Records Extra Series #1. The first release presents the wonderful work from house maestro Jason Grove with some of the most timeless artists from both Chicago & Detroit, featuring vocals & productions of the great Merwyn Sanders (formerly known as Virgo 4) & legendary undeground resistance member Niki Marks.

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Jason Grove – Late Night Connections #1 [LAXES001]

Virgo Four Merwyn – Where Are You EP [HOTMIX008]

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HotMix Records whit the eighth release, featuring a track by Merwyn Sanders of Virgo Four. The EP includes remixes by Nicholas, Max Essa and K&M.

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Virgo Four Merwyn – Where Are You EP [HOTMIX008]

Simoncino – The Warrior Dance #4 [LAX128]

SIMONCINO - The Warrior Dance #3 (Virgo Four & Gene Hunt Remixes) (Front Cover)

Skylax is back with ‘Warrior Dance IV’, featuring some Chicago proto – house jackin’ heaven tracks. The A side has three the Chicago tracks from the hand of Simoncino called “It’s hot”, “Movida” & “Ore nove nove”. On the B side,there’s three great remixes. Two from the legendary Merwyn Sanders from Virgo Four fame & another one from another Chicago legend Gene Hunt.

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Simoncino – The Warrior Dance #4 [LAX128]

Virgo Four – Lites Go Out / Boing (Remixes) [BHVIRGO002LTD]

Alternative mixes taking Virgo Four into darker / more experimental territory. Capracara and his studio pal, Scott Fraser, turn in a 100% replayed version of the much sort after ‘Lites Go Out ’. On the flip, Jamal Moss steps into his Hieroglyphic Being guise and kicks out a brilliant reworking of ‘Boing’.

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Virgo Four – Lites Go Out / Boing (Remixes) [BHVIRGO002LTD]

Virgo Four – It’s a Crime (Caribou & Hunee Remixes) [RH11312]

‘It’s A Crime’ is taken from Virgo Four’s recently released ‘Resurrection’ album, which is now available as a single with remixes from none other than Caribou and Hunee.

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Virgo Four – It’s a Crime (Caribou & Hunee Remixes) [RH11312]

Virgo Four – Resurrection [RH113CD]

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“Resurrection” is the follow up to the reissue of Virgo (Four)’s S/T album, which was released by Rush Hour in 2010. This album is a collection of unreleased tracks that were produced over a 6 year period between 1984 and 1990 in various home studios around Chicago. These tracks were selected from 100’s of 4-track tapes that had been untouched and unreleased all these years due to local record business politics and disinterest. These demo recordings have been restored and mastered for release. The CD release holds 15 tracks, while the limited edition vinyl box set contains another 15 tracks, totaling a cool 30 tracks.
“Resurrection” really shows the rich, diverse and unique quality of Virgo Four, which leaves you wondering what impact they would have made on the (Chicago) house scene if they would have gotten released back in the day.

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Virgo Four – Resurrection [RH113CD]