quête:dj raw

Inner City Records returns with their fourth release, continuing with the ethos of providing first class, dance floor-driven house music with groove and attitude.
InnerCity welcomes the return of an artist who has been there from the very first release and one that fits the InnerCity sound perfectly. Leigh D Oliver, hailing from Yorkshire (UK) has firmly established himself as an artist synonymous with top-notch house music. Leigh's passion for 'proper house' coupled with his raw talent has resulted in him gaining numerous chart positions and releases on prestigious labels such as Large Music, Underground Source and Freche Fruchte.
With its heavy kick, rumbling bass, smooth chords and sweet vocal hooks, '(Sic)' kicks off the release in absolute style, highlighting why Leigh is one of our absolute favourite producers here at InnerCity.
For the second track, Leigh returns, this time combining forces with Lost Records owner Andy Lee. With two producers of this caliber, the results were always going to be excellent. Andy, from the North East (UK) has seen releases and remixes on labels such as Love Not Money, Spinnin' Records, Nervous Records and his DJ career has taken him worldwide, playing gigs in Moscow, Switzerland, Ibiza and beyond. 'Moves Ya' is a first class slab of deep & moody house that does exactly what it says on the tin. A track teaming with deep chord hooks, clever vocal samples and low bass, Moves Ya is perfect for the darker, sweatier clubs.
Next up, InnerCity's very own Roland Nights brings us 'Let It Rain', a dance-floor driven slab of straight-up house with jacking percussion, warm chords and soulful vocal cuts. 'Let It Rain' showcases Roland's passion for classic-sounding house music which has seen previous releases on labels such as Lost My Dog, Large Music and Amenti Music.
Last but by no means least, we head over to the Ukraine, gladly welcoming Mystep who lays down an absolute beast of a house track that is filled with energy, classic sounding chords and rolling bass, guaranteed to work on any floor.

DJ Support:

Golf Clap
Miami Ice
Kinky Movement
Ian Straker
Joan Ribas
Jordan O'Regan
Luke Gibson
Jeff Craven
Cahul House Mafia
This Is Why We Dance
Manooz Manuel
Greg Fenton
Raw Culture
Horsey
Marc Cotterell
Pete Gelderblom
Carlo Gambino
Leigh D Oliver

Poker Flat Recordings has been dealing out underground house music with a unique twist since 1999; from the defining debut 'Loverboy' through the Bugnology series, acclaimed albums and worldwide club hits, Steve Bug's essential imprint has unearthed new talent, developed rising stars and welcomed veterans into the fold. Steve Bug's reputation as an exceptionally gifted DJ, producer and music connoisseur is about to carry the beloved imprint to its 15th anniversary, which will be celebrated with its finest collection of raw talent yet, starting with this first installment of the anniversary series called 4 Jacks. Following the winning format of the series thus far, Part 3 boasts two slamming new remixes of classics from the vault, and two brand spanking new tracks from Poker Flat's stellar roster. Argy's 'Love Dose' of 2005 marked the debut of one of the scene's most fascinating newcomers, and defined the sound of minimal courtesy of an unforgettable remix by Luciano; now getting a 2014 update, the track has been taken to by the talented duo Audiofly, who makeover its identity with their signature sleek deep tech style. Two heavyweights go up against each other next, as Joeski tackles the Martin Landsky classic 'Reject

Adonis' comically named "Endless Pokers" project is no joke, in fact, this is some serious Chicago ACID House!

Originally released in 1987 and featuring Adonis' trademark staccato drum machine rhythms, creeping acid lines and cowbells "The Poke" is a classic (Watch out for those vocal stabs too!).

All 3 mixes featured on this 12" bring something new to the table, twisting and turning that acid line into a frenzied buzz. This is pure old school business, Chicago style! Raw, simple box jams of the highest order! A definite essential, a record like this in the right hands can produce some devastating effects and still sounds incredibly fresh today.

Re-mastered, re-pressed and brought to you in conjunction with DJ International Records.

Poker Flat is gearing up to celebrate fifteen years strong, with a series of releases that will assure their standing as one of electronic music's best known and most loved imprints. Poker Flat's unwavering dedication to the finest underground house music has unearthed new talent, developed rising stars and welcomed veterans into the fold, and the first of the label's 15th anniversary compilations brings together four of the brightest leading lights of the scene. With four seminal labels - Raw Elements, Dessous, Traffic Signs and Poker Flat - to his credit, Steve Bug has little to prove, but the tireless artist has never been a slouch on the DJ and production front, as he's proven time and again. Tracks like 'A Shot In The Dark' showcased his musical chops, and tied together elements of classic warehouse sounds, deep and sophisticated production and an uncompromising techy edge. The anniversary reworking of the tracks made for 4 Jacks boasts the remix talents of Taylor, whose sleek approach chops up the old school piano chords of the original for a bumping, more streamlined result. Another smashing new remix features in the form of Boris Dlugosch's 2012 acid-disco-house hit 'Sweet Talk". Here The Organ Grinder crafts a bass-heavy monster with a walloping kick drum and syncopated handclaps that enhance Boris' acid melodies and make it rough and ready for underground tastes. Two brand new productions round out the Jacks package.

Raw District is Belgian duo Vernon Bara and Massimo DaCosta, Under the Vernon&DaCosta moniker, they have released music on labels such as OM Records, AMA Rec, Robsoul, Aroma, OFF, Icon, Doubledown and many more of the world's finest underground house labels.

They have remixed artists such as Brett Johnson, Fred Everything, Style of Eye, Miguel Migs and JT Donaldson and have garnered a reputation as important international producers and DJs with respect paid by great DJs like Luciano, Ricardo Villalobos, Jamie Jones, Mark Farina and DJ Sneak.

Vernon Bara also makes music as Ultrasone alongside Igor Vicente, which is a more techno orientated project that can count releases on Hot Creation and Supplement Facts to its name.

Ladybird is well known for being the singer of Soldiers Of Twilight and vocalist on one of the most famous Llorca's song My Precious Thing among the tons of project she been working for, One of the best, if not the best, soulful singer in Paris,
And now they can add to their resume that there are the very first new release on the briquerouge reboot, Orchestrated by David Duriez himself, the label is back for a new series of releases and reworks from the back catalogue with brand new top names added to the roster.

On this release you can enjoy top remix works by the likes of Nacho Marco (Ovum / Loudeast / Saw) and the head honcho David Duriez (2020Vision / Ovum / Classic) both on the acid side but in a very different way, A very complete package for the deep house heads as well as proper house djs.
DJ SUPPORT:

Detroit Swindle
Richy Ahmed
Jamie Anderson
Kiko Navarro
Chilli Davis
Inland Knights
Spencer Broughton
Orde Meikle Slam
Jozif
Bryan Zents
Flash Brothers
DJ T
Dubfire
nathan detroit
Hernan Cattaneo
Snooba
Tristan da Cunha basics, redux , 2020
Julian M
Florian Meindl
Sleazy Mcqueen
Dan Ghenacia
Chris Fortier
Jussu Pekka
Peter Gelderblom
Phonogenic
The Henchmen
Nuno Dos Santos
Tiger Stripes
Agoria
Timo Garcia
Ekkohaus

New York City, USA, 2014. A community filled with amazing shit and amazingly fucked up shit. This Yin Yang is an ever-present part of life, and it is this contradiction that Isaac Basker seeks to take on with Swishin' & Dishin,' his sophomore release on Play It Say What Records.

On A1, 'Swishin' & Dishin',' Isaac references NYC basketball legend, Walt 'Clyde' Frazier to define the city's Yin. Starting off like a certified banger; a simple 'bleep' blasts the track over a thumping kick and rhythmic percussion, as if attacked by a penetrating crossover dribble. Yet Isaac then drops his trademark melodic chords to turn the track into an authentic deep house groove.


With A2 Plan B Recordings boss DJ Spider provides his latest remix for Isaac, helming 'Swishin' & Dishin' (DJ Spider Mix).' The original is then obliterated into his classic raw, deep sound. Hard kicks, obscure female vocals, hats and snares form the basis of the track as we then get slowed chords to tease us until deeper sounds and syncopated percussion elevate the listeners mood before bringing the track back to the remix's original rawness.


B1, 'Slumlord Billionaires (5Pointz Of Light Mix),' Swishin' & Dishin's most dance floor friendly track, takes on the Yang of the city, using the to be demolished graffiti mecca 5Pointz as a point of reference. Yet, this is an uplifting build up banger of a track emphasizing human resilience in the face of doom. Booming drums start the song off until a single fluttering melodic chord drops. Then syncopated claps, and vocal hits arrive challenging 'the powers that be' to further enhance the song's call for dance floor resistance.



Then there is 'American't.' With B2 Isaac, takes dark analog keys and syncopated techno sensibilities over a simple eerie baseline to further emphasize the Yang. A manipulated vocal later emphasizes this further and another layer of angry, reflective keys drive the operatic finale of this definite New York release.

This ep is brought to you by serbian dj and producer Dejan Milicevic and is a reflection of a long period of music consumption and numerous attempts to find the right kick drum. The obvious clash between nu school in terms of editing and old school in terms of sample choice will make you dance with a tiny nostalgia as if you were a clubber back then. The sound of Roland 303, 808, 909 for sure will take you where it all began with an extra touch of sophisticated production width and a cracky neve on top of it. The tracks aligned tell the story of true and raw chicago influenced dance floor slammer and be sure to check all 3 tracks in your next dj set to see what happens with the crowd below. Stay tuned for more to come in the close future.

RAWAX proudly welcomes Mr. Gari Romalis to the family!

Gari Romalis is at the forefront on the techno scene in Detroit, working with labels such as Tresor, Soma Records, Terrence Parker's Intangible label, Mike Banks' Happy Soul Records, Reggie Dokes' Psychostasia label and Cliff Thomas' D-Bass Records.

Gari has been djing for over 30 years and has played at Detroit's most infamous underground club, the "Music Institute", along with traveling overseas spinning at Tresor in Germany.

Gari has worked for Transmat Records as well as managing Detroit's famous Buy Rite Records. Gari is single handedly responsible for training and influencing some of Detroit's most famous DJ's and producers. Gari heads also the Butch Strange Group, LLC, which houses several labels under his direction. He's back in 2012 with 'The Last Man Satnding EP'.

Phil Weeks teams up with Soldiers Of Twilight vocalist Ladybird on his new track Natural High, a deep and soulful house track laden with warm chords and Weeks' trademark MPC beats. Released on vinyl and digital formats through Robsoul Recordings on 14th February, the single comes with three alternate versions - the Unplugged version removes the beats and bass providing a tool on which Ladybird's vocals shine, the Baby Dub takes things into heads down territory, and the Higher Mix reintroduced the vocal.View the video of Phil Weeks and Ladybird performing Natural High in the studio:http://youtu.be/x1YulPP-EqM

Songwriter and vocalist Ladybird is best known for her work as part of Soldiers of Twilight, who released numbers records via 2020 Vision and Serial Records. Her own self-titled album can be found on Peng, while other collaborations, most notably alongside Llorca, DJ Rork and DJ Le Roi, have appeared on F Communications, Distance and Foliage.Since 2000 Phil Weeks has released his unique brand of house music on some of the world's leading underground labels including 2020 Vision, Music For Freaks, Brique Rouge, Magnetic, Detour, Adult Only and his own Robsoul, which is responsible for the majority of his original output. Robsoul has released his three critically acclaimed albums - Love Affair, Raw Instrumental and Yeah, I Like That. 2013 has been one of Phil's busiest years so far, with the release of the three-volumed Crate Diggin compilation, original music for Supplement Facts and Robsoul, and remixes for Saved, Cajual, Snatch!, Homecoming and Bass Culture. 2014 looks set to be even bigger!

Struments Records opens 2014 presenting ''Fire to the Empire'', third record in 12'' format from this Barcelona label. Following the special dedication referred to the local talent shown by the label in its two previous releases, in this occasion the reference is signed by Clip!, relevant artist in the Spanish electronic scene that, after a versatile and prolific 2013, shows in this publication a new coordinate of their chameleonic sound. Thereby opening the door to more visceral coordinates, opaque and less intense dance that exudes less kindness and infects the club atmosphere with light and dark. The set, consisting of three original songs (Fire, Ash and Bitch), and a remix of ''Ash'' by the British artist Kommune1, discovers on side A two descriptive and powerful snapshots of translucent clubber atmosphere, winding and unfiltered. Proper of the dance hours closer to twilight in the shadows and lights mergers into sensations. While on the B side, the artists pays tribute to the most evasive and escapist concept that music can evoke, forged between the rage of techno and the subtlety of house, when instinct takes control over any convention and presents itself as a purely physical experience between the listener and the sound. Closing the total minutes of the reference, Kommune1 prints cosmic and expansive notes to ''Ash'', as well as he brightens the original version. ''Fire'', the central tune that starts and gives name to this third reference of Struments Records responds to six minutes that shapes a direct and powerful presentation letter. In which you can acknowledge progressive melodic phases and raw vocals that serve as a growing force of initial contact. ''Ash'' continues the incursion between hard and chiaroscuro dynamic, printing analog rhythm coordinations. ''Bitch'' represents the exact balance and highlight of ''Fire Your Empire'' EP, sobriety in enviromental nuances, vocal flare and power high-flying shape a depth completely orientated to the dance floor that condenses much intention in a speech coherently aligned with the sound. Kommune1 sets ''Ash'' with an eye towards fantasy and space, using resources in the original maximalist melodies and rhythmic accelerating phases provide the remix to get faster.


DJ Support:

Alizzz (Mad Decent)
The EP is so well balanced. Loving that analog feeling. 'Fire' makes me
dream, I get in trance with the bass and those pads on 'Ash' and I want
to listen to 'Bitch' really loud in the Berghain. Much support.
Jorge Caiado (Balance/Groovement)
"Excellent and fresh EP!! All tracks are powerful and effective, can't
wait to play them. My favorite is "Bitch" but Kommune1 also did a good
alternative mix to "Ash". Keep them coming Struments!
Kresy (Hivern Discs)
"Great EP. Bitch is my favourite"
Broke One (RBMA/Magic Wire Recordings)
"Aweome EP"

Another DJ Spider release here, with 4 strong Deep House tracks that drip with originality. Deep, raw & dirty with a no holds barred sound that hits you where it hurts!

Jose Cabrera and Fred P split the first installment of the Perception series. The Determinism EP sees JC and FP giving their slant on principles of quantum level events through sound. Raw and driving, this EP is a more than an adequate DJ tool, it's a formula for the transportation of the subconscious.

Determinism is a metaphysical philosophical position stating that for everything that happens there are conditions such that, given those conditions, nothing else could happen. "There are many determinisms, depending upon what pre-conditions are considered to be determinative of an event." Deterministic theories throughout the history of philosophy have sprung from diverse motives and considerations, some of which overlap. Some forms of determinism can be tested empirically with ideas stemming from physics and the philosophy of physics. The opposite of determinism is some kind of indeterminism (otherwise called nondeterminism).

Chris Mitchell is back on Plan B Recordings for his third EP with the New York underground crew who has been churning out deep, raw and original house and techno! Label bosses, DJ Spider & Dakini9 supply remixes of both tracks from Mitchell. The Vanguard Sound Crew strikes again!

Brodanse´s 'Danse Club Records' returns with another 90`s New Jersey gem reworked for 2013 with remix duties this time going to Just Be, Lula Circus & Chubby Dubz ... Danse Club Records, the label started by DJ/production sibling duo Brodanse has made a sterling start so far with releases of classic 90`s US house cuts remixed by the likes of Matt Tolfrey, Oliver $, Moodymanc & Brodanse themselves.

The reaction has been outstanding at a time where there is an obvious embracing of all things nineties and DJs such as Danny Tenaglia, Maxxi Soundsytem, Seth Troxler, Huxley & Dusky have been queuing up to lend their backing. For their latest release Danse Club look once again to New Jerseys historic shores, this time picking up an old record from US soul house duo The Burrell Brothers and drafting in three hot production acts to rework this much loved tune.
To start the package we have the original "club dub" version, giving an insight into the records history with it`s mid nineties feel and production still standing up wonderfully.

The first of the remixes sees Crosstown Rebels and Get Physical artist Just Be AKA Matthew Bushwaka deliver his"Insomniac mix",
a bumping slice of underground house music that marries a bass driven groove, organic percussion and subtle melodic elements with snippets of the vocal to supreme effect.

Next up we have Italian production duo Lula Circus whose releases for the likes of Culprit and Noir have been creating quite a stir. Here they deliver a brilliant rework of "Non Stop" in the shape of a deep old school house workout that makes the most of the soulful vocals with its simplistic, hypnotic backing. With its timeless quality, this mix is certain to be mainstay in DJ boxes for months and years to come.

The penultimate version sees the excellent Chubby Dubz offer up an outstanding mix that cuts and pastes the original parts in a raw house style. Closing the package there is a bonus dub of Just Be`s Insomniac mix that rounds things off nicely. This is another winning package from the Danse-Club label and with original artist material from Brodanse in the pipeline alongside further remix packages there is much to look forward to.

True house music on The A side with Self Enemy and huge house beat also on the A2 with DJ Aakmael. SEEKER'S BAND with remixes by JACK THE BOX & CORES FOR SPIN !
Self Enemy aka as Parisian Professor Inc & Detroiter Kris Wadsworth play it slow here. Picking on some classic sample, highly tweaked synth and dj friendly structure. Second opus of this raw collaboration.
Dj Aakmael picks another Billie's song, This time it's heavy orchestra chords on a hard kick singing the blues on the house core.
On the B Side, the SEEKER'S BAND aka Miguel Benavides composes with at Vocals: Mathieu Boko, Percussion: Eric Konnert (plays with St Germain, Martha Galarraga..), Bass: Francois Barbe, Tenor & Soprano Sax: Stephane Becarie, Keys: M Benavides and produced by Professor Inc & Miguel Benavides ; inspired by the first house school, jazz accents, afrocuban classic percussion, a tasty radio version right here !
It comes with a remix by the Berliners Tyree Cooper & Bobby Star aka JACK THE BOX. Dj friendly and deeply rooted with one of the pioneers perpetuating the style.
To conclude this ep, a special short dub version by CORES FOR SPIN

Unxpozd presents the third Dj Aakmael project - Breathe Deeper, which is a testament to Aak's amazing and captivating style of house music.The main track Breathe Deep takes you back to the 'golden era' of house music, giving you that raw sound with Esq once again on vocals. Untitled 79, for those who love their music old-school and classic but fresh this is for you. With a phat deep bass, lush chords and keys throughout, this one is sure to please the deepest and most mature househeads. Lastly to close, Aakmael continues his dubb series with Dubb 2, continuing to pay homage to one of the sounds that caught his ears' attention so many years ago. This track is a little more trancy, very deep and has that meditative vibe all deep house heads look to escape to.

RAWAX IS PROUD TO WELCOME MR. K-ALEXI SHELBY TO THE FAMILY!
Mr. K Alexi Shelby
Like a moth drawn to a flame, there is something utterly infectious about the music of Mr.K Alexi Shelby, better known as K-Alexi one of the founding fathers of house music direct from his home city of Chicago. Since the late 1980s, he has pioneered the true house sound, leading to a DH and production career spanning over 20 years, including collaborations with artists ranging from The Pet Shop Boys to Derrick May and from Larry Heard and Felix da Housecat to Will Smith, as well as gigs across the globe.
An impressionable young teenager, Mr.K Alexi Shelby developed friendships with Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy whilst attending seminal venues like The Warehouse and The Music Box in the mid 1980s. Being here at this embryonic stage of dance music culture, there were no rules or precedents, so K Alexi drew on a rich musical heritage that had seen him grow up in the 70s and 80s listening to Stevie Wonder, Prince, Curtis Mayfield and David Huff. Those roots continue to influence his music to this day.
It was under the moniker Risque III that Essence Of A Dream was released in 1987, firmly establishing the name of Mr.K Alexi Shelby amongst the most prominent of all house producers at the time. Moreover, those early tracks are still recognized to be the quintessential Chicago house sound. The rumbling and dark bass, smooth strings, incredible percussion and the spoken word poetic and erotic lyrical flow became the trademark for classic Chicago house and the template for everything else that followed. To reiterate, there was no template before this. This was the beginning.
This initial success has lead to Mr.K Alexi Shelby working with the leading names across the electronic music world and beyond. Collaborations and remixes for Chicago peers like Mike Dunn, Mr. Lee and Marshall Jefferson merely served as the springboard for Alexi to work with the best in the electronic scene, from Derrick May to Paul Johnson ,Ron Trent Dave Angel to Felix ad House Kat. Furthermore, his talents have also lead to him working with The Pet Shop Boys and Will Smith.
On top of this, his tracks have appeared on compilations by artists varying from Laurent Garnier to DJ Hell, who used It's Me 2010 contribution to the Body Language series for Get Physical Music. Produced under the Club M.C.M. moniker, the 1991 EP It's Me/Club M.C.M. has been a frequent selection for compilations for 20 years and is rightly regarded as a true underground techno classic.

Perc Trax is proud to unveil the 2nd 12' to be taken from Forward Strategy Group's debut album 'Labour Division'. Since its release at the end of May the album has received across the board DJ support and press coverage with a 4/5 review from Resident Advisor and even a full page in the Guardian about FSG and Perc Trax. The album has also had launch parties in Amsterdam and London and has seen the FSG guy's crossover outside of techno to be featured in the wider music press including The Quietus and Stool Pigeon.

This 2nd 12' rounds up some of the most popular tracks from the album giving them the vinyl release they truly deserve. First up is the most popular club track from the album; 'Elegant Mistakes' where raw industrial sounds meet with broken beats that hint back at classic UK hardcore. Completing the a-side is album opener 'Ident', one of the LP's most melodic moments and proof, if it was ever needed of Patrick and Al's wide ranging influences and production skills.

The b-side opens with 'Nihil Novi', an album favourite that appeared on the first Labour Division 12' as remixed by Factory Floor. Now the original mix appears on vinyl and it's echoing, slow-morphing stabs sound as cutting as ever. A DJ favourite since it was initially promo'd, it now sounds even better on vinyl. Closing the EP is a re-edit (sarcastically called a 'radio mix') of 'Metal Image', where a world of atmospherics opens up on top of a slow droning kick drum. A perfect set-opener or mid-set Dj tool it is demonstrates the variety that is on show across 'Labour Division' and is one of many reasons for the albums excellent reception.