House News

Jackmaster Cunt EP is the 5th release from Sound Black. Its a departure from the Lady Blacktronika's signature slo mo sound taking us on a journey into jack. She's got 4 deep groove laden tracks here to please the hardest of deepcore house fans and the deepest of hardcore house heads. The tracks here borrow largely from the sounds of Chicago and New York/New Jersey in the 90s, sounds near her heart. These are the roots revisited and brought back to the future of house.

With an overwhelming passion for Chicago // Detroit and Italo-House, Mayo Soulomon has long studied the genres' analog roots and carefully created his own studio spaceship of synthesis. It is with this that he has produced for Fly By Night Music three classic translations of these essential movements in dance music history, which we have backed up with an authentic remix from Detroit's own, Rick Wade.
If Riviera Traxx, Jovonn, Mistiness & Don Carlos was your things you must check out this cracking EP!!
Supported by:
LTJ Xperience, Severino, Soul Clap, Massimiliano Pagliara, Terry Hunter, Memoryman aka Uovo, Kai Alce, Joey Negro, X-press 2, Marco Passarani, Glenn Underground, Leftside-Wobble, James Johnston, Nicholas, Jamal Moss, Andy Ash, Moody Manc...

The first release since Romanthony's tragic passing had been sent to the pressing plant before he died. Following discussions with his family and advisors, Glasgow Underground is continuing its series of re-issues to help create a legacy for Romanthony's children.

Andre Crom takes Roman's 1995 classic and takes it on a modern day garage journey filled with skipping beats and stabbing chords and - in tribute to the original - one massive organ bassline. Big tune.

Ejeca opts for a more direct, heavy on the kickdrum treatment and while he's opted for a similar sound palette to Crom but in the young Belfast producers hands 'Ministry Of Love' becomes a hypnotic, crowd-pleasing piano anthem that is up there with the best work he's done.

On one of his 3 mixes on the package and given that this was one of the few Romanthony classics where the remixes had access to the full parts, Kevin McKay reproduces Roman's original jam in his '90's re-edit' to give a flavour of what the original would sound like had it been released today.
The Ejeca Remix and Kevin McKay's 90s re-edit are vinyl exclusives.

limited red vinyl 7" vinyl editon!

DISCOVERY Recordings is proud to release Coule'Ba by Analog Players Society, a collective melting pot of musicians lead by Amon. Coule'Ba draws from West African influences and features the incredible Missia Saran Diabate of Guinea on lead vocals. Shortly after the release was lined up, the studio and surrounding areas endured Hurricane Sandy. With the Red Hook Initiative, Amon and his family began helping out wherever they could. When power finally returned and the debris was cleared, it seemed only appropriate that the record should benefit the organization that did so much for Red Hook during that time. All profits benefit the Red Hook Initiative.

No rest for the wicked, after launching OneOffs earlier this year and releasing our first EP with three fresh cuts from three talented producers we're back.

Each of the four cuts is a highlight in its own way, from the afro inspired house on 'Size Up' with a superb Herbie Hancock tribute from Crackazat on keyboards, to the slow and bass heavy techy 'I'm The Jack' from Will Berridge on the A-side.

The B-side starts off with JMX's 'That's The Way', another exercise in dynamic house with punchy chord stabs, finishing things off is Keumel's feel-good disco surgery incisions roll 'California My Way'.
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Chasing Kurt, das sind Pascal Blanché, Wojtek Kutschke und Lukas Poloczek: zwei langjährige Deep House-Fans und ein einzelgängerischer Funk'n'Soul-Typ, den sie unterwegs aufgabelten. Alles begann in einer schicksalhaften Nacht in Gießen, wo die Jungs zu Hause sind. Wie die meisten zufälligen Rendezvous unserer Zeit geschah es in einer Bar: DJ legt bis tief in die Nacht auf und Barkeeper mixt, was das Zeug hält. Als für beide das Ende ihrer Schicht naht, wagt Barkeeper ein paar Gesangseinlagen. Das fällt DJ auf. Er lädt Barkeeper zu einer Jam-Session ein, im bescheidenen Studio eines Dritten. Barkeeper ist hocherfreut. House ist eigentlich nicht so sein Ding, aber er tritt seit Jahren auf und jammt, und so sagt er sofort zu. Das Ergebnis ist "Daydream", eine sanfte und doch satte, glutvolle kleine Ballade, die dabei so gut ist, dass für ihre Veröffentlichung ein brandneues Label gegründet wird. Es folgten verschiedene weitere Releases, die den Fokus auf Chasing Kurt lenkten. So wurde ihr Track "Money" von Maya Jane Coles für ihre DJ-Kicks-Mix-Compilation ausgewählt. Innerhalb kürzester Zeit hat das Trio mit Riesenschritten sein ganz eigenes Dance-Podest erklommen. "From The Inside", das Debütalbum von Chasing Kurt, begeistert mit schleppenden Beats und verschleierten Dancefloor-Rhythmen, wunderbar gepaart mit verführerischen Legenden von verlorenen Lieben und gewonnenen Schlachten. Eine runde, sorglose Dance-Platte und ein alles umhüllendes Hörerlebnis

Berlin based Quell aka Nikolaos Raptis, is a relatively new name to the house scene, but the up and comer has been striking chords as of late with releases for the likes of Kolour, Tsuba and Ibadan.

The EP kicks off with 'Check You Out', which sees Quell ride out hooky, shuffling drums, raw chord stabs, and heavily delayed vocal lines in an evolving, progressive fashion. The near six-minute duration embraces a variety of classic house elements such as hi-strings, 909 drums and chopped up vocal samples, with variations in the groove being introduced every 16 and 32 bars. 'Don't Go' follows, embracing a similar aesthetic with weighty drums, an infectious saw-wave bass hook and bright stabs. Quell draws out the background delays to build tension, while shuffling snares and additional synth melodies add a further depth to the dynamic.

The latter half of the release takes things in a more raw direction, firstly with 'Loose Meanings', a gritty bass hook runs alongside resonant pads, crunchy drums and a smooth chord sequence, while the late stages see Quell develop the melodies with additional tones thrown in for good measure. Lastly to close the release, 'Right' is offered up, Quell opts for a boomy sub bass to drive the track, while string hits, looped acidy tones and an amalgamation of vocals are tightly blended to create a heady house cut.

It's no secret that Ben Watt has chosen to close his acclaimed Buzzin' Fly label to new music after ten great years as one of the UK's leading dance independents. But the label has chosen to go out with a bang with one final single. Unearthed from the vaults are two dazzling tracks from cornerstone artists, Rodamaal, and Manoo & Francios A.
· Rodamaal's 'Fortune' was originally completed back in 2007 but scheduling problems prevented it from being released at the time. Produced by the Franco-Portuguese trio (Rocco, Darkmountaingroup's Alex Santos and Manoo) it is a stark but emotionally-charged deep-techno masterpiece, that deserves its place alongside their other classics for the label, 'Musica Feliz' and 'Insomnia'.
· On the flip, and originally produced in 2005, is 'Other Places' a long-lost track by Manoo & Francois A. Full of summer shimmer and heavy bass tones, it was produced by the duo during their heyday at the label, and was a secret favourite of label boss, Ben Watt.

DFTD is a new, breakout label to Defected Records focusing on fresh, new and undiscovered talent from around the globe - along with the occasional curveball release from established acts. DFTD complements its parent with a more diverse musical remit, releasing a broad range of electronic music, focussing on quality, discerning dance music.
This is the very first vinyl sampler from the label, showcasing three incredible forthcomings tracks, all due to drop on digital early in the summer. First up is Hope from Guti, a stunning Balearic cut from an Argentinian artist who has previously released his outstanding material on Crosstown, Cecile and Supplement Facts. Created with the White Isle in mind, it features a warm bottom end and the intoxicating vocal from Jason Hate's 'Pray For Love'; the much lauded track has been a staple of Guti's sets for some time now and finally sees a release on DFTD. Mercury steps up next with a stripped-back, bass-driven version of Jonas Rathsman's Tobago - the original mix of which was initially licensed to Chris Malinchak's French Express label. Rounding things off is Forrest., and artist who shot to notoriety on labels including Noir Music, Souvenir and Gruuv. His inimitable production is characterised by its depth and warmth and Creep is a shining example of his skill.

From humble origins in Detroit, raised on a healthy diet of Motown, Jazz, and Early Hip Hop - Terrel Wallace (aka Tall Black Guy) has become a standard bearer for the current hip hop beats scene. Through a steady stream of productions filled with incredibly clever sample flips and deft production chops, he has won fans across the world, including Gilles Peterson (who included him on one of his Brownswood Bubblers albums), Lefto, Anthony Valadez and countless others. With the tangible beginnings of worldwide recognition, Tall Black Guy has established himself to be one of the most influential producers working today.

8 Miles To Moenart has literally brought Tall Black Guy full circle. Detroit was where he started making music, and it's to his hometown he returns to draw inspiration for his debut album. Taking in low-slung hip hop, downtempo house and jazz-tinged street soul, it's a record of rare focus. It encapsulates the musical heritage of Detroit, through the looking glass of Tall Black Guy's own signature sound.

The White Man & The Arab - an uneasy pairing of minds designed to deliver dancefloor bliss via the medium of limited 12s - is Ben Micklewright aka BLM (of Fear Of Flying / Underground Quality fame) and Souhail Zaatari aka Soho (of Phonica / etc fame). Together they been secretly labouring away in the studio and this four tracker is their first joint outing.

The EP kicks off with 'I Said', a subtly hypnotizing analog jam with deep chords, a cleverly manipulated vocal snippet and a galloping beat that's impossible to resist. Next up on the a-side is 'A little bit of the 80's'; a moody slice of emotive house, that rides a disjointed drum pattern, reverb-drenched chord stabs and an eerie melody.

On the flip 'Future Moves' is the rawest out of the four tracks on offer here... It's a ruff and ready basement jam that gradually builds it's way to a tight 909 pattern, an acidic bassline and a a blink- and-you'll-miss-it vocal sample. Finally the EP rounds off with 'T.H.T', a straight-up dancefloor tool, where the emphasis is on the groove and percussive elements. An excellent EP from these two producers who definitely know where it's at...

Naked Naked label boss, Breach, calls upon 2012's
breakthrough house and techno talent, Dusky, for
the latest EP offering from the imprint. Focused on
championing strictly UK sounds, it was only a matter
of time before Naked Naked featured the London
duo, whose blend of both classic and new school
approaches to house (with an unremitting emphasis
on bass) epitomizes what's relevant and unique in
British output right now. Dusky's latest release,
'Nobody Else' on Aus Music, saw the pair storm to
the top of the Beatport deep house chart, with no
sign of stepping down any time soon.
The double sided EP opens with title track
'Vanishing Point', a kick driven, subtle-yet-vigorous
bass line laden house beat that opens up into a
young love-yearning work out thanks to Dusky's
characteristically masterful vocal sample work.
Without detracting from the soft chord pads and
static synth work, the pitched down vocal yearns
with streetwise sensuality, suggesting it'll soon be
attaining the same dance floor filling status that 'Flo
Jam' enjoyed one year previous.
B-side 'Truth Small t' showcases Dusky's techier
(big T) side, as drums punch....

Warehouse Find! Test Pressing!

Time for one of Freerange's longest standing regular producers to return to the label for his first EP in three years. The Stepping Tones EP is absolutely classic Shur-I-Kan from start to finish with two original tracks plus a remix from the very excellent Berlin newcomers Kim Brown.

The title track opens with a big, bold, bouncing bassline and driving groove but as we hear the arrangement unfold the layers of keys build and drop bringing the trademark Shur-I-Kan musicality and energy to the track. In our opinion this is one of his strongest tracks yet and we're pretty sure this will be a firm favorite this summer, set to be heard everywhere from Croatian boat parties to Dalston basements and beyond.

Up next we have Kim Brown with their remix of Stepping Tones and what a job! The Berlin duo have made a big impact the last couple of years with their incredibly deep and beautiful Spring Theory and People's Republic releases on Just Another Beat. Completely sublime downbeat deep house is the key here, owing as much to ambient and orchestral music as to the rough and raw lo-slung club beats we're hearing from labels such as Dial and Smallville. Their remix brings rugged drums, dubby keys and lush strings to the fore with the addition of a twisted, filtering vocal enhancing the warm glowing sunrise vibe which emanates from this track.

Conundrum closes the EP with another deep, jazzy and cinematic Shur-I-Kan masterpiece and once again he layers up the textures and harmonic elements slowly and expertly, introducing the little hooks over time until before you know it you're bathed in a warm shower of lushness with tingles running down your spine.

2020Vision mark their 250th release with a very fitting project from the originator of the label Ralph Lawson. Lawson presents a selection of classic mixes and unreleased gems produced alongside his original production partner Carl Finlow.

Ralph Lawson received a call last year requesting permission to re-release a mix he had done for DJ Dove over 10 years previously of a track called 'Come On'. He had forgotten all about the mix but it still sounded good so he agreed. Then two things happened - a journalist called Kristan Caryl picked up on the track and asked in his review why Lawson didn't produce more and at the same time people started buying and reacting to the track as if it was a new release.

People started buying and reacting to the track as if it was a new release. Both events got Lawson thinking; what other tracks were produced at the infamous Farmhouse studios that he may have forgotten and what could be new discoveries

So on the first day of this year he ventured into his Garage lock up where all the old DAT master tapes were stored and started to root through them. It was a challenge to find a working DAT player and one even started to chew up the precious and only copies of the recordings. Eventually he managed to extract the recordings and sat down with Discogs to see what was up with this material. He was amazed to find that there was loads of material that had never been released and that much of their work was now highly sort after, deleted or unavailable digitally. Every exciting discovery added to the project until it became something Lawson felt had real worth.

Many tracks were made 10 years ago but listening to them today will be the first time you (or anyone else) will have heard many of them. They will also be new for a whole new generation of DJs and music lovers.

This vinyl EP includes 3 tracks that have previously been unreleased on vinyl, they are taken from the full fifteen compilation.

Want to feel good this summer Bring a beach blanket and pitcher of margaritas to the nearest oceanfront with a loved one. Want to feel better Bring along this copy of the latest installment of A Long Hot Summer mixed this time by the one & only DJ Meme. Ex-Editor in Chief of M8 Mag UK, Kevin McFarlane said it most relevantly, "Think summertime partying, Think DJ Meme." He couldn't be more on point. Third in line to compile this new series, Meme follows 2 other renowned producer/djs, Kiko Navarro, and Chris Brann. Its really an honor to have Meme mix this current summer comp, as an established multi-gold, platinum, and diamond-selliing artist, he is the latest to join the Def Mix family roster. Meme has also been credited for remixing Shakira, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Ricky Martin, Dido, Mariah Carey and Toni Braxton, among others. Hailing from tropical Brazil, it's apparent that his sweet, feel-good, melodic, and pure rhythmic sensibility had been instilled in him since birth. From the very first natural beat of his brand new remix of Namy ft Stephanie Cooke's "I'm Not Ashamed (I Need You)" blending seamlessly into Ananda Project feat. Heather Johnson & Terrance Downs "Kiss Kiss Kiss" (Eric Kupper Mix), into Tiger Stripes feat. Hanna Hais "Consecration" (Tiger Stripes Dub), and then on to include songs like Studio Apartment feat. Blaze's "The Rising Sun" (Muthafunkaz Sun Rising), Jay-J ft Big Brooklyn Red "Decide" (DJ Meme Drama mix), Kerri Chandler's "So Let the Wind Come," Stephanie Cooke "Rain" (Let it all come) (Dennis Ferrer Rainforest Mix), Ferrer's "Destination" and others, he brings us to the brink of glorious dance floor enlightenment. He serves up deep, pumping, house and a few Latin house grooves that, not only showcase his superb mixing skills but exceptional programming of dubs and remixes that instantly tap into ur feel good nerve center. Take a ride on Meme's musical mindset. It'll be worth the trip.

Limitierte Maxi in grünem Vinyl! "So Will Be Now" ist der große Hit von John Talabots letztjährigem Album "Fin". Erstmals erscheint dieser Track nun im 12"-Vinyl-Format. Brandneu ist der großartige Club-Remix von John Talabot selbst, der ausschließlich auf Vinyl erhältlich sein wird.

SouLab welcomes you in another Soulful Ride. The tracks from this vinyl 12' are clearly dedicated to the dancefloor action.
Four members of the SouLab's dream team are represented on this compilation: the leader of the new school Uptown Funk Empire from
France, the old school japanese dons of Slow Motion Replay, and the rising talents Uraz Kurt from Istanbul and Giuseppe Storniolo
from Miami. This worldwide bunch of inspired artists bring essential modern Funk & Soul vibes with this vinyl. It's simple, the 4 tracks
of this release are 4 sureshots for any dancefloor. This is not a tracklisting, this is an anthems alert ! Soul's Back Again & Again ! ! !