House News

124Recordings return for their final release for 2013,the follow up to the original 'Undeground Frequencies' EP that helped establish the label back in December.Again it features four producers covering all bases of house music.First up and needing no introduction is well respected producer James Johnston with the solid percussive drive of 'Dont Need U' underpinned by a huge reversed bassline,punchy chords and hypnotic female vocal.Next is rising talent Liam Geddes who takes things deeper with 'Besoin D'Amour' with its soothing spoken vocal ,delicate pads complete with depth charge sub and twisted horn sample.Third is the pairing of two producers/label owners,Tom Lynch from WeCtrl/Development Music and Eddie Leader of Hudd Traxx.Here 'Mrs Saturday Night' slowly builds with delicate layers of bubbling synth before a sublime breakdown takes the track into a completely different direction.Finally but by no means least is Banjax with 'Smoked' a real throwback to the warehouse days with its shuddering bass leading into bouncy chords and heavy 909 percussion.

More than 25 years after releasing his debut single and dancefloor anthem 'Tears' Satoshi Tomiie is set to release his second album in May. This legendary collaboration with Frankie Knuckles, that's now considered as one of house music's most important moments, was only the start of an exciting career. Satoshi Tomiie has been at the forefront of the global house music movement ever since. He released on a variety of labels going from Strictly Rhythm to Sony, toured with the Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto of Yellow Magic Orchestra Fame, worked with artists like Robert Owens, remixed many pop inclined tracks and been praised for his Renaissance compilation in their Master Series. All of this while creating artistic challenges for himself to avoid stepping into a pattern and repeating himself, and keeping up constant global DJ schedule. Satoshi Tomiie, a lifelong student of jazz and classical piano, has always succeeded in adding an extra dimension into his music, and his sophomore album is no exception. While listening to 'New Day' it is immediately clear the accomplished musician has re-invented himself once again.The overall sound of the album is crisp, fresh and ingenious without losing its allure. While some tracks are reminiscent of his early work, others surprise in their richness and complexity. The album starts off with ‚Last Night', a generous intro that leads us to ‚Landscape' and ‚Oddyssey' during which the producer shows us a more undulate timbre. The title track features John Schmersal, a touring member of the Caribou band and is the prelude to the deeper part of the album.

Dutch contingent 'Dilated Pupils' provide the beats on FOF's vinyl only offshoot label. Part 1 of 2.

Already heard on one of Theo Parrish incredible mix cd's friendly children' combines his trademark blunt 4/4 bass-drum with a stripped down afro groove, sparse latin piano chords, a children chorus and joyful flute licks before changing the atmosphere halfway through: atmospheric string chords and imaginative, lyrical piano improvisation take the lead for a beautiful, contemplative ending. the b-side cut starts out as a slow motion 4/4 beat with dark, horn loops contrasted by sharp metallic, industrial sounds - during the break Theo Parrish introduces a female vocal loop, throws in more energetic, harder punching beats and lightens up the atmosphere with symphonic big-band jazz samples. another adventure in sound by one of the few unqiue heads in electronic music.

The Amsterdam newcomers 'Nothing Else Matters Ep' features a crackin' deep and soulful sound, Heavy Bass lines and funky beats on the originals. The Massive 'Morning Factory' Remix was a big hit for the label when this release originally dropped early 2012 only digital. In this special vinyl version you will also find the excellent remix Detroit Swindle did for Elef's 'Keep it Physical' as a bonus track.

Rather large remix package from Fear of Flying featuring interpretations by Soul Capsule and Steve O'Sullivan's 'bluetrain' alias which kick like a mule.

Limited edition, vinyl only sampler of second album from house music legend Satoshi Tomiie on new label asbtract architecture - Features two album cuts and remixes from Ron Trent and DJ Sneak Satoshi Tomiie will release his new album 'New Day' on his own newly inaugurated label Abstract Architecture. The new music will be introduced first on a limited edition vinyl only sampler, with two album cuts and remixes by his longtime heroes Ron Trent and DJ Sneak. The A side features 'Thursday 2 AM' and Ron Trent's Remix Dub. The original highlights Larry Heard's influence on Satoshi's early days as late 80s house producer, with a classic sounding bassline and synth pads. It gives the legendary Ron Trent the perfect tools to deliver a timeless production - in fact, he liked it so much he made three different versions. The B side shows a slightly different sound with two versions of '0814'. The original, an energetic DJ tool made after a particularly inspiring club show, was simply asking for a DJ Sneak remix. The house heavyweight immerses it in his signature sound adding a dubby feel to the original.

Jamie Jones has turned the heat up even further with the launch of his new label Hot Trax. A subsidiary to the mighty Hot Creations, it focuses on a more 'underground dancefloor orientated aesthetic' with the first release from Jamie himself naturally flying off the shelves. The second output sees newcomer Patrick Topping showcase his undeniable talent with a highly impressive debut releaseand double dance floor hitter, 'Walk On'.
Striking hard with a heavy bass and deep grumbling undertones, title track 'Walk On' is a guaranteed club bomb. Progressing with high-pitched melodic keys that add a new dimension, the track surges forward with relentless rhythms and intoxicating energy.
Another killer DJ weapon, 'What Do You Mean' is packed to the brim with rolling groove and dance floor appeal. Spacey synths zap through the layers, as the thundering bass sweeps into the mix, skillfully withdrawn at points throughout the track, only to be heavily dropped for maximum dance floor effect.
On a continuous quest for unearthing new talent, Jamie Jones ventured north to discover the 24 year old Patrick Topping who has built a DJ career centered from playing at his popular night in Newcastle, Motion. With his tracks already garnering support from heavyweights Franck Roger, Richy Ahmed, Darius Syrossian and Jamie himself, it was only a matter of time before his name started to emerge into the limelight. Keep an eye out for an upcoming remix in the pipeline on the mighty Hot Creations.

For those turned on by the far-sighted, sci-fi inspired sounds of Detroit deep house and techno, this EP from Michael Zucker's Finale Underground imprint (an offshoot of his Finale Sessions label) should be an essential purchase. With the likes of Patrice Scott, Keith Worthy and Luke Hess involved, you'd expect the quality threshold to be high. It is, of course, resulting in a quartet of killer tracks. Worthy's hypnotic techno jam "Tolox" is a definite highlight, though it pales in comparison to the analogue futurism of Luke Hess's brilliant "Cyclops". Best of all, though, is Scott's "Journey Into The Unknown", which bobs, weaves, bubbles and spits to the rush-inducing deep house sound of undulating synthesizer melodies and classic, Transmat-style Motor City rhythms.

A booming clavinet led banger from everyone's favourite disco uncles, Eric Duncan and Dean Meredith.Heavy on the lasers and scything hi hats with a bassline as deep as you’d expect from these fellers.Marcellus' trademark sound is all over his remix - sultry rhodes and sweet, driving funk, and The Central Executives version strips it to the bone, revealing not a skeleton but a robot.
A robot playing a fucking saxophone! Rock on, dudes.

Washerman is a story at it's best. The humble Gianni Siravo has been around since many years under different names. He released his first records in 1998 as SEQUEL on labels like Straight Ahead and Sonar Kollektiv. In 2008 he introduced us to his AZUNI project and released the album "City Look" on Agns' label STHLM Audio as well as 12"es on Morris Audio, Quinessentials and Drumpoet. In 2012 he decided to release his music as Washerman. His first single Kutz From The Basement EP for DPC became one of the most played records that summer/autumn and gained him a big reputation, followed up by countless remixes and releases on labels like Nite Grooves, Saft and Deso. He also started his own label DEEP DOWN SLAM, where he is championing music which is inspired by the early house groove of New York and Chicago. He has been busy travelling the world as a DJ and producing music, such as this honest raw album of quality house music. His first album entitled "Raw Poet" features nothing less than a 909, a Juno 60 and some other bits to create this unique groove we can not resist. It's simply underground dance music in its purest way and straight to the point.
Double vinyl


CD

In the ever-expanding universe of deep house, Julius Steinhoff is far from being a stranger. Half of the dynamic duo Smallpeople, founder and one of the steersmen behind Hamburg's Smallville empire (record store/ label/ party curator around the globe) as well as a producer and DJ in his own right, Steinhoff is closely associated with a group of like-minded people that unite fresh ideas and individualism with a certain consciousness of tradition. That 'Flocking Behaviour' is well embodied in Steinhoff's debut album by the same name. After a string of 12-inches for the likes of Live at Robert Johnson, Geography or his own-brand Smallville and the very well-received Smallpeople long-player 'Salty Days", Julius Steinhoff makes a submission that is all his. Rooted in the elegiac variety of the big three (New York, Chicago & Detroit) and a romantic concept of house music that is at times utopian, the album gathers eight tracks that evoke late nights, hazy mornings and walks on thin air. But 'Flocking Behaviour' is by no means anachronistic: Tracks like 'Under A Waterfall' could be made in just the same manner by a puerile Baby Ford in 1989 as they represent a swaying dance floor in 2014. 'Treehouse' or the title track 'Flocking Behaviour' are experiences that make you feel like meeting new people who instantly greet you like old friends. With someone that works and lives in the here and now, Steinhoff seemingly has no interest in revisionism, complains or antagonism, his approach is welcoming and caring, embracing and mesmerizing. Along the way, his musical apparatus never makes use of cheap tricks or antique clichés.

Vanguard Sound follows up on Guerilla Soul's self-titled EP with label co-head Chris Mitchell delivering Feng Shui Flow. Feng Shui Flow is an exploration into deep harmonic textures in the form of three distinct offerings.
A1 Primordial Gravitational Waves- As the name suggests, inspired by the possible discovery of gravitational waves believed to be reverberations of the big bang. Staccato Bass and drums provide the heavy background for a pulsing bass wave, accented by synths and chords conjuring up visions of interplanetary manifestation.
B1 Eurínome- Melancholic and intensely emotive chords and bass layered with intricate drums to paint this impression of the mysterious water goddess.
B2 4th Density- A synth heavy offering with several layers of bass, string like patches, and a sprinkling of choral sounds driven by a pair of kick drums Into a plane of telepathy, harmony and ascension.

Continuing the EDJ limited 12 series, the third installment for the production couple named Ed&Jen takes a different direction for the 'getting through life' release. The A side features Jus-Ed this time with 'Endurance rise' aptly titled as the verbed drum sound and the strings surge forward creating a dancefloor crescendo that the night clubbers will surely lock their feet and minds too. The B side features Jenifa Mayanja with 'Karma loves you' a smooth vocal scorcher that will capture the heart first then the rest will follow. Its a classic deep house track that will cross the boundaries of many a djs bag. Not neatly fitting any notion of what the sound of this two talented honchos should be like, the Ed&Jen series continues to expose what fresh energy can be generated when two musical worlds collide.