A small but perfectly formed selection for you this month. Maybe labels are letting DJs catch their breath and get through playing some of their favourites from the last 18 months before filling their inboxes with the new stuff - but we guarantee that our fab five here will get any post-pandemic party rockin’. From afro tech vibes to euphoric orchestral house, plenty of deep business, a dash of techno – but all registering high on the HOUSE Richter scale.
** Single of the Month **
David Morales feat. Mr V - Everyday of My Life (DIRIDM)
For me the stand-out record of Louie Vega's wicked set on the Faith stage at the monumental Defected Festival in Croatia. Think late 90s Danny Tenaglia meets Yello. Wonderful tribal drums (Morales always on point from day one with his drums ) meets Mr V rhythmically stylin’ Yello's 'Bostich ' – it was a great moment with Mr V performing the vocals live while Louie worked David's beats. Morales really seems to have captured that afro tech vibe perfectly and this is an essential record for anyone who loves House.
Kameelah – America The Beautiful (Bruise & NSW Remixes) (RamRock)
Philly hip hop artist Kameelah Waheed delivers some powerful spoken word lyrics on this monumental release. Pledging allegiance to America, the dreamers, the lovers, the thinkers, the risk-takers. At the same time she questions how many rights can America change? Kameelah skilfully delivers her conscious narrative alongside a rolling hip house beat, reminiscent of Harlem’s Last Poets, who spat lyrics about the 1960s African American civil rights movement, and Gil Scott Heron’s concern on social issues. Kameelah delivers her words via a fusion of funk, soul, blues and fly lyrical content. This avant-funk gives a nod to 80s New York and the Defunkt, Talking Heads, Ze Records sounds. Reworks come courtesy of Black Science Orchestra’s Ashley Beedle, who heads up North Street West with Jo Wallace and Daren Morris laying down their signature moves and grooves once again. Production collective Bruise work their magic too, taking the track to a whole other level of euphoric and joyous orchestral house.
Lore of the Samurai – Out The Door (Heist)
Mystery man, Lore of the Samurai, drops his debut on Dutch imprint Heist. With an already well-established name, this warrior of the dance has gone undercover and you cannot fail to be impressed by his masterful production moves. The music is expertly crafted and impressively executed over five ridiculously good cuts. The classic house of ‘City Loop’ opens and beckons you on to the rougher sounding Chicago house of ‘Deeper Into Orbit’. ‘Space Designer’ drops a syncopated bassline that is sure to fire up the floor. ‘Alpha Base’ is dreamy, at the same it possesses a break that rages into deeper and darker electronic house territory. But the cut of the EP has to be ‘Justifice’. This is silky smooth, beautiful deep house that will glide and slice up the dance, with a vocal cry that turns this closing cut into an absolute stone-cold killer.
Dimitri From Paris & Fiorious – Music Saved My Life (Marshall Jefferson Remix) (Glitterbox)
Marshall Jefferson, the creator of vocal Deep House with those legendary Ten City records, is having a deserved renaissance. His much lauded remix of Paris Brightledge's 'Deep in My Soul' is an exercise in how to create a modern masterpiece and this remix is just as good. Beautiful strings, beats and pianos evoke MJ's legendary work with Ten City and it could be said (well I’m saying it ) that the beautiful voice of Fiorious is the new generation’s Byron Stingily. A record as much for the 'Heads' as the bottomless brunch girls. Timeless.
Various - VOL.4 (Chubby! RECORDS)
Aaron Andrew’s label first delivered in 2015. Based in Sydney, it’s a highly selective situation with the label’s output being a bit of a blue moon! Just in time to quench the gagging thirst of its dedicated fan base, this VA/EP lands. It’s a vinyl only affair with four original cuts by Aleqs Notal, Jose Rico, David Swatten, and Aussie super-talent Ewan Jansen. All of these originals get a rerub, but perhaps the most notable on this hefty slab of wax is that by underground Aussie talent Swatten, with his elegant and subtly laid-back ‘Wave Energy’. Legendary techno talent John Beltran weighs in on Swatten’s OG and seriously ups the amps. Look out too for Life Recorder’s remix of Planetary Insanity, and Leonid’s version of Agonias. One for the heavyweight deep house heads this.
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Reviewed by Terry Farley & Sharon Andrews
