From London to Johannesburg, via Paris and Oslo. Or maybe try the Chicago to Amsterdam route. Gritty chuggers, tribal funk,sensual vocals, spoken word lyrics, peak time bangers. It can only be Faith’s singles round up for May, bringing together the tastiest morsels from the global house family as dancefloors are finally within touching distance.
** Single of the Month **
Fenyan + Kosmo Kint - Da Real EP (Toy Tonics)
The latest from the increasingly eclectic Toy Tonics label is a three tracker that blurs the borders between house, broken beat and nu soul, but it's Jerome Sydenham and Fatima Njai's remix of 'Da Real' which is the pick for the house heads. Kicking off like an 80s Imagination jam, adding atmospheric keys and a mix of spoken and scatted vocals for a track that you should be hearing in any real deep house club this summer. The three original tracks are well worth a listen, from the subtle house meets nu soul feel of the original of 'Da Real' to the jazzy, broken vibe of 'Break Your Rules' and finally some soulful house courtesy of 'Take Off'.
Scan 7 - Unfinished Business (Transient Nature)
Dam Swindle’s Maarten Smeets has Scan 7 on the second release for his Transient Nature imprint and in amongst the four track EP Out of Nowhere is this beautiful slice of Detroit electro that, due to some heavier kicks and shuffled drums, will undoubtedly find favour with house and broken beat DJs. Musically, it’s a slick, bright and uplifting piece that is timelessly Motor City.
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U - Ecstasy (Phantasy Sound)
After an unashamedly ‘big’ release for the label’s 100th outing in the form of Erol Alkan’s filter disco informed ‘Automatic’, the label has dropped a two-tracker of gritty and moody low tempo chuggers that aim themselves firmly at the darker corners of the ‘floor. As lo-fi as it is low-slung, ‘Ecstasy’ is an appropriately ‘eyes closed/lose yourself’ workout that, like many that have gone before it, benefits from titular vocal drops as it rolls along with purpose.
Radio Slave - Wake Up (Archiv Zukunft)
Matt Edwards’ latest joint available from the Archiv Zukunft Bandcamp store . It’s a deep dubby disco affair with as much dirt and tribal funk as its cool sparkles and Halston swagger. An unknown voice (think Gil Scott Heron style ) talks political about the current fuckeries that are destroying the music business from within. I love an intro on records, and this has a wonderful one (lasting over 3mins) about artists making too many choices that basically relate to a DJ being able to easily mix / programme a record rather than take artistic risks. 'Wake Up' is a real New York type of record, you can feel the heat of the sidewalks in these grooves .
Jaden Thompson - Closer (Derrick Carter Remix) [Three Six Zero Recordings]
Deliciously sensual vocals work perfectly with D's classic Chicago style for a real 'opening up' optimistic singalong summer anthem. Derrick Carter makes music like he plays music - with swagger, with style and with that 90s Chicago Boompty Boomp. The dub uses the haunting vocals really well, making them part of the groove , there’s a bubbling 303 that adds to rather than steals the show and the beats are as correct as ever. One of those low ceiling actual club moments that work as well on a summer terrace.
Mr Bard + DJ Steef - Ritual Of The Body (Craig Smith Drum Talk Mix) (Numoment Recordings)
This ace slice of deep house from 2017 gets a new lease of life courtesy of Craig Smith's wonderful Drum Talk remix, adding extra swing and vintage keys giving it a Nu Groove / Burrell feel. If you missed the original first time round it really deserves your attention, low slung, hypnotic deepness with male and female spoken word adding to the killer keys and percussion work out.
Marina Trench – Over There EP (Heist Recordings)
Marina Trench is leading the way for the girls with her Over There EP, shortly to drop on Heist Recordings. Her previous outings have been on DJ Deep’s Deeply Rooted as well as London’s Wolf Music imprint. This young and stylish Parisian has found her sound which is a clear mix of classic deep house, cleverly chosen samples, with a very contemporary feel. Opener ‘Sunrise’ is slick and nostalgic and uses chords that remind you of summer days. ‘Carry On’ throws classic house stabs into layers of elegant arpeggios and trumpet flourishes. Marina uses her own vocal on the title track, which adds even more flavour to an already spicy beat. Closer ‘Wake Up’ features French Algerian Sabrina Bellaouel, her voice circles around soft pads and a minimal groove. It could easily be the one to set the floor on fire.
Lazarusman – Here We Are EP (Freerange)
Trying to put this record in a box is tough as it’s one of those genre defying releases that is working a space of its own. On ‘Here We Are’ Johannesburg’s Lazarusman delivers some deeply conscious, spoken word lyrics together with sublime production provided by fellow South African vibist Bruce Loko. The experimental nature of this release possesses a deeply moving and savage vibe that only goes to confirm that the depth of talent in South Africa has barely had its surface scratched. SA man of the moment Nutty Nys goes deeper house on his insanely good rework. This EP will leave you feeling quite emotional. 10/10 Freerange.
Midnight Magic – Beam Me Up (Razor n Tape)
It’s hard to believe that this disco anthem is ten years old. Midnight Magic lit up the dancefloor back in 2010 when it was first released. Joining forces with fellow Brooklynites Razor N Tape in 2021, they deliver a three-track disco hottie, which is packing some fierce remix talent. Internasjonal boss man Prins Thomas goes full on cosmic disko, while Kim Ann Foxman takes it down to a dark and dirty basement for some acid. New York club royalty Justin Strauss teams up with Max Pask under their Each Other moniker, turning in an Italo-disco, extended peak-time banger.
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Reviewed by Terry Farley, Sharon Andrews, Stuart Patterson and Dean Mushin
