The Faith team are back with this month's essential H.O.U.S.E listening, selected by Terry Farley, Dean Muhsin, Stuart Patterson, DJ Paulette and Sharon Andrews. This month's Behind The Counter includes stylish NYC house from Levon Vincent, a sought-after disco re-work from HIFI Sean, Detroit Techno soul from rising star DJ Holographic and sun-drenched sounds from Berlin's Cioz, as well as the debut release from Faith's new label. This expertly selected array of cuts will have you itching for a summer on the dancefloor.

** Single of the Month ** 

DC LaRue - Cathedrals (Faith)

Truly iconic records transcend time and trends and D.C LaRue's mid 70's love letter to Disco is up there in the pantheon of disco. The story David Charles L'Heureux tells is one of a heady mescaline induced night at David Mancuso's iconic Loft party where caught up in the atmosphere DC shouted loudly 'These are the new Cathedrals' and the next day wrote the lyrics about what he had witnessed and absorbed. Four decades plus later, the new Faith label has proudly picked 'Cathedrals' as its debut release. The glorious multi tracks were found and used to wonderful effect by Maurice Fulton, Chicago's Jamie 3:26, Farley & Jarvis plus a older edit by Greg Wilson that gets its first vinyl outing. Maurice's mix is full of leftfield Drama, Jamie's is 'Chicago' while the Faith duo loop up the hooks and add some jacking 909's and hats. Is this a conflict of interest or is it simply our favourite record this month?

Levon Vincent - Cyclops Trx (Novel Sound)

To us, Levon Vincent is the torchbearer of a distinct New York sound that was pushed by Tenaglia and Vasquez in the cities pre-Juliani clubbing era - muscular, bone-shaking records with the sort of depth you can lose yourself within. ‘Cyclops Trax’ does the business on all of the fronts mentioned above. ‘Cyclops Trx 1’ is a relentless 14-minute workout that steadily progresses from moody tribal rattler into a deftly handled melodic anthem with a lower case ‘a’. The flip’s ‘Cyclops Trx 2’ trades percussive drive for stylish bottom-heavy piano meanderings and is the perfect foil to its A-side. 

Fire Island – Shout To The Top (HIFI Sean Remixes) (White Label)

Limited edition promo only of a reimagined classic cover version that hit the top 40 back in the mid 90's. Pete Heller and Terry Farley teamed up with the goddess that was Loleatta Holloway and took on Paul Weller's style council classic, Loleatta's vocals are so on point and luckily survived on a dusty DAT in Junior Boys Own's chief Steve Halls' loft. HIFI Sean had been playing the OG to much acclaim at Glitterbox and asked if he could do himself a 'special ' to play out. Months of very hard and creative hours in the studio he walked out with a beautiful reprise, a funky as hell main Disco infused mix and a big techy stabs House mix. A few of these demo's 12's are out in the shops as we speak - good luck digging .

DJ Holographic - Faith In My Cup (Planet E)

Breakthrough Detroit DJ/producer Ariel Corely aka DJ Holographic drops a sublime piece of Detroit techno soul, which will feature on her forthcoming compilation, the next instalment of the excellent Detroit Love series on Carl Craig's Planet E Communications. This highly emotive rework of a Father John Misty song featuring Detroit singer Apropos on vocals has it all, depth, dance floor punch and tons of that Detroit Soul. 

The thought of playing this loud at our 21st in July, is just a bit exciting. 

Shiba San – Let's Go Dancing (Repopulate Mars)  

Shiba drops a double header of downright bangaliciousness here. ‘Let's Go Dancing’ layers its cheeky spoken vocal over a solid four and old skool organ for a right old dark corners sleaze up. ‘Do Your Thang’ is a high octane, diva vocal screamer that works the bassline and organ into a shameless, hands in the air crowdpleaser. It’s an absolute blazer. Welcome back Shiba San.

Norm Talley - Tracks from the Asylum 2 (Upstairs Asylum)

The third release from Norm Talley’s Upstairs Asylum label sees the criminally under-appreciated Detroit producer serve up a four-track sequel to his decade-old release on MixMode. Ranging from upbeat and funk-laced sample beatdowns to pensive heads down grooves via eerie percussive dubs, Talley’s latest 12” is a masterclass. Head to ‘Digital XTC (Detroit Mix)’ for some unabashed and grinding dancefloor energy.

Dan Curtin – Soul System (The Sound of Berlin) 

Dan's rather unique Deep Techno meets Soulful take on House music has moved DJ's and dancefloors since the very early 90's and his classics on Strictly Rythm, Peacefrog and many other independent labels. Two slices of hypnotic deepness with 'Body Flap Position' going in hard but still retaining its Deepness meanwhile  'Soul System' is a more sedate jazz inspired affair with scat vocals, warm pads but still at a pace that could keep a crowd dancing at 4am, one of those double siders that stays in the box.

Moe Taha – No One (A & M Detroit) 

Detroit DJ, musician and producer Moe Taha kicks off his new label with a quite wonderful slice of Detroit Soulful House. Electronic Soul from the Motor City, the Moodyman influences are apparent, his love of Jazz and latin also into the mix with a great female vocal riding the jacking beats (apologies we dont know who she) a real great mood changer of a record as Moe himself said, "After everything the entire world endured in 2020, all the people we have lost, and frankly just being here now, alive, healthy, and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I wanted to write something uplifting that you can move to."

Cioz - Rain (Get Physical)

This unassuming percussive outing builds with an offbeat pulse that makes you ride the waves and connect with each surge. Close your eyes, lose yourself in the synth swell, feel the sand between your toes, let the vocal rain down on your skin and snog the face off whoever is standing next to you. Enjoy the journey. Here comes summer.

Raf Rundell - Always Fly (Bruise Remix) (Heavenly)

The Hot Bruise remix duo (Diesel and Christian Campell) hit pay dirt again with this wonderfully wonky remix. The vocalist is Mercury prize nominee Terry Walker who was big on the UKG scene back in the late 90's and who's soulful voice rides the rythm perfectly. The Bruise Dub mix still uses her vocals to great effect at the tail end of a rather epic journey. Such a wonderful mix that really showcases the vocals so well.

Session Victim - Two Crowns EP (Delusions of Grandeur)  

If you were to cut Hauke Freer and Matthias Reiling in half, they would bleed musicality. There is an undeniable love for what they do and how they flawlessly they execute it. Session Victim are on a constant quest for new sounds and this month they release the ‘Two Crowns’ EP on London’s Delusions of Grandeur. The title track is dangerous and sure to do some damage as its full of funk, stabbing synths and wobble. Guidance is lush and uplifting, with an arrangement that has a Mr. Fingers/Larry Heard tilt. Village Youth goes full-on ace drums, broken house vibes and old school stabs. This is sublime business from this stellar duo. It’s a collection of cuts that cements their legacy even further.

Reviewed by Terry Farley, Dean Muhsin, Stuart Patterson, DJ Paulette and Sharon Andrews

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