We Play House Recordings arrived in 2008 courtesy of Belgian club icon Bart Van Neste, better known as Red D. The label was Van Neste’s attempt to create a forceful platform for the music of close friend Nicolas ‘San Soda’ Geysens. The label’s name spoke volumes – We…Play…House. Red D was still closely aligned to Belgium’s New Beat and trance scenes but wanted to return to dance music’s raw origins – a time when ‘house’ represented so many different, pulsating electronic sounds. Eventually, the label began to include the releases of other talented artists too (as well Van Neste and Geysens’ work together as FCL). Its simple mission statement, and ability to resist outside influence, ensured global progression and influence far beyond Van Neste’s wildest dreams.
Here, we look to sum up We Play House Recordings' thumping story in 10 records…
San Soda – ‘Limited Gear EP’ (2008)
Geysens presented the label’s second release, having already provided its first with ‘San Soda Presents...’ Follow-up EP ‘Limited Gear’ maintained house standards brilliantly and raised them, tracks like the epic ‘Just In’ and ‘Got Me Jumpin’ In My Car’ (a potent mix of live-sounding drums and organs) uncovering a deeper, more expansive side to Soda’s already buoyant sonic personality. The EP also featured Red D and Lady Linn’s (the latter, a regular vocal cohort of both D and Soda) sublime remix of ‘20070505’, one jack-happy half of We Play House Recordings' inaugural release. And it would pave the way for further influential, flag-waving Soda outings on the label, chiefly ‘The Super Pim Pam Pet EP’ (2009), ‘Blue’ (2009) and ‘Purple’ (2009).
Reggie Dokes – ‘Spectacle Of Deepness EP’ (2009)
The confident kick-drum march of Dokes’ opening EP gambit ‘Dream Catcher’ (re-edited by FCL) grabbed the attention immediately, leading into a raw, hypnotic thrash of squelch-bass, jazz key loops and scything hi-hats. Accompanying cuts ‘Walk In Deepness’ and ‘Dancefloor Spectacle’ fused more punchy house rhythms and musical flourishes, whilst ‘Flowers Forever’ bounced cleverly upon downbeats and slid gracefully across lush synthscapes – all at the same time. We Play House Recordings was proudly widening its remit, both in terms of roster and sonic spectrum.
Russ Gabriel – ‘Mr Din’ (2009)
Veteran Brit Gabriel conveyed irresistible originality via Mr Din, a supremely funky and sax-y 4-4 groove from EP ‘Le Voyeur’. The track was a major favourite on underground dancefloors around the world, its smoky slink reminding (distantly) of Norma Jean Bell’s 1996 Detroit diamond ‘I’m The Baddest Bitch’. Superior deep-house.
FCL – ‘Let’s Go’ (2010)
Van Neste and Geysens’ first original outing on We Play House Recordings as FCL – their first original outing full stop. ‘Let’s Go’ takes the partygoer back to house’s mid-Nineties heyday quite spectacularly, some particularly crisp 4-4 and mesmeric organ stabs hustling beneath spiritual vocals (both looped and free-flowing). Of course ‘Let’s Go’ also drives forwards with contemporary edge, making it a winning fusion of old and new. Included appropriately, on the boys’ ‘Vocals For Everyone EP’, it reinforced We Play House’s broad, idiosyncratic electronic appeal across much of clubland.
Nacho Marco & Raoul Lambert – ‘The Cinnamon EP’ (2010)
An amazing partnership between the Valencian wiz and Leuven flyer (real name Raoul Belmans), arguably more impactful for We Play House Recordings than the duo debut of FCL. Opening lick ‘Cinnamon Dreams’ is the one, stuttered vocals, key stabs and plush synths riding the bass-y disco-groove with future-facing aplomb. Marco & Lambert’s additional sprinkling of acid takes things here to a whole dance dimension. Belmans adds solo production ‘Monaco Right Now’ (mellow disco swagger) and Marco provides ‘Delicate’ (early hours chic), both of a similarly high calibre but, ultimately, unable to match ‘Cinnamon Dreams’’ perfection. To date, one of the label’s finest moments – a masterpiece.
DJ Yellow – ‘EP’ (2011)
France’s grand master guested on We Play House Recordings in 2011 with ‘EP’, featuring three collaborations with Indonesian singer-songwriter Astrid Suryanto (as well as track ‘Je T’m’ with Franco-Spanish TV celebrity Marlene). The re-issued ‘Night In Tranzylvania’ is hugely accessible yet credible, combining mellow, atmospheric electronics and Suryanto’s transcendent, freshly made vocals. ‘Angel’s Part’ pushes the label’s ambient boundaries even further, an incredible Blade Runner-esque symphony of pads and, yes, angelic vocals. Stunning new ground. The final Suryanto collaboration, is in fact a sensitively-judged Russ Gabriel remix of ‘Night In Tranzylvania’. DJ Yellow’s EP remains one of Van Neste’s favourite label releases, and immensely popular on diverse Belgian dancefloors and beyond. Another killer label reminder that house is more than 4-4….
FCL – ‘It’s You’ (2012)
Van Neste, Geysens and We Play House’s true defining moment. ‘It’s You’ gained massive mainstream attention but, impressively, swerved any kind of pigeon hole (which has aided FCL’s subsequent career) – a catchy, soulful, gorgeously harmonized production positioned on the mildest, most minimal of dance beats, Lady Linn’s golden vocals and the raw influence of ESP’s 1986 Chicago classic of the same name. Once again, We Play House Recordings was demonstrating how ‘house’ could entrance without necessarily resorting to pumping grooves, just as it did in ESP’s day – yes we felt ‘the heat’ but from a slow-burn production par excellence. ‘It’s You’ has been supported by every DJ worth their salt, remixed by titans David Morales, MK and Larry Heard, and even used by global supermarket behemoth Tesco for its high-profile Florence + Fred fashion label.
Art Of Tones – ‘Take Me Higher’ (2013)
A relatively recent highlight, Art Of Tones – AKA French groove king Llorca – turning out thrillingly funky soul-house flavour that motors on sturdy 4-4 swing, laidback disco samples, aisle-stomping vocal parts and that Kerri Chandler-esque bass. Taking us higher all the way….
Kiani & His Legion – ‘Records & Culture’ (2013)
Another gifted Belgian, Thomas Neyens’ alter-ego shifting the We Play House Recordings mood yet again thanks to an incisive, limited edition production starting with moody synths and the unsettling swell of sirens before, unexpectedly, embracing uplifting key melodies and peppy drums – indeed, the dramatic build-up to the beat makes it 10 times as spine-tingling. Panoramic house music, subsequently relicensed last year by DFTD as worthy support to new Kiani cut ‘Legions From The East’ – another gradually-building dancefloor bomb extending We Play House’s reputation.
FCL – ‘Can We Try’ (2014)
How to follow ‘It’s You?’ Both FCL and We Play House Recordings had the perfect answer in ‘Can We Try’ earlier this year. The astute studio arrangement initially suggests a re-tread of ‘It’s You’ – minimal beats and tinkling electronics beneath Lady Linn’s smooth, yet emotive delivery. But then the drums bulk out, a seriously abrasive baseline kicks in, waves of cascading keys descend and, euphorically, that piano riff lands. FCL achieve both atmosphere and anthem, whilst remixer Deetron switches pianos for synths on his resplendent alternative version. There is absolutely no sense, based on this mature production (and those also this year from Marco, Gabriel and Locked Groove) that We Play House is losing any momentum at is approaches 2015. On the contrary, things are only getting better.
Looking ahead, Van Neste is promising new FCL and San Soda material for next year and there is every expectation that some of it will end up on We Play House Recordings; not to mention a whole heap of cuts from the rest of the label’s now fully grown family. As always with this pioneering label, expect the unexpected – the best kind of formula for classic house music.
As Van Neste told Defected recently: “We’re underdogs and we sink our teeth in anything interesting coming our way, and every now and then we add something interesting ourselves. A true Belgian does not follow trends, because [smiling] we were never hip enough to set trends ourselves....”
Words: Ben Lovett
Defected presents FCL In The House is out 25 January (2CD, digital and vinyl sampler) on Defected Records - order from iTunes and Amazon.
For more info on We Play House Recordings head to www.weplayhouserecordings.com
