Let's take a look at what rhythms and grooves are exciting me this week. From a DJ's perspective, there's lots to go at: from new Razor n Tape and Daybreakers releases keeping the roots end of house and disco up, through to some more heads-y, tech-y, trance-y house bits such as the forthcoming Zeynep Erbay EP and a special GEMs rerelease on the horizon (they just can't stop killing it with these reissues!)
Oh and if anyone finds themselves Manchester way mid-week, I'll be playing an all night long set at Renae in the Northern Quarter on Wednesday 3rd June, digging deep and groovy.
Enjoy these new sounds:
GLENN UNDERGROUND / Ge-ology / Andrés / JKriv - RNT In The D Vol. 2
When you combine the name Razor n Tape with top-tier groove gods like Glenn Underground, Ge-ology, Andrés and JKriv, you get a special kind of synergy that only exists in extra-funky circumstances.
‘Slide Back (GU Edit)’ is classy trad-funk with a trumpet-led lead line. ‘The Feeling (Dez Andrés Flip) takes on a more sultry tone as it washes over you with jazz flutes, echoed-out vocal chops and deep, warm keys.
On the b-side, more funky goodness comes from Ge-ology and JKriv, as they raise the roof with upfront dance floor focused grooves.
Vick Lavender - Essential Traxx vol. 3
Daybreakers are at it again with their ‘does what it says on the tin’ deep, groove-led house releases. This time they welcome Chicago’s Vick Lavender for Essential Traxx Vol. 3.
Uniting house, jazz, and dubbed-out elements, this instalment in the series gives us one track of deep house per side - no nonsense (and arguably the best format in my opinion for a dance 12!).
‘Atmosphere is a spacey, blissed-out, quasi-electronic feeling track - perfect for zoning out to on the dance floor. ‘There It Is’ featuring DMillz is the more sober antidote to the A side, with jazzy chords and buttery vocals to lift you up out of the haze mid-dance.
‘Brought up on French house music and pints of Guiness’ - this is the tagline of Dublin DJ ‘SHEE’. One listen to his latest EP ‘Rosebud’ on Southern Fried Records and that unmistakable French house influence is undeniable.
Huge strings, repeating nonchalant vocals, and thumping kick drums dominate the festival-ready A-side ‘Rosebud’ featuring Karma Kid.
‘Skylift’ takes the mood into more melancholy territory, with hazy synth stabs, long build-ups and forlorn vocals. ‘The Groove’ is a terrace-ready organ house slammer of an anthem fit for Ibizan Summer nights. Final track ‘Runaway’ saves the best until last, with its Homework-era Daft punk feel featuring thick distorted bass riffs under vocal chops and zippy electronic dub siren noises.
Real upfront house music for peak time madness.
Opal Sunn is the union between Alex Kassian and Hiroaki Oba. This EP, which was released a couple of years ago, is back in stock - we are beyond excited to have it back on our shelves.
A beautiful, ethereal, euphoric trip through ambient house and trance-inflected sounds, Elastic presents us with 3 ‘Phase’ tracks, each one a different take on the same headsy, blissed out vibes.
A must buy for the lover of dub-infused, euphoric house.
DJ Support: Alex Kassian, DJ Cosmo, Lovefingers, Sean Johnston, Laurent Garnier, Massimiliano Pagliara, Moxie, Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy.
Minnie Riperton - Les Fleur / Oh By The Way
Soul music doesn’t get much more iconic than Minnie Riperton’s ‘Les Fleur’, and now you can own it on this stunning purple vinyl.
Those crashing drum cymbals, proud horns, and of course, Minnie’s angelic vocals - simply unrivalled silky soul music.
The B side, ‘Oh By The Way’, is a serene, blissful journey, perfect for those coffee-sippin’ home listening sessions or when you need to reach for that uplifting bar record on those sunny afternoon sessions.
Gideon Jackson - Helpless / Sales In The Wind
Gems are quite simply on a fireball of a roll at the moment with their unearthing of tech-house-leaning club cuts. Next up is Gideon Jackson with Helpless - an absolute mammoth of a chunky, electronic, driving, acid-tinged club track. The Freeform Mix brings the track into breakbeat rave territory, whilst firmly keeping its foundation in that swung tech house realm.
‘Sales in the Wind’ on the b-side is a rolling groove machine that gives the listener space to vibe out and get fully lost in the magic.
Tech house fans, rolling groove obsessives, those who gravitate towards the Francesco del Garda, Raresh, Richards way of building a vibe - this one’s for you.
Moments on The Floor is the new label from Zeynep Erbay, and for it’s inaugural release she gifts us with this dreamy, trance-inflected house EP.
The music on this piece of black vinyl has elements of deep house, progressive touches, and a mediterranean-feeling euphoria. Standout track ‘Sky High’ washes over you like an ocean wave, backed by enough kick drum punch and skip percussion to feel at home in a club. ‘Mental Mirage’ feels locked into that early-90’s, loved-up European house vibe, whilst on the flip side, vocal and instrumental cuts of ‘Astral Glide’ carry on the immaculate sound seamlessly.
Pre-orders now available, this one’s a future classic!
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Until next time - Tom