House News

Andrés almost doesn’t need an introduction. But we’re gonna give him one anyway. Mentioned in the same reverential tones as such illustrious names as Hanna (aka Warren Harris), Marcellus Pittman, Rick Wilhite, Theo Parrish and, of course, Kenny Dixon Jr. (aka Moodymann), all collaborators, colleagues and compadres over many years, the long-serving Detroit producer has rocked up on the likes of Mahogani Music, Moods & Grooves, NDATL Muzik and his own imprint La Vida. Many more besides too when you take into account his hip-hop alter ego DJ Dez. Which is why we are super-stoked that he has joined the Hizou family with his house head on for the super-limited EP, All U Gotta Do Is Listen, a master class in downtempo, sun-kissed soulful beats, both the timeless eponymous title track and the funked-up flipside Night Time Is The Right Time.

Mermaids is many things at once: The debut single by Fila Brazillia (named after the mishearing of a Brazilian mastiff breed mentioned on the radio), the second release on Pork Recordings, a deep house master piece, the brainchild of the summer of love, a pen friend to A Man Called Adam’s Barefoot in the Head and most of all pure balearic bliss. Originally released in 1991 and subsequently featured on Old Codes, New Chaos, which according to Frank Tope at Mixmag, is "the Best Dance LP ever made”, it marked the beginning of a long and illustrious partnership for Hull natives Steve Cobby and David (Man) McSherry.
Mermaids still sounds as good and as addictive on any kind of beach or natural environment as it supposedly did on Boris Dlugosch’s Front dance floor or any other basement suffused with strobe lights at the time (or any hedonistic place for that matter). Having been already part of the latter’s and Klaus Stockhausen’s Mastermix Front Compilation, it has now been dusted off and remastered for an individual performance. Added for the first first time though is the original demo version that makes use of a different yet not less enchanting bass line.
Also included is Fila’s 1994 trippy, dare we say progressive, UK house blueprint Slacker. A seismic shift from the traditional tropes of house, it set an example for what should rock the dance music boat just a few years later. Delivered in a previously unreleased extended version for your utmost enjoyment.
Artwork note: The sleeve photograph is a proto-selfie taken by Steve in 1983 (the year the two first met). Man still has those braces.

Fine, the new musical playground from Johannes Albert and Tilman, announce their first release with neat & warm House loveliness for your pleasure.

Hi Tech a new Ghetto Tech group from Detroit partners Milf Melly and King Milo.

This Album contains the hit song Cash App & Fitness which rocks all the underground partys in Detroit.

Yellow Vinyl Super limited single sided 10" of "an absolute classic with some added acid flair to keep an early morning dancefloor bumping"...in other words, some mysterious guy 303 rework!

We return with the second Glenn Davis” 12”, a year on from his last Yore twelve-inch “Soul On My Side”, Dublin-based DJ and producer Glenn Davis returns with its sequel, the as-stellar Better Daze. The EP's melodic, soulful sound. The dynamic title cut locks in instantly with a pumping kick drum and builds layer by layer thereafter. Percussion, hi-hats, electric piano chords, and synthesizers add to the thrust of the production as it grows ever more urgent. As the track advances, Davis drapes a jazzy keyboard solo across the booming base as the swing swells to a near-ecstatic level. “Your Time” rounds out the A-side with a cut that suggests pure energy at its outset before quickly morphing into a sleek house strut. With percussion included and late-night synth atmospherics folded in, the breezy tune starts to sound like something you'd hear banging out on the Dancefloor thats surrounding you.

On the flip, Davis brings the skipping house groove of "Inner Monologue” to a fever while. Moody chords, hand drums, and a snappy groove set the scene. The female vocalist's soulful delivery and vibes-like earworm that make the tune the standout it is. Think of a dark Room and a red light bulb & House Music forever and a day.

ITWVA001 was born as the first deep collection of House Music. This collection was entirely produced by young and talented Italian artists. Italian Weapons are always looking for sounds from the Italian house scene, allowing their artists to travel back to these golden age sounds.

ITWVA001 Includes 5 tracks carefully selected by the Italian Weapons label. Owned by Niccolo Turini and Gunther Mian. These tracks were mastered by Michele Mucci of Nachtkerzestudio Berlin. The first various artist ranges through all the nuances of Italian house music produced by artists located throughout the country and beyond.

The first round of artists includes Matteo Mangano aka; James Brucke, Heat Alliance, Gunther Mian & Niccolo Turini aka; Funksonik, Samuele de Santis, and Sandro Pandullo

Classic Chicago tracks from the golden age of Wild Pitch from the legendary pioneers, DJ Pierre, Roy Davis Jr, Felix Da Housecat and Danell Dixon. The dance stompers are edited by NY House producer, DJ Duke.

Remastered and Repressed in conjunction with Power Music Records.

Uk classic rave/house Ep released in 1992, back today on FRL Classic Edition.

In three club-geared tracks, Kyoto-based producer Ko Yang maps the allure of floating off-world and the joy still here on planet earth.

A founder and resident of Osaka’s long-running City Boy Lounge party, Ko Yang has been a steady contributor to Japanese party culture for the better part of a decade, hosting international and domestic artists at the homegrown CBL parties.

The release is rounded out with a remix from Alex Kassian, a major talent whose name has become synonymous with quality. Kassian has provided a cut of proggy, tribal euphoria that seems to lift off indefinitely, and is already bringing clubs to a froth internationally

Bliss Point is honored to bring you this collection of off-kilter, otherworldly club sounds from one of Japan’s most exciting talents.

Artwork and packaging by Chris Harnan

The Pan-American Highway is a network of roads measuring about 48,000 kilometres (30,000 mi) in total length. Except for a rainforest break of approximately 100 km (60 mi), called the Darién Gap, the road links almost all of the mainland nations of the Americas in a connected highway system. According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's longest "motorable road". However, because of the Darién Gap, it is not possible to cross between South America and Central America by road.

The Pan-American Highway passes through many diverse climates and ecological types, from dense jungles, to arid deserts, some of which are passable only during the dry season, and in many regions driving is occasionally hazardous.

Jake Silverstein, writing in 2006, described the Pan-American Highway as "a system so vast, so incomplete, and so incomprehensible it is not so much a road as it is the idea of Pan-Americanism itself".

repressed !

Following on from Lyric Hood's solo release, 'Everything / Social Distance' in July, M-Plant takes us into August with the first new release this year from Robert Hood and Floorplan.

Opening the proceedings is a solo mission from Robert Hood. 'The Struggle' opens with acidic-funk that's highlighted by Tamika Mallory's stirring speech following the murder of George Floyd, before launching into powerful stripped-back Techno. This is protest music, Hood-style.

The rest of the EP is devoted to Robert and Lyric Hood's collaborative Floorplan project. The original version of 'Save The Children' brings tough House with blazing horns and vocal refrains to continue the themes of social change. While the Detroit Mix goes deep and bassy, overlaid with poignant vocal samples including the words of Dick Gregory.

Black Lives Matter.

Back in 2015, Mancunian DJ and Producer Hidden Spheres aka Tom Harris joined the Rhythm Section family for our twelfth release. Storming into 2022 and approaching 50 releases Tom has a long overdue return to the label with a synthesis of electronic house vibrations.

‘You Are Not Your Body’ is a stellar collection of five tracks, which touch on the sensations of euphoria and the blissed-out intersection between early prog and Detroit House. Channeling energies for meditation and self love, things kick off with ‘Improvisation’ an electro infused eight minute workout, whilst ‘Euan 92’ is a festival-defining ‘hands-in-the-air’ anthem tried and tested by Bradley Zero on the road throughout 2021.

Love Your Body is a delightful disco-esque chugger reinforcing joyful energies and an infectious bass line to keep you wiggling on the dance floor. Things come to a close with a spaced out balearic house
remix by RS family favourite Ruf Dug.

After a frenzied 2019 debut on Pinkman under his scarcely-used Amato alias, The Hacker brings his seminal sound to Mindri for the sublabel's 3rd release. Exploring desolate cityscapes and windswept tundras shrouded in winter's gloom, he provides 6 club tracks that are suitable for dancefloors at any stage of the night. From feverish 4/4 kicks to stalking electro and a chugging after-hours stomp, stripped back rhythms dominate throughout. Punching their way through misty pads in a relentless chase with metallic synths that are icy to the touch, these are 6 slabs of machine-driven grooves from a master of the art.

It's hard to believe it is now a full decade since Detroit's Dez Andres blew up off the back of his classic house jam 'New For U.' He had of course been toiling away for years before that, recording with Moodyman and DJing for Slum Village amongst other things. Since then the music has kept coming - some of it hip-hop as DJ Dez, some of it house under this alias, and much of it a perfect fusion of the two. And that's what we get here on this new EP for Beretta Music - four lush deep house joints with his smooth signature drum loops and gloriously incidental melodies. The slower, funkier bounce of 'Back To Nature' is the EP highlight for us, but all four of these are a cut above, as per usual with Dez.

From 2008 comes 'Keys, Strings, Tambourines' - Kenny Larkin's fourth full length LP.

Yet another advanced, singular and funked out techno milestone that bears all of Larkin's idiosyncratic stylings and melodic touches. Once more he shows us how it's done, sounding like nothing you've heard from him previously, 'Keys, Strings, Tambourines' is a truly adventurous record that defies categorisation today. Quietly influencing producers and DJs since its release, it points to where techno can go and what it can be and is a truly and criminally overlooked modern Detroit techno classic. This is an essential purchase for all electronic machine-funk aficionados worldwide. This special expanded edition boasts a slightly reshuffled track order and some additional cuts that were only available on singles at the time, now giving the world 3 solid slabs of futurist techno sonics for the believers! Essential music from the motor city.

'Keys, Strings, Tambourines' has been legitimately reissued for 2022 on Kenny’s own Art Of Dance imprint. Remastered from DAT tapes and original sources by Curve Pusher. Artwork redesigned by Atelier Superplus.

Burn it down again...

The brothers Burden return with new perspectives on key tracks from their 2015 album ‘Burn It Down’. Fresh for 2021, we give you ‘Reworks’.
‘Believer’ takes the lead with a new update and a killer dub mix. Instantly recognisable from that vibrant timeless riff, it encapsulates everything the game- changing double-O unit have been synonymous with since ‘Believe’ over 30 years ago. Complete with the legendary vocals of fellow legend Ann Saunderson (who also sung on their seminal ‘Black Water’ back in 2000), it’s proof that things are still worth believing in.

It’s backed by new takes on ‘Whatever She Wants’. A slight increase in tempo and extra large servings of vibes on the side, the contemplative filtered chords are even more hypnotising than ever. Delivered in both edit and dub form, it’s another precision reminder who to uplift with subtlety and class. Something Octave One have been doing since day one.

Growing up in Chicago, later Detroit-based music producer, Theo Parrish is internationally well known for his own inimitable downtempo house music style. The approach Parrish took to compiling DJ-Kicks was very ambitious, inviting his Detroit peers to produce a collection of brand new material, and in turn creating the first ever all exclusive entry to the esteemed series.

"Detroit creates. But rarely imitates. Why? We hear and see many from other places do that with what we originate. No need to follow. Get it straight. In the Great Lakes there are always more under the surface than those that appear to penetrate the top layer of attention and recognition. What about them that defy tradition? Those that side step the inaccurate definitions often given from outside positions? This is that evidence. Enjoy."


First official compilation by Theo Parrish
All exclusive unreleased material
Includes new music from Theo Parrish
Triple LP sampler containing 15 full length tracks

Detroit's Filthiest’s first appearance on Deep & Roll imprint is probably his wettest EP so far.

The 4-track 12’’ starts with the banger « Deep Penetration » - a dancefloor killer with a unique vibe that will make you bounce dat ass. « Dnb Spacedrift » continues this smooth journey in the space brothel until you flip the script with « Midnight Special » - another sexy but more funky jam. And if you’re still thirsty « Soul Brotha #1» will definitely get you third base with the humanoid creature that just caught your eye.

For their second installment, the Chateau Chepere crew brings on board legendary producer Stephan Laubner under his STL moniker, with four time warping pieces of music. With his distinctive and intricate sonic palette, Laubner extracts from his hardware different musical colors and shapes to produce singular atmospheres. Opening up the EP is Fly Fly, an epic 11 min minimal house trip full of tension and excitement, followed by Eargrind, an eerie, laid back Detroit leaning ballad. On the flip is Light Up, a spaced out, playful and bittersweet number that will revitalize any hazy after-hours dancefloor. Closing up the EP is Unlike Dislike, a quirky, jacking and mischievous techno workout for the packed club. This diverse ep will pull the listeners and dancers into Laubner's multifaceted, low key but captivating universe.

John Beltran aka Indio is back with a follow up to the great Detroit Dancer release earlier this year. Here with a even more Detroit sounding prodcuction that makes us think of early Detroit / Transmat releases..

On the remix duty we have 2 absolutely stunning remixes from Convextion / E.R.P.

HIEROGLYPHIC BEING emerges with more electronic easy listening music for the home listener & the defiant ones who move in silence in a crowded world. This project is a sonic tribute 2 the likes of JON HASSELL.

A killer but hard-to-find track, In Love was originally released on the highly respected Smallfish Records as a limited 500 12in: the current asking price on Discogs is around £100.

Now, In Love is re-released with some excellent additions as a new 4-track 12in EP 300 limited run.

Four tracks that mix Techno/Deep House groove with rock-solid bass, Spaced-out Dub, Detroit and Acid influences, all uniquely Vertical Cat.

In Love is a deep spacious roller with a delicious bassline and dubbed-out fx.

Snow Creatures is deeper still, more Electro but still solid and spaced-out as f.

Moss is a Detroit Techno masterpiece with Drexciya-tinged melodies and acid bass.

You Shocker! concentrates the Acid with sweet beats and dubbed daft vocal cuts.

Vertical Cat has released music on Vice, Smallfish, Sulphur, Projector and Achingly.

Artwork by Celyn: celynbrazier (Luke Vibert’s artist)

>>>>Cryovac Recordings is allowed to exist by artists and craftsmen that take up the cause and come together to share their skillset. A Cryovac artist is a master of their own style. They are heros that represent the best of Detroit’s spirit. From Dietrich to Desmond to the house of Archer, Cryovac is a product that is crafted at each step by years of know-how. The Cryovac machine continues its course through an ever changing technosphere.

>>>>James “jit” Pennington a.k.a. The Suburban Knight has the honor of techno nobility; with a warrior ethos he loyally defends Detroit around the world. The Knights tracks are legendary and his service to the underground code compels him to come to the aid of Cryovac. ”Lectrasonic” activates a hypersensitive conga rattling the night air and through swelling synth predatory melody becomes prey to a breaking kick.
>>>>Mike Petrack is a cool customer with an easy style and his tracks are the same. Petrack’s Info Lines record label is the latest concoction from this ever innovating techno collaborator. “Holy Redeemer '' rises with an infectious melody through bossa nova rhythm to a point of spiritual awareness inside a natural funk.
>>>>a.garcia & M. kretsch are a team that have learned to work in unison to develop all parts of a space with sound. Their construction and deconstruction of the techno sound is a reflection of a spartan Detroit ethos. “invasion” is a 4/4 minimal rocker that rings to life with an eerie synth attacking with waves of effect bringing a tone of other worldly dread.
>>>>Mollison folson a.k.a. Body Mechanic brings his gregarious personality to all genres he delves into. He is a musician of instrument and computer with a focus on freeky love music. “Everything” is a smooth and jazzy minimal mover that harmonizes synth over a funky bass line.

The four tracks here - repressed by dint of public demand and on sumptuous blue vinyl this time round - will delight house and techno heads alike, with the latter probably gravitating to the grittier off killer shuffle of 'Weed or Majik', while the A-side boasts the smoother, more soulful 'Moveable', the kind of slower house gear that Weatherall championed at his 'Love From Outer Space' night. A calming vocal sample and tooting saxes join the string-swaddled, crunchily floorfilling groove of 'In Ya Mind' meanwhile, and 'Turquoise Wave' clocks in as stripped down and serene. Gorgeous stuff all round.

Detroit legend Alton Miller is back on Quintessentials with another, well yes, essential EP! The follow up to the „Essentials ya dig“ (QE 82) is his new „Run the essentials“, a beautiful deep house release that shows all of Alton’s qualities. Deep and soulful yet raw and groovy, these three tracks include another highlight: Alton Miller’s vocals! Classy and mature proper House music we dare to say!

Repress!

Leading Detroit house practitioner Kyle Hall's Forget The Clock label might be home to some of his best work. This fourth EP is gorgeously jazzy deep house offering. The drums swing seductively, the chords are draped over the whole track to bring warmth and soul and the leads ring out with real meaning. All that is certainly yer case not he majestic a-side 'The Polychronic,' while 'Str8 Rollin' picks up the pace a little while remaining deeply touching. Last of all comes the late night soul and groovy bump n grid of 'Ghost Dog,' another perfectly warm and lived in tune with that analogue texture we all love.

Back after a short break, Bass Cadet Records' Orbit series continues with a 3 tracker from US legend Alton Miller. On the A-side lays 9 minutes of pure Detroit House bliss, with a version of his classic track "When Morning Comes" that has only seen light on a japanese special limited edition until now. The flip offers two brilliant club crafts that sparkle Chicago soulful Deep House in the vein of Ron Trent, Glenn Underground and co.

With the EP Mental Scapes, ALVA shows a first short format resolutely house. Every track is an evolution, a progress. Downtown - with its rhythmic part supported by the disco and deep atmospheres - is reminiscent of the influence of the 90s French house on the duo's tracks. The Shore is a very deep production with a groovy and a minimal bass, with these incisive hi hats and rides, and this sensual vocal. Lighthouse uses several musical registers between techno, soul and NY house. The outro, Playground, recorded in one shot, is a short downtempo track to enclose in a groovy way this first EP from the Parisian duo.

We would like to invite you on an excursion of sorts:

Close your eyes, leave the grey wash of daytime TV and ready meals behind, and let the whiskey-soaked Automatic Tasty be your spirit guide.
Slowly you will drift over multi-coloured hills, then over vermilion seas, rising in the sky following the Sun until you reach the very edges of Ideaspace itself. What lies beyond that boundary is entirely up to you.

Returning to Realplace temporarily, you should find a burning desire to turn something in your life upside-down. Again you will dive thru the mists of imagination. This time bring back gifts: shining, lustrous pearls; seeds which may grow to provide brain-fruit if properly tended to.

On future journeys, gather your friends around the twin-headed god of music and invite them to join you & Automatic Tasty, for this is truly Social media.

D3 Elements is an always cultured deep house label and so it is no surprise to find the great US producer Alton Miller has been recruited for a new EP. He has a richly musical sound and roots that go back decades, and it shows: 'Clone' is the sort of stylish backroom house that layers diffuse chords with dusty drums and cannot fail to warm the heart. 'All Of It' explores more broken and Afro-tinged drum patterns with golden Rhodes chords and astral leads. This top trio is completed with the funky kick patterns and perfect soulful vocals of 'Waitin 4 You'. Detroit mainstay Kevin Reynolds remixes it into a hypnotic Motor City roller.

Derrick Jamerson was the son of Motown bassist James Jamerson Jr. and grandson of Motown Funk Brother's house band bassist James Jamerson. He himself made a select few house records back in the mid-nineties which have been unearthed by some contemporary deep diggers.

A couple of his tunes now get reissued on this The Legacy Continues EP on Endangered Musique. 'So Hard' is traditional US house with organ chords, chattery claps and well-placed vocal samples, then 'Hot House' gets a bit more loose and soulful. On the flip are three different versions of Derrick's biggest tune, 'Adventures Of A Disco Diva', all of which bring some form of piano house magic.