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DEEP & TECH HOUSE (April 2011)

Reviewed by  Louis Hughes’

Various Artists - Violet 08 Sampler - Freerange Records Colour Series: 

Freerange demonstrate how to do a sampler properly with four very solid tracks in the latest of their colour series.  Label boss Jimpster kicks things off with the charming “Cloudwalking”.  Any fans will know what to expect but basically it’s a 120bpm Deep House Monster.  Mic Newman’s “Filthy Forever” for me is the stand out track on the release with a tracky groove, sultry stabs and spoken vocal snippets.   Athmetics throw in the nice melodic track “The Faint Of Heart” and Martin Pationo completes the package with the orchestral sampling “Make Love”.  Freerange fans will not be disappointed.

Remote People & Ed Maddams - For The Night EP - Deep Edition Recordings

Where to start with this EP is really hard, let alone write about it as it’s very rare that you get five tracks on an EP and struggle to pick a favourite.  Well that’s the quality on this release from UK up and comers Remote People & Ed Maddams.  The first track “Wurlizer” has repetitive vocal hook that builds amongst the lively percussion and deep funky rhythms while track number two “Deeper” does exactly what it suggests.  “Seven Arms” sounds like it was inspired by the Rio carnival and “Ladycake” is a sure Slomo Disco hit. The final track on the EP “She” basically brings the funk with seven and half minutes of goodness.  If sub 120bpm House is your thing then you need this in your collection.           

Units / Motel Connection – High Pressure Days / HEROIN (Phil Weeks Remixes) – Robsoul Ltd

Phil Weeks is riding high from his recent acclaimed album “Love Affair” on his infamous Robsoul imprint.  Here Phil delivers his next project with remixes of bands from outside the House genre.  Due on a limited vinyl pressing in early May there are two takes of each cut with a remix and dub mix just in case lots of vocals are not your thing.  The Units are a San Francisco based punk band and their track “High Pressure Days” gets the typical driving and tracky treatment we have come to expect from Phil.  The second band to get the remixed are Motel Connection with their track “Heroin”.  This is a peak time monster with the “Ghetto Dub mix” being the stand out track on the EP for me.

Toka Project - Jazz Element EP- Amenti

The Toka Project is Andy Riley, one half of the prolific and well respected DJ and production duo The Inland Knights.  Here Andy makes his second appearance on San Francisco based label Amenti under this pseudonym with two very strong tracks.  “In To This” has funky undertones, jackin beats and repetitive stabs.  “Jazz Element” is a bit more of a straight up Underground club track with a female vocal, funky keys and driving bassline.   Overall this is a very solid release from a very consistent label.

Tony Lionni - Take Me Higher EP - Tokyo House Underground 

The 90’s was arguably the golden age for House music and “Take Me Higher” certainly manages to encapsulate Deep House from the decade.  A fat bassline, vocal loop and classic piano build to a crescendo which will move any floor that isn’t dead.  “Galaxia” is deep number with subtle pads and sign bassline before a melodic lead kicks in.  The final track on the EP “Take Yo Time” is very much the Deep House sound of now to wrap up a very solid EP.