Review: Deep House doesn't get deeper than Deep Explorer, Dubbyman's evergreen label transmitting out of Spain. On this latest 12", Allstarr Motomusic makes a welcome return after the first volume of Beauty & Simplicty back in 2015. This time they're working in collaboration with vocalist Sarignia Bonfa and the results are stunning. "Burning (In My Soul)" is a gorgeous, dubbed out slice of deep house with a true Midwest flavour, while "El Sonido Deepex" takes things into even more sultry territory. There's also space for downtempo reflection on "Space Of Life", but also watch out for the deadly remix of "The Whole Hood In My House" by CVO.
Review: Organic Analogue broadens its remit on this killer boogie inflected diversion from Italian producer Croza. Where the label has been often associated with deeper techno and electro, it sounds right at home exploring the Moog bass licks and snappy drum programming that pours like a fine wine out of every track. "Night Heat" is the perfect lead track, all steamy synth throb and funky guitar licks, while "Feel" turns up the pressure with a proto house burner that would have set the Paradise Garage alight. Also look out for a rare appearance from AD Bourke, who cruises on to the record to deliver a blissed out version of "Night Heat" for the smokiest of sundown situations.
Review: Georgian producer Hamatsuki appeared on GASP last year with the Uncertain Loops cassette release, but makes his vinyl debut on this damn fine 12" for the recently minted Sensu label. "Remember" is a rich, undulating swirl of deep house laden with melancholic pads, while "Rett" sports a sunnier tone for its own arsenal of soft, rounded synth tones. DJ Sports comes on board for a remix of "Rett" that plays with said synths and creates springy, computer jazz melodic threads out of them. "Inexplainable Inner Sadness" completes the set with another trip into warm, Chicago-indebted house tones for the introspective dancer.
Review: Is It Balearic? welcome Ilija Rudman back to the fold for the first time since the excellent True Colours album back in 2015, and the Croatian disco house mainstay sounds like he's on searing form. "Motions" is a luscious deep house jam with a throbbing low end, but made all the more powerful by the sultry vocal turn from Andre Espeut. Italo house veteran Don Carlos is a smart shout for two remixes, kicking off with the uplifting yet understated groove of the vocal version before spreading over the B side with the beatless but driving pulse of the ambient mix.
Tilman - "Without Your Love"
Jonny Rock - "Oldschool Funk Edit"
Lucky Charmz - "Sun Mountain"
Review: Bobby Pleasure's Needs label has been launched as a not-for-profit concern aimed at raising money for worthy causes, and on this second instalment they're setting their sights on British homelessness charity Crisis. They've called upon a cracking cast of deep house operators to help donate their jams to the cause, kicking off with Tilman's infectious, looped up heavy-grooving "Without Your Love". Jonny Rock takes a boogie-inflected, 80s approach on the aptly titled "Oldschool Funk Edit", while Lucky Charmz heads into swooning edit territory on the beautiful "Sun Mountain". Pletnev rounds the record out in fine style with a tripped out bongo roller in the shape of "Babunde'.
Review: Introducing Basic Vision, a new imprint releasing a vinyl series of rare classics from the legendary back to basics club. Selected and compiled by the man who played the first ever record at the club, original resident DJ Ralph Lawson. All the tracks are cut to vinyl from the original master recordings and given enough time on high quality vinyl to ensure clean, loud pressings with original artwork by the godfather of punk design - Jamie Reid.
Basic Vision 001 features one of the greatest ever house music records - Lil Louis & The World's 'I Called You (The Story Continues), still a firm favourite of Ricardo Villalobos. The flip side boasts perhaps the most rare cut, first championed by DJ Harvey and still highly sought after today, M-I-Cara's 'Casa Beat'. While Mike Perras all time classic 'Keep Movin' completes the EP.