Back catalogue: Deep House

Review: Watergate, the cult Berlin club known for its riverside location and legendary LED ceiling above the dancefloor, is also a reputable tech house label that deals in fresh names only. Here it is 8Kays that makes a debut with Falling Down, a selection of superb collaborations including 'Matematica' with Glowal which is tense and electric tech with indie vocals and with Juan Hansen he cooks up the medically hopeful 'Falling Down' which then gets two remixes. Colyn & Beswerda make it into a moody and deep groove, Chris Avantgarde brings some peak time prog energy and solo cut 'Lyra' has a warm, paddy broken beat to cruise on through the stars.

Review: People Of Earth strides into the New Year with a new project called The Elements Series. Part one welcomes some serious names, not least Detroit's ambient and techno master John Beltran who kicks off with 'Nuyorico' a joyous, chord-laced house groove laden with organic percussion. Javonntte's 'Tropical Feelings' is another of his textbook deep house cuts with whispered vocals bringing a spiritual vibe. Atlanta's main man Kai Alce does his do with the jazzy synth energy of shuffling house cut 'Benefit' (NDATL instrumental mix) then Byron The Aquarius pairs things back to dusty drums and humid chords on 'Sun Gods'. This one is only for the real heads.

Review: Dutch crew Body N Deep are back with more music that is aimed at both head and heel. This fourth volume in its BND Project series welcomes four more venerated names starting with Marc Cotterell whose 'Deepha' (Plastik Factory Vox mix) is all warm, smeared chords and 90s vibes, while Matt Gillespie's 'Movin' is more stripped-back to sustained pads and shuffling, dusty drums that soon get under the skin. Jovonn's 'Play 4 Today' (Ben Rebel remix) is a more driving affair with libidinous vocal whispers and Jeremias Santiago shuts down with the strong laced and Latin-inspired sounds of 'Soul Festival.'

Review: The Mountain 45 label has been giving us some unique music that cross genres since its inception just a few years ago. Like previous editions, Double A contributes 'Super Badman Riddim' which is both catchy and clever. Featuring James Brown samples thrown in the mix takes this dub related track to the limit of fun. For the B-side, James Nasty's 'Fan Dem Off' with a peak time party song that should take the dancefloor to another level. These attention getters are ideal for being addictively fun and different. It's hard to categorise music like this, which is a sign of its originality.

Review: Akka & BeepBeep is a new label from the US that is dropping its first two EPs simultaneously on Valentine's Day. Joradesilver is behind one, and also feature sin collaborative mode on this other 12". It opens with 'King David', a hi-tek house sound with soul drenched pads and tightly programmed drums and bass. 'Mango Strut' slows right down to dubbed out house with clattering percussion and the sound of spacecraft, then 'June Buggy' gets funky with more twitchy cosmic synths and a nice organic house groove. 'Callin' Dybbs' is a deep and smoky closer for the backroom with a sublime sax line drifting throughout.

Review: This collaboration between Jimi Tenor and Tomasz Guiddo shines brightly and features a heartwarming hook that really lodges deep in the brain as 'Where The Wild Roam' pairs ancient-sounding lo-fi drums with a Western-style whistle and plenty of earthy, twanging guitars. Next up the legendary Louie Austen lends his vocals to 'Smile' for a steamy and tropical house sound lit up with Latin melodies over a shuffling, samba-adjacent rhythm. Erobique, known for chart hits in Europe and his work with DJ Koze, contributes his magic, while Freestyle Man, aka Sasse from Moodmusic, delivers his trademark deep house style. Ale Castro adds a DJ-friendly house version, enhancing the EP's overall allure.

Review: Hizou Deep Rooted Music is one of those quality-assured imprints that is always well worth checking in with. This latest platter is another on that truly matters with Huerta opening up with 'DAYL' which showcases his distinctive blend of spaced-out breaks and silky tech house. Jacksonville's 'Data Log' is ahems down and deep late-night cosmic excursion and Nlxlb's 'Gravitate' keeps you afloat on mellifluous astral lines and twinkling melodic stars. 100Hz shuts down with 'Ggg', a unique mix of floating pads and barely-there rhythm that grow in stature as your journey to the certain edges of the galaxy unfolds.

Review: Jack D's Regional Groove EP, the second record on the Dias De Campo label, kicks off in style with tech house roller 'Magic Pipe' and the title track both boasting a pulsing atmosphere and a nice, upbeat energy. 'Dub Traveller' is also a strong track and 'Congo Experiment', the downtempo addition to the bunch to close things out, both catchy and fun. If you're into 90s tech house, then you'll really enjoy these very much.

Review: It might be one of the most famous hotels in Las Vegas but now the Bellagio lends its name to this new label. The first missive is a delightfully deep and classic house sound from Jacy. 'Sound Of Eleven' is coated in dusty chords and dreamy pads with an early 90s Italia feel, then 'After Dance' adds to the serene sense of hose escapism with more lushness. 'Sometimes' has a nice heavy groove and soft pads that linger in the air with real class. Last but not least is something of a Chicago jacker with 'It's You' layering up the toms. A sophisticated EP with a traditional bent.

Review: Jihoon links with some talented musicians including Thomas Xu, Omar Meftah, Eric Meftah and Ian Gold on this brilliant new three-tracker on One Spoke. It kicks off with the sublime 'Good In The Bad' which is a jazzy viber with flute lines dancing their own dance above lovely contemporary broken beats. 'There Is No End' layers chords, synths and jazz drums into a richly atmospheric groove before last of all the whole of the flip side is given over to a Thomas Xu & Ian Gold remix of 'There Is No End' that is gloriously sunny jazz-fusion at its finest. These will keep you warm no matter the weather outside this winter.

Review: Originally a drum & bass, future jazz and downtempo producer, Jimpster has really evolved and showed how excellent of a producer he is with his style of house music. The Freerange sound has helped Jimpster become one of the most looked at deep house producers in the world. The Passion EP features two of his new productions plus a special remix by another deep house hero, Atjazz. 'You're My Ecstacy' is a great example of the work that has brought him so much acclaim. Soulful deep house that stays more linear in the groove and stays in the sweet spot, becoming great moments on the dancefloor. The original of 'The Passion' sends a message to all the fake house music artists out there getting into the business for all the wrong reasons. With King Crowney on vocals, Atjazz's version is a little more techy, which is what we expect from him. All in all, this is right in the wheelhouse of the esteemed Freerange record label sound.

Review: Toolroom head honcho Mark Knight has pulled out all the stops here and joined forces with some of house music's biggest names. His ow-slung new tune 'The Greatest Thing Alive' is a collab with the one and only Chicago don Green velvet plus James Hurr and it has already made an impact on global dancefloors since its digital release in October last year. Between these talents they all dig deep and cook up something perfectly chunky and detailed with fresh percussion. It's the sort of tune that will blow up in Miami and has the addition of Green Velvet's take on the classic 'Mannish Boy' from Muddy Waters.

Review: For many in underground music, the words Back To Basics mean only one thing - the chaotic and anarchic Leeds house party founded by Dave Beer. The GLBDOM label is slowly broadening out that definition though with this ongoing series under the same name. It's been good to date and this third volume doesn't disappoint with Manuold, Bress Underground, MacLO duo, Jon Billick and Scruscru all offering up their own takes on deep house. From the mid-tempo and cosmic to the more raw and punchy, via the loopy and the future-facing, it's a classy collection.

Review: Joe Babylon's cultured US label Roundabout Sounds has never rushed music out but when it does serve up new material it is always timeless and top quality. This latest EP is the first installment in the new All Hands series and it features some real house heavyweights. Frits Wentink kicks off with the mystic and lo-fi depths of 'Jellyfish, then DJ Aakmael layers up his soft edge chords and cuddly kicks drums with some muted horn motifs that bring the romance. The label head brings some upright drums and spoken word lyrics for a beautifully warm sound and last of all Detroit royalty Rick Wilhite links with Jon Easley for a final blissed-out and breezy deep house day dream.

Review: Jim (James Baron) is a UK producer making his brand of Balearic, folk and rock music. Generally, pushing the boundaries of Balearic, this double pack compilation houses remixes of tracks from his most debut album 'Love Makes Magic'. The lineup of producers lending their talents to this double pack is quite impressive. Uk house music legends X-press and Chris Coco just to mention two. This release encompasses a wide array of styles including downtempo, dub as well as house music all keeping the folk and Balearic soul of the originals. A true remix packet that brings these originals to different heights.