Back catalogue: House

Review: Minimal production/DJ master Ricardo Villalobos enjoys a renown that lends him just about enough credo to release anything he likes whenever he likes and this latest pair of remixes of Paul Desenne's (in collaboration with Alonso Toro and Pedro Vasquez) 'Isiminaimanin' - the lead track from his gemlike Venezuelan gem of an album, Alzheimer - is a case in point. A furtive legend of the Venezuelan folk underground, Alzheimer, which was released back in 2001, expressed Desenne's talents and tastes, expansive outwards from his own Latin cello home-stretch and into further-afield wildernesses such as the Venezuelan cuatro (small guitar), Hawaiian bamboo clarinet, and electric cello - all instruments in constructing totemic, tribal, conceptual flights of fancy. It's this eclecticism on which Villalobos evidently feeds, with his two mixes expressing both fast and slow minimal-tech iterations of Desenne's mysticism.

Review: Volcov steers the good ship Neroli towards more of that immaculately curated deep gear you know they do so well. The Inside series reaches part three with another heavyweight cast, leading in with the mighty Fred P on the crisp rhythms and considered chord movements of 'Time Well Spent'. Rest Symbol follows up with a powerful strain of synth orchestration which adds a moody intensity to the record, while Resonating creates a raw, seductive beatdown on 'J707' that will satisfy any discerning outboard house fiend. Patrice Scott then seals the deal with a submerged 'Beat Version' of an untitled track that course through snaking rhythms at a slower tempo perfect for some backroom scene setting or creative warm-up blending.

Review: The young Soul Touch Productions label knocks it out of the park once more with this new 12" featuring Motor City royals at the top of their game. Terrence Parker kicks off with the beautifully uplifting 'Tonight We Luv' with its streaming and soulful melodies and nice smooth drum loops. Drummer B then steps up with the mad piano action and slamming house of 'In My Zone' (feat Javonntte) and last of all, the man so often left out of the early history of Detroit's underground, Eddie Fowlkes, comes through with a spine-tingling vocal deep house delight in the form of 'Hold Me Down'.

Review: London based Sosure Records releases their next house music 12". The 'Sweet Talk' EP by Physical Education carries four prime cuts of deep house business on one sweet piece of wax. Fans of Chicago house that are on the jazzy tip are sure to like the title track and 'Work On That Soon' for their ability to move people yet still be deep enough for the discerning house music heads. Our favourite of the lot just might be the ender 'Dreamsville' for its super cool bassline and catchy piano use. This is a strong four tracker that can do some dancefloor damage. A great find.

Review: 'Blue Train' is created by Piero and is the second release from the newly formed label, My Cup Of Tea. Piero, who is also the label owner, gives us four tracks of deep house that blend jazzier notes along with seductive grooves. The title track is an upbeat, pumping late-night gem that blends some vocals along with a smooth saxophone sample, 'Nikes On My Feet' adds a cool broken-beat rhythm to the mixture while still being pretty darn techy and funky and we love the use of the acid line that balances out the jazz sounds. For the B-side you have original version of 'International Language' along with a remix of it by Carlo (Carlos Alvarez). You can't go wrong with either version as a DJ. My Cup Of Tea is off to a strong start for sure.

Review: Mihai Pol has been a leader of the Romanian underground for a long time now but keeps on coming up with the goods each time he steps out on to wax. It is the 15th EP from Hashplant which he takes care of here with his usual deft touch and silky fusion of rhythm and sound. 'Decisions' kicks things off with nice broken beat patterns and funky bass topped off with some lush cosmic synth work. 'Ripple' is a more zoned out and dreamy cut but one packed with meticulous synth craft and 'Subsonic Groove' is another super smooth one for blissed out cruising. Last of all is 'Fading Light' with its percolating tech funk and glossy synth lines shining bright.

Review: This joint EP titled 'SPOOR 3' by artists Prince De Takicardie and Young Adults showcases a diverse range of electronic music styles, from eerie techno to celestial breakbeats. Prince De Takicardie's 'ALLO?' opens the EP with a strange and captivating narrative voiceover set to a backdrop of sci-fi techno. The track's heavy acid and melodic breaks create an otherworldly atmosphere. Their second track 'Yoho!', is a more upbeat and playful early 90s techno number with mechanical undertones. Young Adults' contributions offer a different sonic experience. 'Rub-a-scrub' is an alien and trance-inducing track with a strong baseline, while 'Dielektricum' is a spacey electro number. Overall, 'SPOOR 3' is a well-crafted and diverse EP that showcases the talents of both artists well and all four tracks offer a journey through different electronic music landscapes, providing something for every taste.

Review: Back in 1991, PT House's debut album Big World introduced Soweto rapper Nelson Mohale (who was later known as Dr House) to South Africa's burgeoning house and kwaito scene. Collaborating with producer Danny Bridgens, known for his work with Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Margino, the newly formed pair fused US and UK hip-house influences with local flavours and always imbued their music with a positive outlook for the future. Now reissued for the first time on Afrosynth Records, the small but well-formed four-track record remains a bold testament to their vision and has more than stood the test of time with its vibrant energy and forward-looking spirit.