Review: Scottish artist Barry Can't Swim has made big moves in the last year or so and finally, he capitalises on his ever-growing momentum with a debut album on the mighty Ninja Tune. The multi-faceted talent explores his most broad and diverse range of sounds to date here with 11 sublime tracks that move from deep house to jazz, heavy and percussive Afrobeat to lush ambiance. Each of the tracks feels like a fine technical achievement with complexity at its core but never at the expense of good vibes, such as the choral harmonies on 'Always Get Through To You', smart samples of Brazil's Trio Ternura on 'Dance Of The Crab' and digital and organic blends on 'Woman.'
Review: Is there any producer who has broken through as spectacular and made such an impressive mark in the last year than British producer Fred Gibson aka Fred Again? As well as producing plenty of high profile projects for other artists, his own diary-like albums have brought plenty of freshness to dance music. This was the first of them, back in April 2021, at the time an outlet for him to explore "a year of finding love and mourning its loss".
Review: Beyonce's last album was widely heralded as a triumph by all. It found her diving into house music and working with scene stalwarts like Luke Solomon and Honey Dijon. It won a Grammy for its efforts. Now, even though plenty of the originals were ready to work a club dancefloor, we get treated to some remixes. They all focus on the standout single 'Break My Soul' and we get funky and soulful stuff from Terry Hunter, broken beat from Will I Am, house thumps from Honey Dijon, and filter-heavy stuff from The Queens. Add in the Nita Aviance club mix and the original version and you have a useful package indeed.
Camelphat vs Artbat - "For A Feeling" (feat Rhodes) (5:30)
Inbetween The Lines (3:20)
Camelphat vs Yannis Foals - "Hypercolour" (3:29)
Spektrum (feat Ali Love) (5:19)
Dance With My Ghost (feat Elderbrook) (4:06)
Easier (feat Lowes) (5:10)
Camelphat vs Au/Ra - "Panic Room" (3:34)
Camelphat vs Skream - "Keep Movin" (feat Max Milner) (4:01)
Wildfire (feat Lowes) (3:20)
Camelphat vs Elderbrook - "Cola" (4:04)
Camelphat vs Cristoph - "Phantoms" (4:54)
Camelphat vs Jem Cooke - "Rabbit Hole" (3:10)
Not Over Yet (feat Noel Gallagher) (3:32)
Camelphat vs Eli & Fur - "Waiting" (5:30)
Carry Me Away (feat Jem Cooke) (5:06)
Camelphat vs DEL30 - "Reaction" (feat Maverick Sabre) (4:46)
Camelphat vs Will Easton - "Witching Hour" (4:14)
Expect Nothing (3:11)
Camelphat vs Cristoph - "Breathe" (feat Jem Cooke) (6:15)
Review: Given that they started their ascent to EDM superstardom over a decade ago and have already released a string of genuine crossover anthems, this debut album from Camelphat is undeniably overdue. So, was it worth waiting for? If you like their brand of festival-friendly dance music hedonism, then you will genuinely love it. The assembled 21 tracks scattered across three action-packed slabs of wax draw influence from many interconnected styles - mostly electro-house, tech-house and techno, but also indie-dance, synth-pop, nu-disco and more bass-heavy flavours - and repackage them as distinctively Camelphat style productions, complete with contributions from numerous collaborators and guest vocalists (Noel Gallagher, Skream, Jake Bugg, Yannis Foals, Jem Cooke and Christoph all feature).
Waited All Night (feat Romy, Oliver Sim & The Xx) (2:34)
Baddy On The Floor (feat Honey Dijon) (3:35)
Dafodil (feat Kelsey Lu, John Glacier & Panda Bear) (3:31)
Still Summer (3:17)
Jamie XX & Robyn - "Life" (3:29)
The Feeling I Get From You (3:40)
Breather (6:15)
All You Children (feat The Avalanches) (4:12)
Every Single Weekend (interlude) (3:17)
Falling Together (feat Oona Doherty) (3:29)
Review: A full nine years on from the generation-defining smash success that was In Colour, comes In Waves, the upcoming second studio album by former indie band heartthrob come electronic-music matinee idol, Jamie xx. We don't imagine that the success of In Colour is easy to top, so we don't blame Jamie for waiting almost a full decade to follow it up. That said, the lead singles on this one do a pretty good job of marking the album's shift away from the summer-jammy and/or sentimental electronica ballad focus of In Colour; 'Baddie On The Floor' and 'Life' verge on French house and future house in turn, and suggest something of a shift in interest for xx towards the faster ends of things. Jamie xx's intended aim, in releasing label Young's words, was to recreate the thrilling volatility of an 'almost mystical' night out, "one where you return home in the cigarette ash dawn, the specifics of the last eight hours already blurring, but aware that these feelings will remain a crystalline memory." We eagerly await the ensuing, full-length story of heartbreak and introspection promised by the remaining tracks.
Review: Fred Again seems to be one of the most talked about artists of the year. Part of that centers around the astonishing Boiler Room set he served up, but also plenty of credit is due for the music he makes. A lot of that is summed up here on Actual Life 3, the third installment of his series after the previous two back in 2021 and recent collabs with the likes of Swedish House Mafia and Future. It shows off his mastery of a range of different sounds and scenes across 13 fun and fresh tunes that are backed with emotive beats and catchy hooks as well as some standout vocals.
Review: Peruvian artist in Berlin Sofia Kourtesis has been on an unstoppable rise since she first emerged with a pair of EPs on Studio Barnhus. Brought into the Ninja Tune fold back in 2021, she's developed her debut album in the whirlwind of a rapidly growing profile and the personal struggle of her mother's terminal cancer diagnosis. Through her tenacity, she found a gifted doctor who was able to treat her mother and give her a life expectancy no-one would have thought possible, and so Madres doubles as a tribute to her mother and to the medical professionals who achieved what was thought impossible - as such, it's a powerful, sincere listening experience which fuses deep house with melancholic pop in mesmerising fashion.
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.
Flume - "Let Me Know" (feat London Grammar) (3:21)
Lose Your Head (Camelphat remix) (3:32)
Strong (High Contrast remix) (3:12)
Help Me Lose My Mind (with Disclosure) (4:05)
Hell To The Liars (Kolsch remix) (12:37)
Wasting My Young Years (Henrik Schwarz remix) (8:32)
Oh Woman Oh Man (MK remix) (5:34)
Sights (Dennis Ferrer remix) (7:06)
Hey Now (Bonobo remix) (5:48)
Baby It's You (Joris Voorn extended remix) (3:18)
Review: This new long player from Ministry of Sound is their contribution to Record Store Day 2024 and it takes the form of a bunch of mixes of London Grammar's various different tunes. Global house outfit Camelphat feature a couple of times with some nicely emotive and upbeat sounds, 'Strong' gets a jump up drum & bass rework from High Contrast, Henrick Schwarz brings his emo house touch to 'Wasting My Young Years', MK adds some dance-pop sheen to 'Oh Woman Oh Man' and Dennis Ferrer remixes 'Sights' into a tense tech cut with snappy drums.
Dennis Ferrer & Disciples - "Whisper" (feat James Yuill - John Summit remix) (5:40)
Ferreck Dawn Vs Izzy Bizu - "Life" (5:56)
Ferreck Dawn X Jem Cooke - "Back Tomorrow" (5:58)
Review: Defected gather together some big hitters for this VA release which will appeal to all those who like their house music pitched for the biggest rooms possible. John Summit takes us to the top with 'La Danza' and Dennis Ferrer & Disciples get some epic remix treatment courtesy of Summit once again. Ferreck Dawn and Izzy Bizu face off on the B side with 'Life', which brings some powerful pop hooks into the mix atop a catchy as hell house beat. That leaves it to Dawn to tackle Jem Cooke for a version of 'Back Tomorrow' that's just as anthemic, giving you everything you need to move a massive crowd.
Waited All Night (feat Romy, Oliver Sim & The Xx) (2:34)
Baddy On The Floor (feat Honey Dijon) (3:35)
Dafodil (feat Kelsey Lu, John Glacier & Panda Bear) (3:31)
Still Summer (3:17)
Jamie Xx & Robyn - "Life" (3:29)
The Feeling I Get From You (3:40)
Breather (6:15)
All You Children (feat The Avalanches) (4:12)
Every Single Weekend (interlude) (3:17)
Falling Together (feat Oona Doherty) (3:29)
Review: Jamie xx's long-awaited new album, In Waves, marks the next chapter in the career of one of the most sought-after producers of his generation. With In Waves, Jamie captures the emotional crescendos and thrilling volatility of a mystical night out. As you return home in the cigarette ash dawn, the specifics of the last eight hours blur, but the feelings remain a crystalline memory. In Waves is a melancholy paradise of bliss, heartbreak, and introspection. It tells the story of a journey where you merge into the divine pulse of shadows, light, and dance floor rhythms. It's a strobe light epiphany about the limitless possibilities and spiritual capacities of humanity. Nine years after his debut solo masterpiece, In Colour, the London producer has not only surpassed the heights of its predecessor but has also rendered all supernatural adjectives and analogies understated. Jamie xx's reputation for creating deeply evocative and transformative music is all found here, setting a new standard for electronic production.
Review: It feels like Romy's debut album has been a long time coming, but it's absolutely worth the wait. Stepping to one side of the imposing shadow of her band The xx, the world-famous singer-songwriter has taken her time to deliver something sincere and vulnerable which opens up her world and celebrates the places she's found sanctuary. Having worked extensively with production wonder boy Fred Again, writing for other artists, the two finally funnelled their creative chemistry into songs for Romy which now result in a perfect nugget of pop-club with aeons of space for all the feelings to swirl. It's immediate and catchy, but elegant in equal measure, and certain to lodge Romy in the pantheon of modern pop titans for sensitive souls.
Review: Fred Again's latest album Actual Life 3: January 1 - September 9 2022 is the third installment in a series of albums by the British artist which has received positive reviews from music critics and been praised for its experimental sound and emotional depth. The LP features songs that document his personal experiences and thoughts over a period of time. His musical style can be described as a blend of electronic, dance and pop with introspective and emotive lyrics, often incorporating samples from various sources, including personal recordings to create a unique and eclectic sound. The album features collaborations with various artists, such as Kieren Hebden, Jamie XX and Skrillex, among others.
Neverender (feat Tame Impala - extended remix) (6:42)
Neverender (feat Tame Impala - Rampa remix) (6:27)
Neverender (feat Tame Impala - Kaytranada remix) (4:41)
Review: A momentous move from neon-soaked electro outfit Justice hears them team up with the like-minded thrower-backers Tame Impala for a "why didn't anyone think of this before?" EP, 'Neverender'. Released hot off the plate of a recent Alexandra Palace show, the just duo are heard to tip the lady's scales towards miscarriage, following their last LP Hyperdrama with a single tort of regret. Kevin Parker's unmistakable countertenor floats above the track's nightridden house mix like a beamer trailing its driver's emotions in its exhaust fumes: "Because I remember / The hardest of times I / don't forget / Neverender." An ode to "can't unsee", it also comes backed by remixes by Kaytranada and Rampa.
Turned Your Back (Atjazz extended remix instrumental) (5:03)
Review: J Axel and Eva Essa find magical harmony on this new collaboration on the Do It Now Recordings Vinylized label. 'Turned Your Back' is a perfectly heart-melting, life-affirming bit of soul-drenched and intimate deep house with gorgeous vocals and super smooth drums all healing you to your core as the gentle rhythms wash over you time and time again. It's a faultless original but one that is also ripe for remixing and who better than Atjazz who slightly ups the tempo but keeps the deep, wavy rhythmic vibes and adds a little cosmic magic in the synths. A sublime package indeed.
Review: Aiming squarely for the charts once again come German and American minimal maestros Adam Port and Stryv, together joining forces with the irresistibly tremolo'ing voice of singer Malachiii. Few songs in the contemporary climate do so well as those which blow up on social media, and 'Move' is one such case. The present zeitgeist's mode of "hip ennui" is achieved with great celerity here, with the track's instrumental weaving an excessive yet insouciant trance around Malachiii's neon croons. Impressively echoic, it's the fusion of minimal techno and contemporary Afrobeats - both fervently identifiable styles - that make this one catchy.
Mark Knight, Darius Syrossian,James Hurr - "I Got All This" (5:56)
Low Steppa, Jewel Kid - "Big Busta" (5:05)
CASSIMM, Mahalia Fontaine - "Say Yeah" (5:48)
Wh0 - "Sunglasses" (6:58)
Review: Toolroom is a house label for big moments big tracks, big rooms, big DJs and main stages. This 15th sampler offering gives a snapshot of where the label is at right now with some new cuts from its biggest players. The boss himself, Mark Knight, kicks off alongside Darius Syrossian and James Hurt n 'I Got All This' which is bouncy and full of energy. Low Steppa, Jewel Kid offers the deeper, low sung and bass heavy menace of 'Big Busta' and CASSIMM, Mahalia Fontaine then come through with 'Say Yeah' (extended mix) which is a a passionate vocal anthem which throws it back to the early days of house. Wh0's 'Sunglasses' shuts down with a blaze of melodic stabs and filtered sweeps to lift you off your feet.
Review: One of the many songs that defined a distinct, hot, made-for-TV dance-pop era, Martin Solveig and Dragonette's 'Hello' is an energetic electro house rouser, and made waves with its tennis-themed back-and-forth music video, which allegorised the gone-bad relationship narrativised in the song. Now pressed to sporty white vinyl, this is a warm-up song if there ever was one, with its lead two-note piano riff clipped to searing, overdriven proportions. Dragonette's vocals sing of romantic vascular sweats, caused by botched inter-relational backhands, poor get-back-at-you swings, and triple bagel defeats. This version comes with a 2024 'Super Edit', bringing a stuttering progressive house continuation.
Review: Nervous and its iconic logo is one of house music's most recognisable labels. It has been turning out a wide array of styles since the 90s and continues to have its own niche to this day. It is Super Flu who steps up here with a new single that combines two very unlikely worlds - house music and the vocals of Cher. They are either well treated or re-sung, we can't be sure, in a more vulnerable and delicate style over a minimal, tense beat and bold bass. An instrumental version is also included of this most alluring and sure to standout track.
Review: Ninja Tune favourite and sometime lo-fi house pin-up DJ Seinfeld continues to prove he was always about so much more with a new collab alongside Confidence Man that he describes as "quirky, naive and an ode to all the summer flings out there". It came about after the pair hung out a few times and enjoyed each other's company and the tun itself has already been something of a mini classic during festival season. As well as the original with its catchy drum loops, pop leaning vocal hooks and lush strings, there is a cheeky UK garage version that has even more irresistible bump and a Carlita remix that reworks into something different but equally essential.
Review: Australian trio Rufus Du Sol have long been alt-dance favourites. Surrender was their fourth long player, released back in October 2021, and now the GRAMMY-winning group made up of James Hunt, Tyrone Lindqvist and Jon George have signed up a load of talent to give the record the remix treatment.The likes of Carlita, Solomun, Magdalena, the band's longtime collaborator, Rose Ave, Cassian and Dom Dolla have all contributed next to CircoLoco residents Adrian Shala and Adrian Schweizer aka Adriatique, who have been banging their take on 'On My Knees' all summer.
Review: Fred Again's new LP Ten Days is decidedly minimal in both visual and sonic feel, making for a well-put-together exercise in chic dance summeriness, one that manages to feel, paradoxically, nostalgic for the present moment. If the crux of Fred Again's appeal rests our vicarious enjoyment of his evidently voracious enjoyment of life, then this is equally as reflective in the music here, with 'Adore U' skimming through pitch-warped vocals sampled from Obongjayar's live performance dedicated to his sister and mum, as if to immortalise them in a rush of frenetics and lightness of being, and 'Ten' equally playing up the bare skeletals of snap-rims, warbly samples and ever more pitch-effecting, this time on Jozzy's vocals. Less earnest than his outing with Brian Eno, and more dedicable purely to the young adult gaieties of summer, Ten Days marks a little over a weeks' worth of fun, tinged with a tiny hint of melancholy.
Review: If there is a more hyped artist in the world right now than Fred... again we aren't sure who it might be. The lad who grew up close to Brian Eno and has since worked with him in the studio is a global star who has also collaborated with Four Tet and Skrillex, played all over the world, won various awards and dropped several albums now presses up his acclaimed USB to gatefold double vinyl. It is a collection of his early singles that captures his lo-fi, lived-in, diaristic sounds across a range of experimental electronic styles.
Angels & Queens (Paul Woolford Special Request mix) (7:19)
Angels & Queens (3:18)
Angels & Queens (Paul Woolford Special Request radio edit) (3:34)
Review: We first got wind that the unstoppable music making machine and generally positive life force that is Leeds legend Paul Woolford would be remixing one of the hottest new bands of recent years some time ago, so we're delighted to finally get our hands on the results. Assuming his Special Request alias but in truth sounding more like what Woolford does under his own name, this remix of Gabriels's 'Angels & Queens' is all about bringing hands in the air festival house energy, big piano chords and allowing the original vocal to bring that gorgeous sense of soul. It's a perfect meeting of pop and dance, as is often the case with Woolford's remix work.
Review: Royksopp declared their 2014 album The Inevitable End to be the last time they would release a traditional album, and after eight years they lived up to that promise this year with a new audio-visual approach titled Profound Mysteries. The first instalment appeared in April, while the second volume landed in late summer, and now they're underlining the project with this appropriately epic conclusion. Drawing on collaborators such as Alison Goldfrapp, Susanne Sundfor and Jamie Irrepressible, we get another 10 slices of glittering, melodious synth pop magic from one of the finest duos to do it.
Milk & Sugar & James Hurr - "I Love Music" (extended mix)
Crusy - "Hey Girls, B-Boys" (extended mix)
Illyus & Barrientos - "DANCE" (extended mix)
Review: Top table house label Toolroom is back with another window into its current sounds. This 17th sampler is one that will likely get hammered at the annual parties in Miami for this year's conference. KC Lights & Welt open up with 'Fly' which is catchy dance pop with summery vocals. Milk & Sugar & James Hurr keep it on a similarly light and airy tip and Crusy's 'Hey Girls, B-Boys; reimagines a classic with extra rawness. Illyus & Barrientos shut down with more synth laced peak time house sounds on 'DANCE.'
John Summit & Parachute Youth - "Better Than This" (5:44)
Parachute Youth - "Can't Get Better Than This" (5:06)
Review: Indie house duo Parachute Youth released their 'Can't Get Better Than This' single back in 2012 and it went on to become a huge international hit. Now they have resisted it after pairing up with Chicago house vocalist John Summit. Renamed 'Better Than This' it becomes a spine-tingling vocal house cut with warm, shuffling drums and subtle synth work. Packed with blissful and youthful vibes and plenty of sun, it is an energetic rework that has a nice touch of nostalgia and a bassline that will lock in any crowd for days. As well as the easy to love new version, the still lush original version is also included on the flip.
Review: Jeigo dropped a thrilling debut album Cerulean back at the end of 2022, worked in a tune with Elkka for her DJ-Kicks mix and also dropped a mix for Bicep not long ago. Now he follows all that up with a firing four-track EP on Tread Records that again collides different club sounds, great samples and hooky melodies. 'Hatchet's Cave' is hands-in-the-air house euphoria with blistering drums and warped pads, then 'Move X' is a gritty tech bouncer and 'Compulsions' is a bubbly one with crisp hits. Nervous Horizons label boss Anunaku remixes the title track into a bass-heavy banger too.
Heaven Takes You Home (feat Connie Constance) (3:34)
Jacob's Note (feat Jacob Muhlrad) (1:04)
Moth To The Flame (feat The Weeknd) (3:56)
Mafia (3:33)
Frankenstein (feat ASAP Rocky) (3:29)
Don't Go Mad (feat Seinabo Sey) (4:22)
Paradise Again (3:30)
Lifetime (feat Ty Dolla Sign & 070 Shake) (3:28)
Calling On (4:39)
Home (3:46)
It Gets Better (3:10)
Redlight (feat Sting) (3:54)
Can U Feel It (4:23)
19:30 (1:58)
Another Minute (3:30)
For You (5:16)
Review: Complementing the EDM trio's latest world tour 'Paradise Again', this charts the best of the supergroup's latest music following their prophesied split. Nevermind 'Don't You Worry Child' or 'Save The World'; this is a completely original affair, with monumental features from The Weeknd, Ty Dolla $ign and ASAP Rocky. A surprise to most fans following their nearly decade-long hiatus, this is not one to be missed, featuring an update in sound and their most energetic sonics to date. We came, we raved, we loved.
Review: Electronic pop trailblazers, Royksopp, announce the second part to their expansive Profound Mysteries project, Profound Mysteries II. They declared their 2014 album The Inevitable End to be the last time they would release a traditional album, and after eight years they lived up to that promise this year with a new audio-visual approach titled Profound Mysteries. This second instalment of three is the andante-minuet of said electro-symphony, in which the band unveil a gargantuan selection of self-generated tunes, in contrast to the totally collaborative third part).
Deeper Purpose, Jalja & Lazy Joe - "One By One" (5:38)
Tony Romera & Crusy - "The Unknown" (5:37)
Review: This sampler offers four main floor house tracks with each bringing a unique flavour to the dancefloor. On Side-1, Chaney's 'I Choose You' blends soulful house with rhythm and blues elements, featuring a pop-infused vocal that's both catchy and uplifting. Gene Farris and Basura Boyz's 'In My Heart' is a powerful house track, designed to keep the energy high. On Side-2, Deeper Purpose's 'One By One' continues the momentum with a deep, driving groove, while Tony Romera and Crusy's 'The Unknown' delivers a big, peak-time anthem perfect for the height of any set. This collection is great for house music fans seeking diverse, impactful and popular sounding versions.
Review: On his first release of any sort since dropping his debut album, 'The Serve of the Abnormal', last year, Denis Horvat makes his bow on Afterlife with an EP that drags tech-house and minimal house in dark, trippy new directions. For proof, check opener 'Cha Cha', a menacing, EBM-influenced affair that peppers a chugging, early morning groove with rising and falling lead lines, creepy counter melodies and rasping, trance style stabs. The EP's inherent sense of clandestine atmosphere comes to the fore once more on shuffling, moody vocal number 'Precious Unica', before the Copenhagen-based producer opts for a more forthright darkwave meets-peak-time-tech-house flex on 'Momentum of the Arapaima'. Closing cut 'Majstor', meanwhile, is an incredibly trippy, K-hole trance number underpinned by a wonky triple-time beat.
Review: "As human beings, what we don't know vastly overshadows what we do know. As teenagers, we would discuss our own fascination and preoccupation with the infinite and the impossible - the most profound mysteries of life." Svein Berge & Torbjorn Brundtland
Royksopp unveil Profound Mysteries, an expanded creative universe and a prodigious conceptual project, on numbered gatefold vinyl for the first time. Profound Mysteries is as mystifying as the title suggests, much like Danny L Harle's 'Harlecore' the house cuts and hardcore dance tracks of 'This Time, This Place...' and 'Breathe' are broken up with echoing ambience sprinkled with the heavenly vocals of Susanne Sundfor on 'The Mourning Sun' or the sinister 'Press R', reminiscent of Anamanaguchi's 'USA' with its text-to-speech warning messages.
Waited All Night (feat Romy, Oliver Sim & The Xx) (2:34)
Baddy On The Floor (feat Honey Dijon) (3:35)
Dafodil (feat Kelsey Lu, John Glacier & Panda Bear) (3:31)
Still Summer (3:17)
Jamie Xx & Robyn - "Life" (3:29)
The Feeling I Get From You (3:40)
Breather (6:15)
All You Children (feat The Avalanches) (4:12)
Every Single Weekend (interlude) (3:17)
Falling Together (feat Oona Doherty) (3:29)
Review: In Waves is Jamie xx's second full-length solo album, and the patented thematic follow-up to 2015's In Colour. The former album marked the height of a certain formative summer in dance music history, in which the UK at large opened its eyes to the potent admixture of its various musical heritages and seemed to meld them into one (perhaps this was best represented by Jamie's membership of a chart-topping indie band, and nonetheless simultaneous indulgence of solo beatcraft and DJing, which saw to a technicolour crock of collaborations we never thought possible, such as with Gil Scott-Heron and Young Thug). In Waves, however, posits the question of where we might've gone since. Channelling as ever Jamie's essential "soft-rounded" drums and clean, yet sample-heavy embellishments sifted from various classic soul and funk records, In Waves nonetheless sacrifices the sentimental ballad-dirges heard on In Colour for a more club-bound portrayal of a comparatively disinhibited night out. Livelier than In Colour, we're transported right on back to a certain kind of dancefloor, one that we'd felt remiss of for almost a good half of the decade in between the two albums.
Review: Dusky is by now an internationally renowned name on the (nevertheless) distinctly UK deep house scene, and is a master of his craft. Even for those who might smugly turn their nose up at the sort of Subsoul jackin' house, that Dusky takes after, it's difficult to not at least shuffle your feet at the minutest of listens to his new album 'Pressure'. Armed with the tropes of bassline, 2-step, and funky house to name a few, it's almost as if Dusky had cast a fishing net in the deep wells of emotion potentiated in the collective British underground soul. Every track here is a streamy, stereophonic, and texturally rich vocal house dazzler. Far less precious than his bygone competitors Disclosure, the buzzing feel of each track is testament to Dusky's attention to feel over technicality.
Review: Dutch pair Dam Swindle have shaped the underground house sound through their Heist label which has always dealt in timeless, fad-free sounds that blend disco, tech, and more. This EP marks their third release on Aus Music and is part of a four-part series celebrating the label's 200th release. It opens with 'The Last Time,' a blissful deep house track with heartfelt vocals. 'Come Back' follows with infectious house grooves and garage-inspired kicks. K-LONE contributes a deft remix of 'The Last Time' in which he layers soft chords over punchy garage beats. Chloe Robinson & DJ ADHD deliver a stripped-back remix of 'Come Back'' which has low-end oscillations and playful drums to round out a vital slab of wax.
Review: Purple Disco Machine's 'Dopamine' came out last year in a blissful burst of singalong vocal house goodness, with Eyelar up front on the mix creating a fully fledged anthem which was a deserved hit for the German producer. Now comes a remix 12" which casts 'Dopamine' under the watchful eye of John Summit, a young producer with serious pop nous to his beats. It's a shoe-in for big rooms and big stages where you want to enrapture the masses, and if the A side isn't enough you've also got the Daft Punk-tinged disco delights of 'I Remember (Club Dub Mix)' on the flip. Purple Disco Machine's name is a byword for catchy club classics in the making, and so it goes on this new 12".
Review: Crackazat's 'In The Sky' EP offers a dynamic blend of jazzy and future house elements, delivering an engaging experience for both the dancefloor and the soul. The title track, 'In The Sky', is an uplifting tune driven by infectious piano breakdowns and jazzy undertones, creating a perfect mood for a carefree night out. It's a track designed to elevate, with its airy vibes and feel-good energy. On Side-2, 'Burnin'' brings a surge of 90s-inspired energy, with a high-octane piano banger that channels classic New York house vibes. The track is a nod to the genre's roots, brimming with nostalgic energy while still feeling fresh and relevant. The closing track, 'Dark', shifts to a deeper, hypnotic groove with rich bass notes and tribal influences. Its deep, pulsing rhythm creates a captivating atmosphere with Crackazat's versatility and range within the deep house spectrum showing brightly. With its compelling mix of energy and soul, this EP is going to be a much needed dancefloor go to.
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