Tags: US Garage

Review: Norm Talley's Detroit label Upstairs Asylum comes through with another various artists gem here: Gari Romalis kick off with the sort of smoky house depths you always expect from this imprint. 'Electronix (I'm Ya Dancer)' is dubbed out but dynamic, then G Major's 'Metro To Downtown' brings an injection of soul warmth and percussive looseness. Chuck Daniels & Hazmat Live's 'I Want You' is a darker, more heads down affair with freaky vocals and digital synth patterns over gritty, US garage styled low ends. Max Watts then cuts loose with the undulating dub techno depths of 'Velocity' to round out a varied EP.

Review: Reagan Grey is a Toronto-based producer who impresses with this cultured new outing on Selections. 'What You Came Here For' is pure vibes - a house cut with old-school organ stabs and hints of US garage drum shuffle, all topped with a nice hooky vocal cry from Kayenne. Kai Alce's NDATL mix layers in some jazzy keys that take things to the next level and 'Undertones' then keeps the soul quotient high with some molten chord work and dusty drum loops that are warm and heartfelt. 'Don't Stop' shuts down with a heavier basement house vibe and more smart synth work.

Review: New York's Joe Claussell offers three blistering takes on 'So In Love' by Black Rascals, the early 90s project from Blaze. This red-label 7" is a pricey one, but the contents justify it: deep house from the source, reworked by one of its most spiritual selectors. 'Rough Mix 1' leans into swirling vocal loops and expansive FX, full of Claussell's signature dynamics, while 'Rough Mix 2' dials back the drama slightly for something more floor-focused. Flip it for 'Drums', a stripped-down tool that reimagines the track as raw percussive hypnosis. Essential NY house lineage, revived in style and pressed loud-just don't expect it to hang around.

Review: Italian producer Niccolo Terranova dons his mothman outfit as Flying Moth, bringing a matutinal expressive take on groove-rich house music with his second EP 'Tides' for Soul Quest. Lepidopteric flying siphons and felt feelers are evoked across 'Bobby's Here' and 'Take You Higher', which tracks a move from an impassive jazz Sunday drive to a wonkier Monte Carlo camber, replete with subtle supersaw and plinking pluck. Gondii joins in on 'Always Groove In You', layering stripped percussion under shifting keys and vocal textures, shortly before Toronto Hustle and Sean Roman rework 'Please, Keep Drinking With Me' into a bold, wearily methylated floor cut.