Chicago is not short of a legend or two when it comes to house music. Perhaps that’s why the pioneering veteran Gene Hunt is not always mentioned in the same breath as the so-called ‘big names’. He should be because his musical pedigree past, present and no doubt future is right up there with the very best of them.
So this his Planted Seeds EP is not only unsurprisingly rather excellent, it is also something of a coup for the ever-blossoming Edinburgh-based label Inner Shift Music [ISM]. And having recruited Hunt on board, Brad Peterson and Rai Scott, the duo behind ISM, have made the most of the opportunity by securing a hat-trick of deep house bombs that fit glove-like with the imprints musical philosophy.
From the opening strains of side one you know immediately that you are in safe hands. Melodic Stream is precisely that, a pure-class production that straddles that line between dance-floor and home-listening to perfection, aided and abetted by a gorgeous piano groove and a sprinkling of disco magic. And just as you think the track has settled into its comfy stride it suddenly takes off into full-on peak-time arms-in-the-air territory.
All Night Dance is a little more route one by design and, unsurprisingly given its name, pushes proceedings and tempo up a discernible notch. Thundering along at pace, Hunt nevertheless keeps the cut under control and instils more than enough deepness for those that prefer their house that way.
Drawing the EP to a fitting close is Forever On, the pick of a tasty trio in my humble opinion and another punchy one. More melodic and soulful, however, than All Night Dance and so in many respects it has rather more in common with the opener. Either way, when the time comes for compiling end-of-year best-record lists, Planted Seeds won’t be very far away.
Seven up for Batti Batti Records. Hard to believe because in little more than a couple of years, the irrepressible owner Owen Jay has shown many a dreamer and pretender just how to do a deep house label with a slew of quality vinyl releases that have left committed collectors swooning in delight and yearning for more.
So this the fine imprint’s latest outing, the four-track Giuseppe’s Groove EP, will more than satisfy fans. For now at least.
Big-hitting XDB of Metrolux and Sistrum fame - amongst many others - absolutely floors it with the EP’s opening slug. Though a remix of Andrew Duke’s title track, it is not difficult to see why the canny Jay opted to lead with this version. Chunkier and funkier than the original, the cut nonetheless retains the spirit of Duke’s work and has that inherent deepness so endemic throughout the entire Batti Batti portfolio.
It would almost be no surprise if the original were then a let-down by comparison. Not so. Seasoned Canadian artist Duke’s version is just as ballsy and equally ace, though relying more on a defter touch and with a distinctly more leftfield vibe. And, as the name suggests, it’s got the groove.
Jay and compatriot Brian James team up for the first time on the label with the splendidly raw Mockmoon. Raw, however, does not mean unaccomplished. In fact quite the reverse as Jay and James direct the cut skilfully from start to finish, every apparently unruly burble and gurgle, each flabby kick honed to perfection. On this showing, it’s a partnership we’d like to hear more from.
Providing a real star turn at the finish is Jesus Gonsev, Spanish DJ and producer as well as boss of his own much-respected imprint Troubled Kids. His offering, Drift, is a joy and a veritable must-have for any serious deep house collector. Sublime, groovy and with a delicate tone, Drift is not only a seriously impressive way to end an EP, but also arguably Gonsev’s best work to date.
Love it when a plan comes together. And in common with many of the best ones, it was hatched over a beer or two and a chance encounter, on this occasion with London-based label Native City.
The imprint promises groove-based beats designed for jacking and with the rather terrific Farrell EP from one-to-watch Ashworth, they sure don‘t disappoint. No sir-ree.
Title cut Farrell is muscular and precise, a well-honed hunk of a track that really gains momentum the further you wade in yet with the addition of some deft touches and neat vocal snatches is far from formulaic. The re-shape from the criminally-underrated Dudley Strangeways (Leftback/Deso) is somewhat looser in the nicest possible way. It’s groovy too for sure and is a fitting introduction to those that don’t know him yet of a producer that is really coming into form. Recommended? You bet.
Chopper is a cheeky little number too; infectious, funky, hypnotic. Mike Starr’s re-work is something of, ahem, a star turn. Mesmerising, garage flavoured and beautifully bumpin’ to boot, the cut also makes splendid use of The Wild Angels sample made famous by Andrew Weatherall on Primal Scream’s Loaded.
If the British house and techno movement were electing a first lady then Rai Scott would certainly be in with a shout. Because over the last few years whether as part of 2DeepSoul or owner of Inner Shift Music, both in collaboration with partner Brad Peterson, or indeed as a solo artist, Scott has built and been instrumental in constructing a body of work to be proud of.
Now the story goes from strength to strength with Scott’s first solo release on vinyl for a UK label, the essential Inner Shift EP Volume 1 for consistently-excellent London-based imprint Ornate Music.
The opening track Forgotten Sleep is far from soporific despite its title and arguably one of Scott’s more punchy productions. It’s a bit tasty too. The Edinburgh-based producer does a fine job in balancing the dance-floor potential of the track with her own ambient-toned tendencies and in doing so fashions a cut that works splendidly on so many levels.
With a rolling bassline that is hypnotic with a capital H, trademark sterling percussion work and an intentionally-muffled vocal that for once adds to rather than detracts from the piece, Here & Now is Scott in fine fettle and for my money one of her most accomplished productions to date. Tune, as they say.
Do We Really Know is Scott letting loose a little, deep house with impact for sure but with a smile, a summery vibe and her own angelic tones sprinkled all over it. A delight.
If all this wasn’t already enough, the Ornate crew have really pulled out all the stops by enlisting Spain’s very own don of the deep Dubbyman to do the business on Do We Really Know. And he does. Taking an already quality track, his Break The Beat Mix opts for a less direct kick and approach yet still manages to beef up the cut and add a little Madrilenian magic that hints at time spent listening to old jazz records.
Scott for first lady? She gets my vote.
Little more than a year old and only five releases in yet George Beridze, owner of Cologne-based Rough House Rosie, is clearly on to a good thing. Because with the likes of Alex Danilov, Brother G, Shine Grooves and HVL already on board the imprint has been marked out as one to watch and even collect.
With production number five, the Silent Movie Sounds II EP, that reputation will undoubtedly be enhanced further.
Though with only a handful of releases to his name, Pjotr has nonetheless managed to catch the attention of many a watcher of the underground due largely to the fact those outings have been with keenly followed Russian labels, Ethereal Sound and Udacha. That and the fact his work often combines melancholy and melody, optimism and honest-to-goodness house and sometimes even a touch of jazz in the broadest sense of the word. His production here, June, is as infectious and decent as deep house gets these days and will no doubt please admirers.
A5 is another mercurial talent whose work is highly rated (Appetit/Rawax/Udacha). Here with Dzhaz he lets loose his more abstract jazz - or should that be dzhaz? - side, letting the double bass do the work with plinky-plonky chords and hi-hat playing a supporting role to great effect.
Promising Russian newcomer Gamayun gets a run out with Slum Odyssey, a groovy, catchy and yet strangely robotic number that augurs well for the future, while rounding off the package is the wonderful LAAK. Recent releases with Monochromatic, Appian Sounds and their own mighty imprint Austere Recordings have been both eagerly awaited and well received. So Much Inside is more of the same impressive, understated, playful house/techno hybrid that proves the notion that less is more. Go buy.
Seasoned Chicago-based producer Joey Kay has been in the game for more than 20 years now but the last few have seen him in the form of his life. Outstanding appearances on the likes of My Love Is Underground, Minuendo, Série Limitée and his own label Stylistic have made him a man in demand.
His latest release, the Altered Tempos EP for super Spanish imprint Troubled Kids, will only raise his stock even further.
Gloriously straddling that line between the deep and the funk is the wonderful opener One-Eighteen. Brim full of the kind of atmosphere and feeling that many would-be producers can only ponder, it is a lesson in how to do deep house to encourage both dancing and listening in equal part.
Off The Deep End (Kay and Lo-Ki’s edit) is the Chicagoan doing just that as he strips the track back to basics. Bassy, beefy and with a touch of the Mike Huckaby’s about it, it is certain to be pounding a basement bash near you any day now.
As with the EP opener, Black Hat is house music of the more soulful, funky and highly-danceable kind. Delightful in the extreme, an inspirational groovy piano in tow, chunky deep chords too and with an optimistic air, an ‘on repeat’ tune if ever there was.
Providing quality until the very last drop is Reverser (Edit no. 4). Dripping with soul and wrapped in emotion, Kay nails this deep house thang to the floor.
Hard to believe that Yore Records has already reached the 30 release milestone. Because despite a discography bursting with quality in depth and a roster to die for, the Cologne-based label fronted by Andy Vaz seems to go about its business with the minimum of fuss.
And we are talking an imprint that has become a second home to Rick Wade, gave Kez YM a break early doors, picked up on Patrice Scott when he was still making a name for himself here in Europe as well as featuring choice cuts from the likes of Dubbyman, Marcello Napoletano and Vaz himself.
So it is especially pleasing that for the big three-oh that Yore should welcome into the family a firm favourite here at bringdownthewalls HQ, the Edinburgh-based outfit 2DeepSoul with their three-track treat Mood Sync.
Opening tune Intrinsic could almost be the duo’s theme and is arguably their best offering to date. It sums up perfectly what 2DeepSoul are all about and in turn all that is good about them. Deep, driving beats, perky perc, melodic rather more than moody despite the EP’s title yet with an ambient overtone and ethereal quality, almost to the point of dreamy, draped delicately across the track. It has the fingerprints in particular of Rai Scott, one half of the partnership alongside Brad Peterson, marked indelibly all over it.
Flow Theory delivers more of the same top-draw cosmic deepness albeit with a little more broodiness and punch and is complete with a nifty little Hammond action in the vein of Scott Grooves collaborator Chris Codish.
Closing track Power is even more robust though less sparky than the other two cuts yet every bit as superb and is the one that most puts the ‘mood’ into Mood Sync.
