2015

REPRESSHere's the pitch: ask six of Chicago's finest exponents of bumping house and pitched down disco cuts to contribute some of their finest works, blend them all together and present in the appropriate space either side of two 12" slabs. What's the end product? The rather hot looking Chicago Service from the Amsterdam label Lumberjacks in Hell which features a merry cast of the city's finest in Gene Hunt, Rahaan, Jamie 3:26, Cratebug, Hugo H and Boogie Nite across two hot plates.

The revered Halal Prepared series on boe extends to its fourth volume with four new acts fresh to the label. Hotly tipped duo, Invisible Menders, made up of outstanding DJ Jane Fitz and thus far underrated producer Dom Ahtuam contribute a stunning Balearic bass-heavy house cut "Fifth Time Lucky". Fresh from his solo EP, John Shima slots in a deep techno workout "Thought Wave". Toby Tobias of Rekids fame pumps out some raw basement lofi vibes with his jacker "Sword Art Arcade" and rounding off the EP on a delicate note is Tim Smith's soft and melodic 707 jam "Graphene".

As Benedikt Rugar's superbly illustrated cover art for the recent CockTail D'Amore compilation Nothing Matters When We're Dancing proved, the Berlin collective proudly celebrate their status as a forum for Berlin's gay community to fully express themselves. With no releases on the label since that compilation arrived in January, Discodromo and DJ Boris have now unveiled a sister operation with a focus on edits under the wonderful name CockRing D'Amore. The debut release features contributions from label regular Massimiliano Pagliara, the unheralded Trent and founders Discodromo.

Archeo Recordings is a reissue record label that regenerates old, lost, obscure (and forgotten) rare gems of Italian music of the 70s and 80s, and not only.All outputs are licensed by the artists and the vintage labels; audio tracks are remastered in their original form; the sleeves and center labels are graphically recreated for today but all based on the original images.Archeo would like to make the music available to a wider audience of collectors, DJs, music lovers of a forgotten time.All releases are hand-numbered limited edition vinyl.The first copies of each release are pressed in coloured vinyls.This release is individually 1000 hand-numbered limited edition.The first 300 copies are pressed on RED vinyls (AR004).The heaviest and most sought-after DRUMS BREAKS LIBRARY LP, a true "cult" among DJ and producers.

When it comes to producing deep, sophisticated, musically rich deep house, few are quite as capable as Kai Alce. Even so, there's still something extra-special about "Take A Chance", a thoroughly deep, soulful and lilting excursion full of rolling, African-influenced percussion, eyes-closed trumpet solos and warm, evocative vocals. Alce's hero Larry Heard provides the remixes, firstly under his given name (a typically deep, soulful and dreamy interpretation) and secondly as Mr Fingers. It's these "Ambient Acid" versions - built around restless, lopped electronics and the original's sublime trumpet - that really stand out. Brilliant from start to finish.

Considered French label D3 Elements continues is carefully curated run with a new EP from Berlin based Italians, Hinode. Featuring four cuts of tough deep house, this sixth EP is another high grade affair that follows on from great efforts by Strong Souls and Brian Harden.Hinode are Matteo Chisari & Mario Resta, a pair of accomplished DJs and producers that release on and run their own Science Fiction Recordings as well as 0Helena0. They have been active since 2013 and their robust sound has found favour with real heads and underground DJs alike.Opener 'State to State' is a raw, punchy house track with jazzy chords injecting some real soul into the physical beats. Rasping synths and rainy melodies have a hint of the old school about them and ensure that dance floors will be in raptures. 'Endless World' is more spacious, with a drunken acid sounding bassline roaming beneath a nicely mechanical groove. It's one to make you stomp, and so is b-side opener 'Shades of Grey' with its bombastic, kicking drums, twinkling melodies and lazy chords. Despite being a sweat inducing house banger, plenty of warmth and musicality remains. Lastly, 'Memory Alpha' hurries along with muddled voices, icy hi hats and a flurry of rubbery kicks and squelchy acid stabs. It's beautifully authentic house music that takes subtle cues from the best of Chicago and Detroit and puts a unique Hinode spin on things.