Andy Ash At Juno Download

Review: The Use of Weapons imprint has mastered the easy to grasp, hard to master formula of matching clutches of (excellent) original tracks from Cottam and label bosses Deep Space Orchestra with well-chosen and even better executed remixes from the likes of Hunee, Neville Watson and Marcello Napoletano. The fourth release sees a change in tack, with the label opting to focus on original material from 6th Borough Project, Haku, Andy Ash and of course Deep Space Orchestra. Graeme The Revenge Clark and Craig Smith kick off proceedings with the suitable thick set slow burning "Estranged Lover", though it's "Rugo" by Haku that impresses most. The new project of Deep Space Orchestra's Chris Barker, the track is a superb kaleidoscopic concoction of fizzing uptempo live percussion, synths and drum machines that has more than a touch of the Carl Craigs about it. Andy Ash switches proceedings back to chunky mutant discoid dirt with the heads down, tops off vibes of "Somehow" while the Deep Space Orchestra head for the expanses of future tech jazz with the ten minute odyssey "Erase Everything".

Review: Liverpool-based producer Andy Ash has something of a rising reputation within deep house circles, thanks largely to a string of crackly, low-end heavy releases for the likes of FOTO and Boogie Originals. This new EP for Runaway's On The Prowl follows a similar formula to his previous releases, fusing heavyweight bass, acid-influenced percussion and dark, nocturnal atmospherics. The murky "Another World" just edges out the sharper "Focus", but both provide solid deep house thrills. Nicholas and Runaway man Marcos Cabral remix "Another World", with the latter's ghostly take just edging out the former's slo-mo rework.

Review: Now an established member of the UK's deep house cognoscenti, Boogie Originals co-owner Andy Ash pops up on Black Key with one of his strongest cuts to date. "Broken" is typically of Ash's recent work, all druggy, hissing grooves, voodoo percussion, pin-sharp pianos and drowsy vocal samples. It's a startling combination that works beautifully. The Liverpudlian explores his jazzier side on "Distro Yet", which sounds like a sleepy UK take on Detroit deep house. The package also includes a couple of tasty remixes of "Broken"; a wonky house rub from Ugly Drums and a sweet, bongo-laden tweak from Tom Sevinski.

Review: Upon the original release of Carnival De L'Spirit on Stilove4music back in 2008, Andy Ash was an unknown quantity amongst the disco/house cognoscenti - the fact it was a double pack of vinyl made people sit up and take notice. In the period since then Ash has excelled with releases for On The Prowl and the FOTO imprint run by OOFT. Long since deleted, the eight track set is finally available on digital format and still impresses with a selection of well known Latin, jazz and soul tracks dealt a house twist. Such an approach is nothing new, but when it's executed with the panache of the Badu sampling "Erika Wants" for example, it's worth investigating.

Review: The latest OTP Party Breaks release, offered up by Marcos Cabral and Jacques Renault's On The Prowl label, sees Andy Ash rock some very meaty disco edit work on the sophisticated funk of "Get Loose", while "You Show Me" and "Love Me Straight" bear more of a sparse, strictly studio sound with the latter especially sporting some very wide-eyed, Detroit influenced pad chords. With a Deep Space Orchestra mix also included, this is as ever an OTP release not to be missed.