Eclectic Avenue At Juno Download

Review: Given their passion for the unusual and the off-kilter - certainly when it comes to house - it's perhaps little surprise to find Eclectic Avenue dipping the proverbial toe into Balearic waters with this EP from deep house legend Joshua Iz under the Dubwise pseudonym. "Sueno", in particular, is like a ray of scorching Ibizan sunlight, all cascading synth riffs, loose acoustic guitars, lazy beats and oddball vocals. "Magnetron" is similarly Balearic in outlook, delivering a cosy blend of late 80s hip-hop breaks and jazz-funk keys. Simoncino delivers two stunning remixes; one (the Protho Mix) in his usual deep and atmospheric analogue style, the other in a driving dub disco vein. Impressive stuff from start to finish.

Review: J Cub's latest incarnation, with the 1/3 Quartet (which features players who have previously backed Ian Brown, The Prodigy and Groove Armada in the past) introduces itself with this nu-soul funker which keeps a tight studio sound thanks to some warm Rhodes and unechoed horns. For a more digital and uptempo nu-disco rework, turn to Nicholas's accompanying rework.

Review: As of this week, most of the Eclectic Avenue back catalogue is available on Juno Download. That should be a cause for celebration, for the label has released some fantastic material over the last year or so. This three-tracker from Luke Solomon is among their best. Sitting somewhere between breezy dub disco, deep house and formidable Brazilian beats, "Say Something" is one of Solomon's most attractive productions to date - all parping, dubbed-out horns, life-affirming vocals and Amazonian percussion. "Dub Something" cuts back on the vocals whilst retaining the killer elements of the original, while "Do Something" turns the original into a mutant electronic house jam full of electro-marimbas. Boss.

Review: Just in time for carnival season, Eclectic Avenue unleash a pair of fine, floor-filling remixes of Luke Solomon's 2011 single "Say Something". Ashley Beedle reads the brief perfectly, turning in a version that joyously dances between boompty bounce, dubbed-out genius (check the reverb-laden horn stabs), celebratory cheekiness (a vocal that teases people towards the dancefloor) and genuine Latin flavour (some fine bongos and marimbas). It's arguably Beedle's best mix for some time. Negghead, meanwhile, offers up a version that sits somewhere between muggy Latin jazz and melancholic deep house - all hissing cymbals, sun-bright pianos and thick organs. Recommended.

Review: This was one of Eclectic Avenue's earliest releases, originally dropping on wax back in 2010. It's an interesting release in a number of ways. For starters, it sees Freaks man Justin Harris teaming up with regular collaborator Stella, a vocalist who appeared on some of Freaks greatest productions. Secondly, it's musically quite expansive, sitting somewhere between sparse Balaearic house and the kind of moody but uplifting fare that Massive Attack used to specialize in, circa the Blue Lines period. Stella's vocal, in particular, is nothing short of stunning. If that wasn't enough to wet your whistle, there's also a slightly more upbeat - but no less emotional - remix from the Popular People's Front. Recommended.

Review: PBR Streetgang's output has been impressive of late, but few of their releases have been quite as arresting as "C.R.A.I.G". First released on vinyl in 2011, it finally gets a digital release following Eclectic Avenue's belated move to the world of downloads. If you've not come across it before, it's worth a listen. Murky, hypnotic and druggy, it pits dark acid squiggles and delay-laden drone synths against chugging disco drums, bold cowbells and choice blues samples. It's neither deep house nor disco, instead being something altogether more peculiar. It's very good, all told, as are Toby Tobias' two remixes. Both offer a stark contrast to the dark original, offering fluid synths, touchy-feely grooves and near Balearic atmospherics.

Review: This digital reissue from Eclectic Avenue is special in a number of ways. Firstly, it sees the belated return of early 2000s Paper Recordings outfit Reset (aka Manc legends Elliot Eastwick, Miles Holloway and Merlin Garrett). Secondly, it's actually rather good. Casting aside their classic UK deep house sound, "Juicy" is a formidably organic chunk of baggy soul-jazz disco/house fusion - the sort of loose-limbed goodness that will fit snugly between all-live disco-funk and head-nodding slo-mo disco/house. There's an excellent LTJ Experience remix, too, which thickens the beats for more straightforward dancefloor thrills. It's good to have them back.