Soul Notes At Juno Download

Review: This EP sees Kastil's Soul Notes label inaugurate a new series of Various Artists releases, split evenly between those familiar to the label and a few names new to the imprint, with four tracks that complement each other perfectly. Local Talk's Fulbert kicks off with "Untitled", a hi-fidelity slice of 90s-inspired house with some pleasingly foggy, jazzy touches nestled amongst its sharp percussion, while label boss Kastil contributes "Red Clown (raw mix)", a stripped back house jam with wavering chords and clattering tin pot percussion. Malin Genie provides "Leavin'", an urgent piece of garage house breathy with breathy vocals and a pleasantly spacious quality, while Jefferson Belmodo finishes up with "Booty Groove" a devastatingly simple house track with lightly filtered bass.

Review: Previously, Dutch producer Kastil has displayed a love for blending house and disco (most notably on EPs for Outernational and Diner City Sound). Here, he offers up an EP that basks in the glory days of mid 1990s US deep house, throwing in a few choice disco vocal samples (most notably a blast of Diana Ross on the nagging "Coming") to appease his discoid instincts. The real standouts are opener "That Jazz" - a warm and snuggly slice of deepness that evokes distant memories of waking up with the man or woman of your dreams - and "Black Velvet", a sumptuous concoction that sounds like classic Nu Groove given a 21st century makeover.

Review: French DJ/producer Toni Be first made waves with a couple of suitably deep and sultry 12" singles on Remote Records. Here he pops up on Soul Notes with another typically fluid, classic-minded trio of soulful deep house cuts. Choose between the sweet, string-laden '90s groove of "Point of No Return", the sweaty, upbeat bump of the Kerri Chandler-ish "Burning Patterns", and the deep chords and darting electronic melodies of "Resilient Thought". All three tracks boast a fluidity and dreaminess that's never less than charming, whilst retaining enough low-end bounce to please the dancefloor.