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Deep In the Jungle know a thing or two about curating rough and ready beats, and this EP from Crom fits the bill perfectly. Across four tracks, the producer spits out a diverse mix of beat structures that form a singular purpose: dancefloor readiness. The title track is the highlight, as Rider Shafique does his usual business of injecting menace and catchiness in one fell swoop, this time above a stuttering junglist beat and sweeping basslines. 'Sticks & Stones' is our other favourite, a stripped back, no-nonsense tune with clean, powerful percussion and a relentless feel to it that reminds us of Grey Code or HLZ. Big ups.

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Dj Laurel

Katakana Edits Vol 107 Katakana Edits

The latest in the long-running 'Katakana Edits' series features five funk reworks, three of which we can identify the source for: Timmy Thomas's 1972 classic 'Why Can't We Live Together', Billy Paul's 'People Power' (1975) and The Four Tops' 'Are You Man Enough?' (1973). 'Stomp The Floor' has us beat, though, and as for 'Don't Stop The Music' - well, it isn't the Yarbrough & Peoples one, and nor is it any of the tracks of the same name by K.I.D, Cascade, Bugz In The Attic, Supermax, Bits & Pieces or Brecker Brothers! But it's a decent lil' funk/boogie groove all the same...

Fouk

Blue Steel EP Heist Recordings

Heist regulars Fouk (AKA Daniel Leseman and Hans Peeman) had a relative quiet 2020, releasing just one EP and a single-track salvo, 'Need My Space'. Here they're back to their distinctive best, belatedly kick-starting their 2021 release campaign via a rock-solid four-tracker. Rebiere lends a hand on title track 'Blue Steel', a (drum machine) handclap-heavy house stomper marked out by deep, sub-heavy bass, jaunty synth stabs and waves of energy-packed saxophone solos. Girls of the Internet provide the obligatory remix, opting for a long, dreamy, pared-back intro before unleashing the Dutch duo's killer bassline and winding sax motifs. Elsewhere, 'Don't You Want To Boogie' is a high-octane disco-house number full of swirling filter effects, while 'Money' is a squelchy chunk of nu-disco/peak-time house fusion.

Tim Engelhardt

Prophecy EP Watergate

German wunderkind Tim Engelhardt returns to Watergate to follow up 2020's Rooted EP. The Cologne-based producer was prolific throughout 2020, seeing the release of the LP Idiosynkrasia on Stil Vor Talent, and remixes for the likes of Trentemoeller. From the sublime deep house stylings of the title track, which is as glassy-eyed and bittersweet as it gets, there's also the sunny and uplifting open-air vibes of "Polygon Particles" with a strong influence of Afro house and an innate soulfulness. Finally, Engelhardt executes one more expression in perfect dancefloor drama on "Connected in Silence", guided by a wonderful melodic progression and underpinned with moody elements which intensify the track's overall tension and suspense.

Reset Robot

I Wish You'd Never Truesoul

A most trusted producer over the years with a sound that's evolving into something more progressive and synthy for this particular release while maintaining that classic Reset Robot reboot - this EP's lead track is its most intriguing. With a touch of techno-pop be-it electroclash weaving its way through "I Wish You'd Never" there's no denying its trancey and rave roots. Dipping deeper into straight up big room acid techno for "Time Loop", the whiplash of rip curling synths in "Fluid" peel over ephemeral atmospheres and the dusty thud of drums. And for the that serene bonus, Truesoul caps off this release with a "I Wish You'd Never (dub)", steering the original toward something arpeggio-driven over vocal-led.

Catz 'n Dogz / Gerd Janson

Modern Romance (Dusky Remix) Misfit Melodies

Gerd Janson is back on the Misfit Melodies imprint, an occasionally used subsidiary of Running Back, serving up a superb remix here of the track he created last year with PETS Recordings duo Catz 'N Dogz. The one of course is "Modern Romance" and reworked by 17 Steps head honchos Dusky. The main remix has an undeniable UK-style energy about it, capturing that ecstatic Second Summer of Love aesthetic from the late '80s. The rave under the M25 motorway, circa '88, continues on the stripped down Dub version, for all the DJs out there.