Review: British vocalist Ali Love (of Hot Natured fame) teamed up with Nicky Night Time and acclaimed Frenchman Breakbot on the low slung disco joint "Ubiquity" earlier this year, where he delivered his typically smooth-as-silk vocal delivery over a smooth groove - with an undeniably 'French Touch'. They are all back together again on Los Angeles-based label Music To Dance To with this hot remix package that is equally as worthy of your attention. Highlights come from the ever reliable Eric 'Dr. Dunks' Duncan (Rub 'N' Tug), who takes the track into infectious nu-disco territory, while the label's hometown hero Lubelski delivers a sensual late night mood music rendition.
Review: A new one here from Cuttin' Headz and this is quite the collaboration: Ibiza-based Brits Negghead and Lex Wolf aka Acid Mondays, who team up with Hot Natured vocalist Ali Love, newcomer The Show and award winning drummer Wolfgang Haffner on the druggy Sunday morning groove of "Everything". We particularly enjoyed the deep down and dirty boompty business of the dub version, which would make even DJ Sneak stand up and notice. On the remix, we have the label bosses Martinez Brothers doing their thing and getting on that rough and ready New York City style of bounce -all in fine fashion.
Review: Much has changed for Ali Love since the release of his Love Harder in 2010. For starters, he's fallen in with the Hot Creations camp, scored a massive chart hit ("Benediction", with Hot Natured) and seen his reputation soar. This latest full length - the belated follow-up to Love Harder - shows how far he's come. While the bright electrofunk synths, '80s soul vocals and Italo-influenced rhythms of old remain, P.U.M.P contains far more tactile, wide-eyed deep house moments than we've come to expect. It's a subtle evolution - there are still plenty of near Balearic synth-pop moments - but a successful one. The result is an effortlessly sweet and accessible album that blends throbbing dancefloor moments with baggier, more laidback fare.
Review: House DJs MYNC offer an exhaustive overview of the tracks that rocked the long-running White Island venue this summer. In the soulful corner, there's the Maxi Soundsystem take on Boris Dlugosch's "Look Around You". Featuring Roisin Murphy on vocals, it does a lot to sweep away the rainy autumn blues. Ten Walls deliver the trancey goods in the shape of "Gotham", which revolves around a belching bassline, but the most notable aspect of Ibiza 2013 is the way minimal producers have come into the house fold. Loco Dice borrows a prog house bassline for 'Detox' and Luciano's "Rise Of The Angel" - remixed here by Andrea Oliva - is a piano-led, wide eyed deep anthem.
Review: Doorly steps up to compile Souther Fried's fourth instalment of the Southern Fried & Tested series. There's over forty-five tracks on here so it should keep you moving and warm for the entire duration of the summer, not to mention Doorly's ingenious mixing and mash-up style. The compilation also spans many different sub-genres of house, from booty, electro, tech and more dancehall-inspired tunes, creating one hell of a party and one beauty of an addition to Southern Fried's catalogue! Check the "Big Booya" acappella!
Review: Bringing one of those vocals that will be nagging in the noggin long after the lights have come up; Ali Love and Kali are in prime pop-picking mode with this new single on Crosstown Rebels. The structure of the track is still in keeping with the label's slick take on house music; while the vocals intone a message of massaged ego that translates smoothly to Waze & Odyssey's more brooding remix. Maceo Plex comes in with a more romantic vision for the track, laying out thick reams of synth in a seductive late night style that can bleed outwards to fill a space large or small.
Review: Ah, Hot Creations, home to the hippest house music that cites disco and 25 year-old club anthems as its inspirations. Here, label head honchos Jamie Jones and Lee Foss revive their Hot Natured project for a sweet stroll through smiley vocal house territory in the company of one-time electrofunk revivalist Ali Love. "Benediction" is good for what it is - a vaguely deep, pleasant Hot Creations record - but the real killer here is the remix of former single "Forward Motion" by crusty old US garage head Mark "MK" Kinchen. He recalls those glory days of tough but groovy MK dubs with a rework straight out of 1993.
