Freeform Five

Played by: Juno Recommends Disco, THE NICEGUYS, BRENDON P, Andy Buchan

Played by: Juno Recommends Funky House, GATY LOPEZ

Played by: Jayl Funk, Juno Recommends Disco, BRENDON P, Sam Divine

Review: (Emotional) Especial heralds its 30th release with a killer package from an all-star cast that takes in label regulars and newcomers alike. The vibe starts heated and heavy with modern acid champ Roy Of The Ravers taking a blunt instrument or two to Junior Fairplay's "End Of Love," firing off the kind of bludgeoning b-line and fizzing drums that makes his direct approach to the dancefloor so potent. It's somewhat surprising to see Freeform Five pop up on this 12", but Jamie Paton's remix of "Throwing Stones" sounds utterly natural in the habitat - a brooding, simmering trip shot through with noirish synths. Kris Baha gets busy with Red Axes' "Waiting For A Surprise," twisting out an exotic bubbler perfect for the low tempo chugging crowd, and then Bal5000 wraps things up with the gorgeous electro-disco delights of "Kids".

Review: Ten years of tech house powerhouse Exploited's exploits - pardon the pun! A born and bred Berliner, Shir Khan started the label in his home city in 2007. The imprint now plays host to a who's who in the current tech-house climate - including Adana Twins, Doctor Dru, Claptone, Joyce Muniz, Urulu and Cocolores to name a few. Its artists have been receiving full support from tastemakers such as Pete Tong, Soul Clap, Wolf & Lamb and Kraak & Smaak. All the usual suspects appear here: many golden oldies and even some newbie surprises too - perfect for the Christmas season and to forecast trends moving forward into 2018. To prove their relevance, they've served up a whopper of a compilation: over five dozen tracks showcasing their illustrious discography. We are certain that these are timeless grooves and will prove to be just as relevant another decade.

Some of these go as far back as 2009! Take for instance Malente & Dex feat. Analogik's "Gipsy Kings" which homed in that whole loopy latin house trend - popularised by similar tunes like "We No Speak Americano". Swedish electro house dons Zoo Brazil appear as well, with their 2012 dancefloor hit "Rock The House", then get deep and slinky with Moodymanc's 2013 sleeper hit "Joy" (Ralph Lawson Dub). They were even doing jazzy/dusty deep house as far back as 2011, like on Homework's "Whipped Cream". Remember Serge Santiago's remix of Murphy Jax's "Let's Get To It" featuring the inimitable Mike Dunn? It's here!

But when best describing the label's success thus far, we'd have to give honorable mentions to the true staples of the label. The legendary Chicagoan James Curd (formerly one half of the Greenskeepers) has kept on going from his new home of Adelaide, Australia and served up some of his best work in years. The emotive and bittersweet "Forever My Friend" is just one example. Likewise, Belgium's Compuphonic appears several times also - his recent hit from earlier this year "Metropolis" appears in all its soulful and evocative glory. Here's to another 10 guys, cheers!

Played by: FINGERMAN, YAM WHO?, Domshe, SITUATION

Played by: Casino Times

Played by: Andy Warburton, Casio Social Club, Irregular Disco Workers, Alkalino, Juno Recommends Disco, BRUNO FROM IBIZA

Played by: Martin Brodin, Demia E.Clash

Played by: Chris Massey, DJ Sneak, Riva Starr

Played by: Homegroove Project, Valique, FINGERMAN, Doc Martin, Dave Allison (Editorial), In Flagranti, Alessandro Otiz, Martin Brodin, Djs: Most Charted - Deep House, Thomass Jackson, Italodisko, Reed & Radley

Review: Following his hit remix of Isolee's Beau Mot Plage, Anu Pillai (aka Freeform Five), rode the crest of the noughties electro-house boom. Then he vanished, or rather switched to co-writing pop for the likes of Cheryl Cole and Ladyhawke. Now he's back on Belgium's arty dance label Eskimo and well, it sounds...different. Hooking up with Gambian musician Juldeh Camara, "Weltareh" is a slice of sleek world music with beats (the plucked intro also sounds like Dolly Parton's Jolene!). Pillai adds some snappy house beats for his own reform, while Prins Thomas provides one of his trademark organic electro-disco interpretations.

Played by: Roland Schwarz, Sean Gormally (Love the Bomb), Fragedis, Shadow Dancer, DJ Sneak, Chubby Dubz, Alex Agore, Josh Wink, Axer Rouf, Juno Classics, Gareth Bilaney, Just Kiddin, Mixmaster Morris, Adana Twins

Played by: DJ Sneak, Joris Voorn, Juno Classics, DJ Sneak, Hector Moralez, John Acquaviva, Waff, Melon Bomb

Played by: J.Morrison, Danny Howells

Played by: Helsloot