Moodymanc

Review: 18 months on from his last outing on Exploited, 'Take Me Back', long-serving Mancunian drummer, DJ and producer Danny Ward returns to the popular German imprint with a double dose of dancefloor dubs. Opener 'Joy (Piano Dub)' more than lives up to the promise of its title, with Ward wrapping arms-aloft piano stabs and high-end electronic melodies around a chunky, mid-90s US house bassline and pleasingly weighty drums. He dons the alternative Dubble D alias on the accompanying 'Nostalgia Piano Dub', a hip-house breakbeat-driven re-interpretation that's every bit as rushing and excitable as the regular 'Piano Dub'.

Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House

Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House

Review: Mancunian DJ/producer Danny Ward aka Moodymanc collaborates with the legendary Diane Charlemagne, whose work you may know from albums by Goldie, Moby, High Contrast and London Elektricity to name but a few. The result is "Take Me Back" on Berlin-based label Exploited, a retro futurist track that's at once deep and soulful. You can bet Ward returns under his trusted Dubble D alias as well, providing some very nice vocal and dub remixes.

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: Titeknots, Goshawk/Rhythm Plate

Review: Well Cut Records return with another deluxe release with Dubble D presenting under his "Moodymanc" monniker. He opens with "Comfort Me", a deep and gritty sounding soulful jam, followed by a 're-touch' of "War and Peace", a deep and dirty disco dance floor monster which has done serious damage in the past. Luke Solomun continues with his "Love and Death re-make", toughening up the drums and adding some analogue twists to take the energy levels up to the point of frenzy! The record closes with "Hashtag", a no nonsense, tough Chicago inspired groove which plays backdrop to a conversation between Snoop Dog and G Unit about the music game today which we thought said a lot about the state of play in House music today! A "beatapella" is an addition to the digital version of the release for those DJs who want to get more creative with the message!

Played by: Jazzawesz, OPOLOPO

Played by: Kerem Akdag

Review: For those who lack the time and willpower to keep track of Local Talk's frenetic release schedule, the popular deep house label's Talking House series is something of a lifesaver. Like its' predecessors, this fourth installment was compiled by label bosses Mad Mats and Tooli, and gathers together 13 more highlights from their rapidly-expanding catalogue. Naturally, highlights come thick and fast, from the hip-hop meets classic deep house flex of Zoe Zoe's "Bust Them Wifes" and the classic Balearic house revivalism of Luke Solomon's "Lost Channels (Live Piano Version)", to the hustling percussion hits and constantly-rising electronics of Kyodai's "Konbanwa" and the delicious jazz-house bounce of Moodymanc's "Morning".

Played by: Jay Hill

Played by: Ross Couch, Julian Sanza, Caserta / Bridge Boots / God Hour

Review: Well Cut Records is the new label project from Danny Ward, known mainly for his releases and productions as Moodymanc, Dubble D and as part of 2020Soundsystem. The label aims to be a showcase for various production projects and collaborations from Danny and to live up to its moniker by releasing records that will appeal to more discerning record buyers and DJs by staying true to the roots and aesthetics ofhHouse music whilst exploring its many shades and colours! This debut release perfectly captures the Well Cut approach, pairing two Moodymanc productions with collaborations between Ward and newcomer Lenny Middles.

Played by: Xpress 2

Played by: Superbreak

Review: The inspiration from Dubble D's latest release comes from a source that has been mined many times in house music - the church. Over tight claps and a lean funk guitar riff, the UK producer co-opts a sassy vocalist to discuss 'growing up in the church of Christ'. In case Dubble D felt that he was in danger of alienating his atheist fans, the vocalist then delivers a more secular message that 'in honour of the love for the people. . . we're going to lay it down... we gotta give love... '. Ashley Beedle's re-version sees the house veteran add some upbeat disco vibes and make the most of the guitar funk line.

Played by: Owain Kimber (Owain K)

Played by: Graham Gold

Played by: Shadow Dancer, Juno Recommends Minimal Tech

Played by: Dlay/Syndrome, DJ VIBE, Axer Rouf

Played by: Pete Dafeet, Tim Tonal, Fish Go Deep, GummiHz, Si muir, Slow It Down, Kidb (Seoul), Brothers' Vibe, Eddie Niguel Aka Edel, Juno Recommends Deep House, Jamie Behan, Orange Muse

Played by: Nick Curly, Audiojack, M.A.N.D.Y., Ralph Lawson

Played by: Marius Mathias, Grunbox, Thor (Connaisseur Records)

Played by: Dan Ghenacia

Played by: Oscar P - Open Bar Music, Trotter

Played by: Nick Dare, Andre Lodemann, Juno Recommends Deep House, Michelle Owen, Weedyman, Shur-i-kan

Review: The Detroit based Kolour Recordings reach their sixth release with Manchester's Moodymanc's latest jazz infused house ensemble, "Gretsch". The title track sees the producer merge a rolling bassline with jazzy, soulful sincerity, lush piano chords and brass instruments. Michael J Collins turns in a more stripped, dubby down version before Manchester At Work's summer mix of "Thief" slows the EP down to just the thud of its dubby beat and the persistent, stretched piano chords. "Bitz" is much funkier with quick percussion and a delightful horn wavering over the top.

Played by: Vincent Inc, Charles Webster, Marquez Ill, Filterwolf

Played by: Kisk, Juno Recommends Deep House, Angel Rize

Review: Steve Bug's Dessous imprint is one of the best and most consistent deep house and minimal labels going. On Dessous Best Kept Secrets Volume 2, the follow up to 2007's first instalment, they prove it yet again with a compilation that charts both the current and future sound of the label. Full of emotion, warmth and soul, the release serves as a true indication of the label's ethos as a whole and leaves a lasting impression on the listener.

David Durango has been making impressive appearances on Dessous and Poker Flat of late. So much so that the young half Swiss, half Spanish producer was chosen to open this compilation with the first of his three offerings on the release. "Juegos Fantasiticos" opens proceedings with some warm, deep house that sounds as comfortable as it does laid back. "Striptease" showcases Durango's more upbeat side before "Human" delves into a minimal aesthetic courtesy of deft high end percussion, low bass squeezes and acute phaser work.

Alongside smooth, chord-laden house like "Le Groove Rhodes" from Rene Breithbarth and Claire Ripley's "Labyrinth" we get the techno influenced twisted synths of Moodymanc's "Omlette" and the darker more driving sound of "Merise" by Andrade. "New Road FM" by Burnski brings the groove with some cosmic, jacking twists and Graeme Park closes the release with his slo-mo house remix of Ryo Murakami's "Just For This."

Dessous Best Kept Secrets Volume 2 takes you on a delightfully soulful and rhythmic journey of their label. Although the compilation never strays too far away from their signature sound nor breaks any new barriers, it does an expert job of bringing you the vintage and emotive deep house that has made the imprint so special in the first place.

Played by: Estroe, DJ Sneak, Joeski