Review: Has Rick Wade ever made a mediocre record? In the 28 years since he made his debut, the Michigan producer has delivered so many impressive deep house EPs and albums that his name has become a byword for quality. His latest EP, a surprise outing on Bristol label Shall Not Fade, is another doozy. It includes some surprises, too, with closing cut 'Quantum Jit' delivering not deep house thrills, but deliciously percussive, far-sighted, melody-rich drum and bass! If course, elsewhere on the EP it's quality, club-ready deepness all the way, with the alternately percussive and jazzy 'Kabukicho' and ultra-immersive 'Late Right' standing out. The latter is undoubtedly a genuine early morning delight, with smoky sax and comfy chords catching the ear.
Review: With a 30-plus-year career, Rick Wade's name is spoken in reverent tones in deep house circles, thanks mostly to the output of his Harmonie Park label. For the past decade or so, he's found a regular home at Japanese label Unknown Season, and this 'best of' is really an omnibus that brings together the various EPs he's made for them, rather than a definitive, career-spanning anthology. There's still much to enjoy, though, from the fluttery, uplifting Latin-jazz-soul of 'Shinjuku Strut' to the eyes-wide-shut 4am dancefloor throb of 'Angry Orchestra', the soulful house shuffle of 'Gotta Have Jazz' and the lounge-y 70s funk nostalgia of 'After Dark'.
Review: Compilation of the month goes to this Tenor produced Deep in My Soul 2 various artist LP, put together by a label of those in the know outta Germany. Taking in the jazzy, soulful shuffle of Rick Wade in tracks like "Gotta Have Jazz" to Giorgio Moroder remixes, this collection of tunes gracefully captures the unique vibe and several strands of pseudo-contemporary-house. Standout numbers include Deeper Thoughts And Sensitive Soul's "Dream" while more progressive workouts come from Ben Muetsch. Keeping it dub and techno though is Dave Pad with his remix to Echonomist's "Kubrik Thursdays" alongside the warehouse aesthetics and reverberating basslines of Tayllor And Nick Pappa. Dub house, techno, disco and soul for alles.
Review: Now into its fifth year, KGW's Shall Not Fade imprint has long been a reliable source of dusty deep house and rugged, warehouse-ready workouts. To kick-start 2020, the label has decided to celebrate this facet of their output via an expansive compilation of previously released highlights. There's a peak-time ready feel from start to finish, with our picks of a very impressive bunch including the bustling, riff-heavy techno pump of KETTAMA's "In The Garage", the sunrise-ready, melody-heavy bliss of Harrison BDP's epic "Watching The World Go By", the sleazy, acid-fired growl of Big Miz's "Primordial Soup" and the dusty-but-sparkling, emotive rich broken house brilliance of Contours' "Fifth Planet". In a word: essential.
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