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: Arriving at a fifteenth release in little more than three years is no mean feat, and the Wolf Music crew have retained a standard of quality throughout that a few other labels could learn from. Once again switching the emphasis from artist release to a quartet of contributors, WOLF 15 opens with a killer Ron Basejam refix of recent Wolf anthem "Nowt" by James Welsh. Originally a louche slice of beatdown, "Nowt" stays at an even tempo in the hands of the Crazy P artist though there are all new levels of seductive funk added. Complementing this are three label debuts of varying style but equal quality, with Squarehead & Mella Dee (one half of Mista Men no less) opting for a brazen concoction of ruffed up garage rhythms and deep house emotions on "Get Together". Next up, breakout house duo Waze & Odyssey add Wolf to their growing CV with the effervescent cut up house rowdiness of "Feel My Voices" whilst South African producer Terrence Pearce might just steal our affections with the skippy, smudged delights of "Magic".
Review: Toolroom is back with the second instalment of the 'House Party' series, with Chicago veteran Gene Farris, the enigmatic Wh0 and ascendant duo Raumakustik closing out the summer in style with their respective mixes. Featuring 80 tracks from leading international names including Carl Cox who goes for a minimal vibe on his remix of Hannah Wants & Kevin Knapp's "Call Me", Hot Since 82 serves up something different than usual on the summertime vibe of "Rise", Saved chief Nic Fanciulli gets some spiritual and life-affirming vibes in effect on "Virgo", Hamburg disco stu Tensnake gives Dombresky & Boston Bun's "Stronger" a neon-lit makeover and label boss Mark Knight impresses with the funky house anthem "Tonight" ft. Chenai and Mr. V.
Review: This is not the first compilation to drop whose sole aim is to raise funds for NHS Chartities Together - R&S Records and Bass Agenda both delivered similarly epic sets - but "Care4Life" may well be the strongest and most diverse. As you'd expect, each one of the 45 tracks is previously unreleased, and the cast list reads like a who's who of dance music culture. Notable highlights include an ultra-deep, saucer-eyed number from Daniel Avery, an unheard rework of the Chemical Brothers' "Catch Me I'm Falling", a superb revision of Harvey's Locussolus project by Kiwi, Matthew Herbert in jazzy broken beat mode, a rare solo outing from Optimo's JD Twitch, a rip-roaring rave workout from Jas Shaw, and thumping peak-time bangers from Dusky, Eats Everything and Patrick Topping.
E Is For Edible (continuous DJ mix) - (58:56) 126 BPM
Review: Despite being just two years old, Nick Harris and Eats Everything's label has established itself as one of modern house music's most promising imprints. This collection, which features tracks from Edible's first ten releases, shows why. It begins with the jerky groove, prowling bass and vocal screeches of Lord Leopard's "Mark of Passion", while Lauren Lane's "Diary of a Madwoman" documents a darker, less party-focused take on Edible's rhythm-heavy, off-beat sound. Brett Johnson, whose work has undoubtedly inspired many of the artists on the label, makes an appearance with the driving, heads-down "Jack", while Rhythm Masters deliver a disco-heavy take on the sound with "Feel Your Love". All in all, this compilation is good enough to eat.
Review: Listening to Miami 2014 it sounds like this year's WMC will be dominated by interpretations of classic US house. Prok & Fitch's "South Keys (original club mix)" is a storming tribal affair, while the key changes and heavy low end on My Digital Enemy's "Change" is reminiscent of New Jersey garage. Garage of a UK variety is audible on the rolling snares and rubbery bassline of Hot Since 82 's "Hot's Groove", but in the main, this compilation is US-dominated. Piemont's "Microsleep (original mix)" recalls the darkest excesses of Armand Van Helden house, replete with scary sirens, while the Kevin Knapp take on Richy Ahmed's "The Drums" is a clap-heavy Chicago jam.
Review: Not content just releasing surefire grooves on Relief, Unknown To The Unknown, Edible and their highly popular W&O Street Tracks - British duo Waze & Odyssey get stuck straight in for their new effort on Hottrax. "Shape" will entrance you with its sublime melody, airy pads and steady rhythms on this evocative and highly engineered production. It offers up something a bit different from Jamie Jones' label of late - well known for its no nonsense tough rolling grooves of the darker variety. A remix comes from fellow Londoners No Rules (Tommy Boy/Future State) who deliver a swinging and tripped-out minimal house rendition that's perfect for the afterhours.
Review: London duo Waze & Odyssey have a long track record in delivering raucous, upbeat dance floor tracks, while their W&O Street Tracks label has put out killer EPs from like-minded producers, including Ejeca and Mella Dee. On this occasion, it's the turn of the label owners. There is no doubt that "All of Us" will burn up dance floors. Based on a phased, buzzing bass and skipping, insistent beats, dissected vocals and detuned riffs weave their way in and out of a massive break down. Equal parts electro house, grime and garage, this is a brash, brilliant release that consolidates Waze & Odyssey's reputation.
