Review: Following the recent release of his debut album, Them Crowd Kids (Ibadan), Greek producer Quell continues to churn out top quality deep house at an impressive rate. This four-tracker for 20:20 Vision is full of high-grade moments, from the strobelight serenade of the hypnotic, classic-sounding "Don't Go", to the '89 Chicago jack-meets-early UK rave-meets US garage of the restless "Right". Quell's main strength is the ageless sound of his productions; "Loose Meanings", with its acid-tinged bassline, sweaty drum builds, yearning, tear-jerking chords and classic house riffs, sounds like it could have been recorded at any point in the last 25 years.
Review: Having seen his vintage remix of DJ Dove's "Come On" (originally produced with 20:20 Vision partner in crime Carl Finlow, and first released in 2000) make an unlikely dancefloor comeback last year (not a huge surprise, given its quality), Ralph Lawson has decided to trawl through his box of long-forgotten DATs for more forgotten gold. Bar a handful of recent reworks (including a fine re-tweak of a little-known, Andres-ish Prophets of Sound rework), all of the remixes on Dusty Dubs & Gold Dust by Lawson and Finlow at least 10 years ago. That most sound surprisingly fresh is testament to their quality. Highlights and naturally plentiful, from the skittering, hard-to find mix of Wolf 'N' Flow's "Feeling moody", to the raw house-boogie vibes of their magnificent Blaze rework.
Review: Having lit up the summer of 2012 with his single-sided white label, "Kerri", Rob Amboule gets a deserved debut EP on 20:20 Vision. Fittingly, it's "Kerri" - a tribute to US house master Kerri Chandler complete with intoxicating synth melodies and trademark Chandler shuffle - that kicks things off, but there are plenty of next-level thrills to be found elsewhere. "Pushin' On" (yep, it samples Alice Russell's vocal from the Quantic Soul Orchestra record of the same name) is as touchy-feely and wide-eyed as deep house gets, while "Part 3" impresses with its tactile chords, sturdy grooves and wild '90s US garage organs.
Review: After impressing as part of Belfast-based duo Jet Project (alongside fellow Shine resident Timmy Stewart), John McIver goes solo with a decidedly old skool EP for 2020 Vision. All four tracks ripple with classic house flavour, from the delay-laden snares, woozy synths and razor-sharp vocal sample of the near-anthemic title track, to the basement-baiting riffage and intoxicating chords of "Doubting Tom". The 2020 Vision remix of "Let Go" - presumably by Ralph Lawson, though it doesn't say - revisits the early days of the label with a classic, Chicago-influenced deep house groove, while Jordan Peak goes all Lone on his deliciously bass-heavy rework. Recommended.
Review: With previous releases on the likes of Remote Area, Gruuv and Suara, Kid Culture's reputation is pretty spotless... And an appearance on 2020 is only going to help compound this further. The beautifully titled "Chord Chaser" peaks and troughs via tidal washes of filtered synths (think Fred Everything), pushing the same deep groove message relentlessly. "Nu Age Humming" flips the switch with bold organ exercises and an unstoppable chop-slap jacking rhythm. Finally we hit "Interstellar Drive By". Yet another feather in Kid Culture's cap, this classic west coast style jam showcases his more percussive, jazzy skills. Three golden grooves on one sweet release: butt wiggling guaranteed.
Review: 20:20 Vision has always been astute when it comes to signings, picking up fast-rising producers on the cusp of making it big. Whether Jonny Cade - who has releases on Kolour Recordings and Black Key to his name - fits into that category remains to be seen, but from the sound of "Find My Way", the signs are good. The title track is something of an underground hit in waiting; an intoxicating chunk of deliciously deep house with just the right amount of fluidity and tech-house influences. The EP's other three tracks are pretty good, too, delivering a two heavyweight, garage-influenced late night bangers and a chunky trip into Huxley territory ("Truffles at Dawn").
Review: Mainstays of 20:20 Vision, Audiojack return with a full-bodied three tracker of tech house delights, starting with aplomb on the peak-time belter "No Equal Sides". There's a sugary-sweet melodic hook that rises and falls in the comparatively dark mix of raw drum hits and throbbing sub bass to create an alluring nocturnal blend which begs for you to raise your hands in appreciation. Changing shape as the track ploughs on, the brief moments of daylight make this an unstoppable club smasher. On "Tunnel Vision" the pair enlist Stee Downes for some assistance and opt for a more mellow, broken beat affair, while "In Principle" embraces that broken flavour further with another restrained but devoutly cheeky party juicer.
Review: Cynics will tell you that remix albums are a bit of a con - an exercise in repackaging previously released reworks - but occasionally they're worth picking up. This collection of recent and vintage reworks of Crazy P tracks thankfully falls into the latter category, delivering a mix of classic re-cuts, previously unheard tweaks and previously promo-only mixes. Some of the more Balearic and quietly downtempo tweaks stand out, not least Appleblim's woozily soulful touch-up of "Changes" and Wolf + Lamb's deliciously wide-eyed, downtempo take on "Wecanonlybewhoweare". There's also a chance to revisit some Grade-A club re-fixes from Still Going (whose tough-but-grandiose nu-disco take on "Caught Up" still sounds fresh), Huxley and Bonar Bradberry.
Review: The reinvention of Victoria "Little Boots" Hesketh continues with a second digital EP of sweet, atmospheric deep house produced by Baunz, Maya Jane Coles and James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco). The first installment of Superstitious Heart, featuring the original version, was arguably one of 2020 Vision's biggest smashes in recent years. Here, it gets remixes by Leeds lads PBR Streetgang, who turn it into a woozy, string-drenched Balearic disco-meets-deep house shuffler. Almost as good is the Baunz-produced "Whatever Sets You Free", as good a chunk of tech-tinged deep house-pop as you're likely to find this year. His dancefloor-friendly Dub is worth checking, too.
Review: This latest missive from comeback kid Freak Seven (AKA producer Naveed Akthar) is not so much surreal, but utterly bonkers. "Surreal" is a wildly imaginative chunk of dancefloor madness that somehow manages to fuse the low-end, acid-era bounce of Adonis, the slick electro/techno of Random Factor and the verbal nonsense of Foremost Poets. It's borderline insane, but fantastic to boot. Remixes come from Sebo K, who provides a bumpin' vocal version and a brilliantly sparse dub, and Dario Zenker. His sparkling, futurist mixes - part techno, part deep house, part electro - are arguably the highlight of an excellent EP.
Review: In a short space of time, Garry "Ejeca" McCartney has become a man in demand. Here, he follows acclaimed outings on Tusk Wax, Needwant, Aus and Last Night On Earth with a typically entertaining EP for 2020 Vision. Choose between the classic, shimmering deep house-meets-90s New York house flex of "Jump" (complete with delicious synth-strings), the saucer-eyed warm-up fodder of "Purnsley", the simmering late night delight of "Home" (a suitably relaxed but still floor-friendly concoction), and the standout "Agent of the Deep". All are up to his usual high standards and come blessed with just the right balance between floor-friendly bump and headphone-friendly atmosphere.
Review: Having previously built his reputation via a series of well loved released on Circus Company, Freerange and Delusions of Grandeur, Italian producer Guiseppe Tuccillo is in a good place. Here he returns to 2020 Vision, scene of last year's solid Mathematics EP, for another four-track burst of deep house goodness. There's plenty to enjoy, too, from the fluid, wide-eyed Italian deep house revivalism of "Need U" and sweaty, late night voodoo of "Unblock", to the murky low-end pressure and dubbed-out electric piano vibes of "Sabotage". "Karimba", another exercise in swinging Italian revivalism, is also pretty tasty. A very playable EP, all told.
Review: Having carved out quite the reputation for themselves with their We Play House imprint and a successful turn on Delusions Of Grandeur, Red D and San Soda bring their heart-warming house styles to 20:20 Vision. "Holding Our Nick" stands proud atop a punchy bassline, keeping the track stripped back and funky without riding any one element too hard, dropping in some ice cold chord stabs at just the right time. Meanwhile Frits Wentink brings a spacious, dubby veneer to the track, filling in the sparse gaps with echoes and decays, and even working some cheeky additional drums and arpeggios into the mix. Locked Groove meanwhile heads for the more strung out side of a re-version, coming on all wistful and romantic in the process.
Review: Prolific French producer DJ W!ild makes his debut on 20:20 Vision. The only real surprise here is that it took him so long to put something out on Ralph Lawson's label. Indeed, as Feel Me demonstrates, W!ld sounds at home on 20:20. "Rendez Vous Love" is a dense, tribal roller with tripped out synths and vocals phased in and out at will. By contrast, "Boys Don't Cry" is stripped back and acidic, like fellow Frenchman Phil Weeks on a bad trip. The title track reveals a different side to his sound; littered with Spanish vocals and icy synths, its stepping, jagged rhythm marks a welcome sea change for a producer known for his functional dance floor sound.
Review: Ah, the delights of the 'mystery' alter ego. Brazilian Roscoe Sledge is, by all accounts, rather well known as a techno producer under his real name, but has decided to keep people guessing with a new alter-ego. Oh, and a different sound. You see, these four tracks for 20:20 Vision combine a myriad of influences - Visionquest-inspired house, acid, tech-house, twinkling deepness, the fluid synths of nu-disco, the old darkroom style of Roach Motel and the robust pulse of techno - to create wonky dancefloor cuts that defy easy categorization. Our pick is probably the wide-eyed intergalactic funk of "Mis En Scene", but they're all pretty tasty.
Review: Given the 1990s style 20:20 Vision label artwork employed on this release, it would be safe to say that Audiojack have gained plenty of inspiration from the Leeds' imprint's now distant past. From start to finish, the Get Serious EP sounds like the sort of record that could have been made in the 1990s by the label's trio of founders - Huggy, Ralph Lawson and Carl Finlow. With clear influences from Prescription Records, early tech-house, bumpin' New York grooves and dubby Nottingham deep house, Audiojack have made an EP that sounds both curiously current and decidedly old. It certainly makes for an entertaining four-tracker.
Review: Originally featured on one of 2020 Vision's fabulous Crazy P Curates EPs, Red Rack'em's luscious 'Love & Peace' gets a deserved single release. Variously inspired by low-tempo house, dubbed-out Balearica and Detroit Beatdown - itself a slow, hypnotic take on house music - the track draws heavily on the Bristol-based Scot's love of head-nodding beats, soulful samples, sun-soaked positivity and what we would call "proper deepness". The selected samples - of, we should add, of unknown origin - are deliciously summery and sunset-ready, with the 'Wonky Disco Bassline Banger' producer uniting his MPC beat-maker roots with a chunky, locked-in house groove and plenty of loved-up musical flourishes. An absolute delight for slow house enthusiasts, downtempo DJs and anyone who likes their grooves doused in oodles of soul-fired emotion.
Review: We can clearly hear signs of musical development in "Grey Area", the latest single from long-time 2020 Vision producer Simon Baker. Rather than the simple-but-effective, electrofunk-influenced grooves of old, "Grey Area" offers carefully sculpted deep house laden with emotion-rich piano loops, jazz breakdowns and teary vocal samples. It's both pleasantly surprising and, well, rather good - certainly one of his best to date. Remix-wise, Steve Bug emphasizes the jazz elements on his alien-sounding rework (check those sci-fi synths), whilst Burnski & Robert James provide a bumpin' late night rework that should tickle the tastebuds of regular 2020-watchers. Recommended.
Review: Having won some fans with his Hypercolour release, Huxley now leaps to 20:20 Vision to dish out more smooth, feel-good house music. On "Box Clever" a rubbery bass line and steady drum machine beats meet with cheery piano samples for a track that could become synonymous with outdoor grooving in the sunshine. "Atonement" is more inwardly focused, not least in the filtered synth that lends a sexy late-night feel to the track. "Out Of My Mind" switches things up nicely with a cheeky broken beat bouncing off smatterings of Detroit chords for a surprising and addictive groove.
Review: With all their brilliant musical shapeshifting, it can sometimes be hard to keep up with Leeds lads PBR Streetgang. Having flirted with both disco and deep house of late - usually both at once - At Dez sees them looking fairly and squarely towards the dancefloor at Basics, with an EP of forthright house treats. "At Dez" itself is typical Yorkshire house - bassy, stripped back, hypnotic and impressively robust - while "2Square" makes mischief with squeaky vocal cut-ups, gargantuan bass and a dash of old skool jack. "Make Your Mind Up" impressively fuses soulful shuffle and touchy-feely synth bass, while "Sexy Time" bounces along on a wave of rubbery bass and voodoo samples.
Review: When Ben Hackman first burst onto the scene with a spate of dubstep and garage-influenced anthems back in 2010, it seemed inconceivable that he would one day end up on 20:20 Vision. Clearly, he's mellowed with age. While "Carry On" boasts some subtle bass music influences - most notably at the bottom end - it's basically a dreamy, tech-tinged deep house record. Surprisingly, the accompanying Dub goes even deeper, and comes blessed with one seriously spine-tingling breakdown. Best of all, though is Rampa's remix of similarly deep bonus cut "The Blue (Instrumental)", which is built around heavy bass and loose African percussion. Brilliantly, it sounds like a lost Golden Teacher B-side.
Review: London producer Rob Burn has been making waves on the UK underground as IO Sounds these past few years with a bass heavy brand of house displayed through releases on Derelicht, Madtech, and 20:20 Vision. The latter long-running Northern label have, of course, been strong IO Sounds advocates and they facilitate his latest single Another Love, notable for a fine remix from Last Magpie. Of the original IO Sounds tracks, the deep techy title cut impresses thanks to its shuffling warehouse groove whilst "Broken Teeth" is a wonderfully odd production. Here IO Sounds lays down foreboding vocal grunts over a grubby electro bassline and recycled drum breaks.
Review: Romanian duo Livio & Roby enjoy word play and, as such, came up with the moniker Premiesku - a pun on both 'premiere' and a similar Romanian name. Together with buddy George G, they make 90s-indebted house and here we get three fresh cuts from their analogue bunker. "Jojoman" is a repetitive seven minute proggy roller, "Voice Game" is perkier with crisp tribal beats thumping through weird and distorted vocals and "Life Game" being a deep and shuffley loop-a-thon. Elsewhere Djebali reworks the title track into a more subdued retro pop houser and Guti turns Voice Game into twisted, deep and mongy break-step.
Review: It's extraordinary to think that Ralph Lawson's 20:20 Vision imprint, now some 20 years old, is homing in on 300 releases. This 273rd missive comes from Lakosa and Rick Grant, who previously joined forces for outings on 2nd Drop and Tender Hooks. There's a decidedly murky, late night feel to opener "Dusk", whose main attraction is undoubtedly a mind-altering combination of relentless, low-slung acid bass and some decidedly deep and spacey chords. "Cascade" is deeper and slightly more melodious, with tumbling pianos and bubbling electronics riding a roughneck tech-house groove. Remixes come from Ejeca and Whitesquare, with the latter's ear pleasing, intelligent techno-influenced re-interpretation of "Cascade" particularly impressing.
Review: Following a quietly impressive 2014, in which he delivered pleasing material on Toy Tronics and Mr Carter, Maurice Uzzan brings his Whitesquare project to 20:20 Vision. There's an atmospheric, late night feel throughout, as Uzzan effortlessly blurs the boundaries between deep house and tech-house. That's most noticeable on the dark and murky opener, "Someone Else", but also a feature of "Abraxas", with its stretched-out organ chords, trippy electronics, shuffling grooves and military drum fills. There's a little more bass-heavy, chopped-up party flavour to "About The Past", while "Peaks" delivers a lesson in the spine-tingling powers of deep, melodious and dreamy deep house.
Review: Having previously moonlighted on Love Fever Records and 20:20 Vision, Citizen is back in action and he's packing a fresh salvo of upfront tech house treats. "Be" in its original form burrows through squishy square wave basslines and soulful vocals that will slip into any heated nocturnal situation, while the accompanying "Warehouse Mix" taps up a Carl Craig flavour of big-room techno with choice slices of the original vocal kept in for good measure. For a touch of diversity, Hercules & Love Affair drop a typically sassy remix that bumps up the groove and weaves playful snippets of the original around a more overtly melodic construction.
Review: Having appeared on labels such as Visionquest, Mobilee, Defected and Vakant, Forrest has already made quite a name for himself. The Montreal-based artist makes the move over to 20:20 Vision with the head-nodding, vocal-laced tones of "Manhattan" and instantly proves why he's had so much favourable attention in recent times. You can always count on Ralph Lawson's label to be no slouches when it comes to remixes as well, and in this instance Christian Nielsen steps up with a remix and a dub of "Manhattan" that chops the original up and reforms it as a more sharp-edged tech house beast, while VAM creates a rough, heavy-loaded bumper out of the original elements.
Review: Christian Loffler rarely leaves his home label of Ki Records, but it seems he's been wooed by Ralp Lawson's 20:20 Vision. This York EP provides Loffler with his first release of 2015 and it's a romantically melancholic affair that combines elements of Pantha Du Prince, with Four Tet and German minimalism. "York" is a swoon of breathy hums and blurry pianos, while "Lhotse" is dusky, full of crackle and heart-warming. For something a little dancier check out "Nordkap", which rounds out one of this year's most saccharine three-tracks. Kompakt probably wish they got their hands on this first!
Review: Although Citizenn has only released the "Be" single on 20:20 Vision, that track alone has been enough to cause quite the commotion...enough commotion to spur a whole remix EP dedicated to the tune! There's the sleek, late night 20:20 remix, a bumping Ralph Lawson dub for the head-nodders, a wildly progressive dub by Citizenn himself, and two Forrest 12:00 cuts - a remix and a dub for your oral pleasure. Big movements from this massively successful outlet for club music.
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