Buzzin' Fly

Played by: The Timewriter, Matt Darey

Review: Following news that Ben Watt no longer intends to put out new music on Buzzin' Fly, the compiling and re-releasing of some of the highlights from the label's back catalogue is timely. This third volume focuses on the high point of the label's output, the golden period from 2007 to 2008. The dominant sound here is trancey and melodic, with synth sweeps combined with sensuous strings and woodwind samples. Manoo & Francois A embody this approach on the windswept "Magnetic", where epic, acid-led hooks build over dubbed out drums, while Pedro Madeira's "Long Shadows" moves from lush strings into an epic break down. Despite this approach, there is still space for classic US house, as the dubby drums of Dennis Ferrer & Steve Martinez' version of Ben Watt's "Lone Cat (Holding On)" demonstrates.

Played by: Fort Knox Five, Graeme Park

Review: With Buzzin' Fly approaching the final curtain (the label's last release will drop in June 2013), boss man Ben Watt is in retrospective mood. He's decided to reissue all of the label's early material on a series of comprehensive digital anthologies. This bulging, 34-track collection - the second - focuses on 2005 and 2006. It's something of a time capsule, offering thrilling flashbacks to a time when it was still unusual to find deep house tracks dominating dancefloors (see Justin Martin's excellent remix of Watt's "Love Cat (Holding On)" and Ame's classic rework of Rodamaal's "Insomnia"). Along the way, there are forgotten highlights (a stirring John Tejada remix of Jimpster) and surprising collaborations (Estelle - remember her - hooking up with Ben Watt).

Played by: Steve Bug, Casino Times

Review: It's easy to see why Buzzin' Fly boss Ben Watt was impressed by this debut single from Capetown based producer Alex Blaxx. Not only is the production assured and floor-friendly, but it also features a number of intricate touches that suggests a high level of musical ability. The "Raw Demo Mix" of "The Evening News" is particularly good. Based around a hissing, cymbal-heavy groove and vocal cut-ups from a familiar Whitney Houston pop classic, it impresses with its slick vibraphone solos, long, drawn-out chords and touchy-feely atmospherics. The "Straight House Mix" is almost as good. Percussive bonus cut "Brian Fantana" is pretty tasty, too, providing a deep house take on the South African kwaito sound that proves, beyond any doubt, that Blaxx is a serious talent.

Played by: Juno Recommends Minimal Tech, Askell (BORG LTD)

Review: Tevo Howard seems to be in something approaching a rich vein of form currently, with countless EPs drenched in excellence for his own Tevo Howard Recordings imprint as well as the likes of Buzzin' Fly and Rush Hour (the collaborations with his dad for the latter in particular). It's little surprise that Ben Watt has invited Tevo back for a second Buzzin' Fly release after his successful debut The Age of Compassion last year. And the three tracks that make up the Monument EP are a near perfect example of Howard's various strengths as a producer, though "Conditional Love" is an undoubted highlight. The track bumps along with a gloriously quirky quality, its warm analogue groove embellished by an array of delightful percussive and rhythmic touches.

Played by: Terry Grant, Juno Recommends Rock/Indie

Review: Montreal-based downtempo duo Flowers & Sea Creatures are an odd but inviting proposition. Fusing the Thom Yorke-ish vocals of singer/songwriter Graham Baxter with the subtle alt-electronica explorations of producer Kosta Megalos, they have a sound that rarely neatly fits into one pigeonhole. This debut album features a mix of traditional semi-acoustic fare, bubbling techno-influenced songscapes and slo-mo deep house (including productions by The Revenge and Ewan Pearson). That it hangs together impressively is testament to the duo's skill. Comparisons with Radiohead are a little off the mark but certainly relevant; if Thom Yorke and co were inspired by European deep house rather than crunchy British electronica, they may sound a little like this.

Played by: Kid Who, Juno Recommends Deep House, Simon Beeston, Elie Eidelman (JackOff Records)

Review: With previous releases on Internasjonal, Dirt Crew, Mirau and Permanent Vacation to his name, Neil 'Mano Le Tough' Mannion is clearly a producer on the rise. Here he brings his melody-driven, musically layered take on deep house to Buzzin' Fly, a label that has forged its reputation on promoting similarly melodic fodder. "Stories" is delightful, a kind of gently undulating deep house fairytale that quietly rises and falls over seven spellbinding minutes. "Take It Back" and "From The Start" offer more straight-up dancefloor potential whilst retaining a similar level of inventiveness (the later, for example, features a great guitar breakdown).

Played by: Kirsten Sees, Max Riolo, Djs: Most Charted - Deep House

Review: German producer Dana Ruh makes her debut for Buzzin' Fly following a decent outing on Ostgut Ton. With four distinct cuts to choose from, Kickboxing is quietly impressive. It's the title track that most impresses, building an intoxicating, late night brew of typically Germanic deep house grooves and freestyle vocal loops. The acid-tinged "This" is a pleasingly dark excursion, whilst "That" is an urgent old-skool bumper that profits from great use of analogue riffs and bass. "What I'm Telling You", meanwhile, reverts to the eyes-wide-shut blissfulness hinted at in the EP opener. Good stuff all told.

Played by: Montero, Tal M. Klein, Q-Burns Abstract Message, Lucky Sun, Juno Recommends Deep House, Axer Rouf, Djs: Most Charted - Deep House, Marvin Zeyss

Review: Ben Watt looks to Lisbon for Buzzin' Fly's latest deep house missive, and the home studio of little-known producer Vahagn. "Relapse" is in many ways typical of both contemporary deep house from the region and Watt's long-running label. On one hand it's slinky, evocative and emotion-rich, on the other hypnotic and more than a touch melancholic. It's gorgeous, no doubt, but pleasingly understated, too. Nu-disco/deep house stalwart Nick Chacona provides the standout remix, combining the original's most melodic and bittersweet elements on a shuffling, near Balearic rub that should get more a few punters squinting into the sunshine on the White Isle this summer. Essential.

Played by: Adam B (Homegrown Music), Chris Coco, Juno Recommends Minimal Tech, Max Cooper, Shota Tanaka (Beaten Space Probe), Limpodisco

Review: Guiseppe Moribato dons his Abyss hat for some more deep house adventures, this time on Ben Watt's now veteran Buzzin' Fly imprint. In its original form, "Birdsong" is a delightfully simple concoction - little more than blissful jazz pianos and a few vocal samples attached to a snappy, floor-friendly groove. Yet it sounds fantastic - a real tear-jerking chunk of deep house for the head and the feet. There's a brilliant downtempo version, too (think early Aqua Bassino on F Communications, if you can remember that far back), called the Flowers & Sea Creatures Remix. That's worth the admission price alone.

Played by: Da Funk, Juno Recommends Progressive House

Review: Buzzin' Fly uncover a promising new talent in Frenchman Alain Ho, with this interesting debut EP. 'I Remember The Future' is both laidback in its grooves yet dramatic in melodies, with deep bubbling undertones and sparse percussive flickers. On the flip 'Would You Be There' is equally as complex with some trippier elements. Although not the most floor friendly, both of these will appeal to fans of lighter progressive, and make for perfect afterhours sizzlers.

Played by: Vince Watson, Juno Recommends Deep House, Juno Recommends Minimal Tech, Dockluster

Review: Buzzin' Fly compilations always take on a retrospective feel, looking back at what the label has achieved with a proud (and wholly justified) sense of achievement. They are much like family Christmas cards that fondly round up the year's activities for friends and relatives. As part of their 50th single celebrations this spring, they deliver a compilation of Buzzin' Fly classics as the next instalment of the Focus On series. Penned by Chris Woodward, an integral part of the imprint?s close knit family, this release serves as the audio family newsletter created to celebrate reaching this impressive milestone. All the big moments are there and each family member features, from Ben Watt to Spencer Parker, Justin Martin, Mlle Caro and Franck Garcia.

Like Buzzin Fly: 5 Years in the Wilderness, (and all four Volumes in the Buzzin' Fly series) this compilation digs into the imprint?s revered back catalogue to commemorate its particular achievement. The former was applauding reaching five years whilst the latter celebrates reaching their 50th release. Over seventy-five minutes, Chris Woodward picks out some of Buzzin' Fly's flagship tracks such as label boss Ben Watt?s "Guinea Pig," Spencer Parker's "The Beginning" and Justin Martin?s "The Fugative." As Woodward hones into some deep, intricate, house action, he delves into Buzzin' Fly's trademark mix of deep house, melodic techno and electronic disco. We see cuts like Jay Shepheard?s remix of Glimpse and Martin Eyrir's "Southern Soul" standing shoulder to shoulder with Darkmountaingroup's "Lose Control." Woodward also adheres to the Buzzin' Fly tradition of house that is both sonically ornate and driving in all the right places by including moments like Mlle Caro & Franck Garcia?s beautiful "Dead Souls" and Ame's club fuelled remix of "Insomnia".
Buzzin' Fly specialises in deep and beautiful house music. Their long standing resident has done the admirable job of paying homage to that sound and all the producers that help shape it, in one retrospective compilation that proves just what a force Buzzin? Fly has become over those 50 releases.