Review: Chiwax keeps on chuggin' with a new classic edition, this time lifting its tracks from a 1995 Relief Records release called Return Of The Dragon. Cast your eyes back over Tim Harper's discography and you'll see the artist is a trusted name within a legendary streak on labels like Dance Mania, Djax Upbeats and Peacefrog. This EP sees its opener "I Know You Gonna Dig This" has a dope walking bassline next to percussive synths, while "Slamming All Night" focuses on heavier drums, a smooth, wavering groove and dub tinges. Moving deeper into original Chicago house territory is the energetic "Candyman" with livley Saturday night vibe next to the sustained strings and distorted synth work of a tightly woven "Return Of The Dragon".
Review: Following several releases based on rediscovered cuts from his archive of recordings as DKMA, Chiwax has decided to reissue the late, great producer's first EP under his given name, 1999's 'Alpha'. It remains one of the most alluring items in the Boston artist's catalogue, as opener 'Thesis' - a rolling, emotion-packed slab of gently percussive deep house wonder - so defiantly proves. The quality threshold remains high throughout, from the chunky and surprisingly heavy, acid-flecked late-night stomp of 'House Down', to the fizzing and skipping, jazz-flecked positivity of 'Hell Ya', and the minor-key-heavy hypnotism of heady and hazy closing cut 'Sirens'.
Review: Boo Williams, a veteran of Chicago house music since 1981, has built an impressive reputation with a discography spanning over three decades that showcases a diverse range of influences. One of Boo's seminal works, the bouncy house album "Home Town Chicago," was first released in 1996 and has since releases on other esteemed labels such as Ovum Recordings, Relief Records, and Rush Hour. The EP showcases Williams' excellent production skills with tracks like "Ambushed," a blend of twinkling electronics and rich pads layered over jackin' drums and a brilliant bassline. "Echoes of the Dance" takes the listener on an acid-flecked journey through dreamy, loved-up deep house, while "Zone" is a hypnotic and trance-inducing track that sits between classic deep house and the techier end of Omar-S's output. Don't miss out on Williams' latest masterpiece.
Review: Chiwax are back this week with a more than welcome reissue of Wax Fruit's one-and-only release Whispers from 1994. This was one of many aliases used by Toronto-based producer Ron Allen, who some of you may know for his seminal work as one half of Psyance (with Hayden Andre Brown) who released on Plus 8, as well as his work under the names Aztech, The Apache Project and The R.A.S.E. The late night mood music of the title track is a true zeitgeist from the period in which it was released, while the looped-up, disco sampling deep house of 'Just A Party' or 'Mindgames' were equally as trendsetting as anything fellow Torontonians like Nick Holder or DJ Sneak were making at the time.
Review: Clearly someone woke up on the uncompromising side of the bed this morning, as Chicago veteran Gene Hunt delivers five tracks that'll suit those who like their house music stripped-back and minimal (with a small 'm'). 'In The Night' has that air of vague menace found on a lot of early Chi-town house records ('I'm Scared' by Jungle Wonz springs to mind), 'Mr Shinn' is a sparse, jerky bass n' drums n' synth workout and 'Eletro Mass' channels more of those mid-80s Windy City vibes, while closer 'Bass Drone' takes us well and truly into the jacking zone.
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