Hitting the dance floor since 2010, Gruuv (pronounced groove) is the brainchild of Audiojack. This house music label focuses on delivering high-energy tracks for club nights and beyond. Their releases span both digital formats and occasional vinyl pressings.
Gruuv boasts a diverse roster of artists, including established names like AND.ID, David Mayer, and Marc Romboy, alongside rising talents like Joyce Muniz and Lubelski. From Because of Art's infectious grooves to the deeper sounds of Spirit Catcher, the label's catalog caters to a wide range of house music enthusiasts.
Review: Ibiza-based Leeds lads Audiojack can usually be relied on to deliver the goods. Predictably, they've nailed it with their latest release, which is remarkably their first EP of 2021. The experienced duo hits the ground running with 'Vertigo', a sharp, acid bass-propelled stomp which comes backed to the rafters with crunchy house drums, echoing vocal snippets, drowsy chords and squeezable synth riffs. They opt for a far jollier and cheerier sound on 'Missing', where chiming lead lines and nagging electronic loops ride a deliciously retro-futurist bassline and sweaty, non-stop house drums. Arguably best of all though is closing cut 'Foundations', a glorious fusion of punchy '80s electro drums, analogue synth sounds, giddy electronic riffs and early Orbital style melodic movements. Brilliant stuff all told.
Review: Audiojack decided to lose themselves in production during lockdown in order to escape from the daily reality of coronavirus, and Introspection is the first release from that period. It sees the UK pair team up with Polarbear, who delivers a fantastic stream of consciousness narrative about uncertainty and self-doubt over a linear rhythm and a bubbling bass. The label has tapped Nick Curly to remix "Introspection" and the German producer does a fine job, adding some airy synths to create a deeper and more atmospheric version. This is the first in a series of Audiojack releases recorded during lockdown - and "Introspection" has set a high bar.
Review: Following up some great releases by industry veterans such as Dachshund, AND.ID and Argy in recent times, Leeds-based label Gruuv are back with more tough rolling tech house for the main room courtesy of rising Los Angelano Lubelski, following up promising efforts on elrow, Percomanaics and Deeperfect. As always, a west coast vibe is pervasive throughout the 'At Night' EP, from the deep and druggy boompty action of the title track, to some slinky and hypnotic tech house for the morning hours on "Don't You Leave Me Hanging" until getting back to the program on the bass-driven dub of "What U Got" - which is guaranteed to get those heads down on the dancefloor.
Review: More tough rolling tech house for the main room coming out of the ever reliable Gruuv camp in Leeds. They have selected the ascendant Aussie upstart Somersault for a delightful three tracker. The Melbournian sounds like a cross between Motor City Drum Ensemble and label heads Audiojack on the dusty deep house number "Come Inside", followed by the hypnotic back room dub of "Say Anything" featuring some saucy vocals atop. The final offering is the funked-up peak time stomp of "Yousful" rounding up a terrific EP by a promising producer who has released on META, Rawsome Deep and MadTech in recent times
Review: More surefire, tough-rolling tech house for the main room, courtesy of the ever reliable Leeds-based powerhouse Gruuv once again. This time around they've reeled in Swiss veteran Dachshund, back after last year's Major Shift EP and following up some great tracks this year on Fantastic Friends and Sirion. "Slow Deep Breath" is a fitting title for what is one undeniably mesmerising track. With it's slinky melody, hypnotising pads and minimal beats, it will altogether cast its spell upon you - you can't go wrong with this one. There's more quality to follow that up, whether it's the dubby and glacial afterhours groove of "Alive" that tickles your fancy (quite reminiscent of his mid-'00s work) or the wonderfully exotic polyrhythms of "Meanwhile" could charm you instead - which reaches near tribal moments.
Review: Romanian stalwart Mihai Popoviciu takes time out from his own Cyclic Records and follows up some impressive releases of late on Get Physical, Fantastic Friends and Berg Audio to serve up this nice three tracker for Audiojack's Gruuv Records. Get deep into the groove on "Somehow", a slinky acid-inflected number that would work a treat at the warm up or afterhours alike. Likewise, "Dublearic Rhythm" is just as mesmerising and proves yet again how the Romanians are the experts at crafting rolling and hypnotic tackle, while the bouncy and sensual mood music of "Right Side" closes out this terrific EP.
Review: The Modern Age (LUKINS / Get Physical Music) make their Gruuv debut, following up some great ones by Jay Shepheard, Los Cabra & Bebetta recently. This riveting new EP features the slinky and hypnotic late night tech house of "Wanderer" awash in shimmering melodies and backed by a tight rolling groove. Next up "Wall" brings the heat on this sublime and ethereal journey perfect for the warm-up and "Hill" provides for more reliable sonic narratives on this mesmerising prtogressive house styled cut. As an added bonus, the EP is backed by an lo-slung tribal/acid rework remix from Amsterdam's Olaf Stuut (Atomnation/Ki/Inner River) which we were absolutely impressed by.
Review: British deep house and nu-disco hero Jay Shepheard is more renowned for serving up underground grooves for the likes of Compost Black Label, Steaward and his own Retrofit imprint over the years. It comes as quite a surprise to see his latest EP come courtesy of Leeds/Ibiza based tech house heroes Gruuv. Shepheard is certainly up to task on this collection of great tracks that do not at all divert from his signature style. From the deep and groovy title track that's reminiscent of classics from his back catalogue such as "Pipes & Sneakers" or "Classic Reality" to the slinky and hypnotic late night disco of "Phaze 4" - which receives a thumping rework by label bosses Audiojack up next.
The More I Know, The Less I Know (original mix) - (6:05) 126 BPM
Dip Into A Dream (feat SOHMI - David Pher remix) - (7:00) 124 BPM
Review: Jake Lubell aka Lubelski is back on top Leeds label Gruuv, following up last year's Revolution EP and releases on Desert Hearts, Percomaniacs and SNOE. The tough rolling and funky tech house of "Dip Into A Dream" is a perfect fit for Audiojack's label, and the vocals on it are super sexy! This is followed by a wicked remix from fellow label regular David Pher, who takes the track into deeper and woozier territory - and is perfect for the warm-up or the afterhours alike. Second original offering "The More I Know, The Less I Know" (Original Mix) gets on it with a dirty acid driven bounce, that's sure to get the adrenaline levels up.
Review: London's James Dexter has had a great run of releases of late, appearing on top tech-house stables such as Little Helpers, Bondage Music and Poker Flat. While new his effort may come courtesy of Leeds based Gruuv label, he is certainly no stranger to them, having appeared on it last year with the terrfic "Mindstate". Dexter carries on doing what he does best on "Creature", a fierce bass-driven groove that shows are much more direct and in-your-face style by him yet, intoxiciating minimal house equally suited to the afterhours can be heard on "Renegade" and "Confusion" reaches neat tribal moments and is reminiscent of early 00's west coast tech house.
Review: The always reliable Leeds based imprint Gruuv returns to start off 2019 in an explosive fashion, courtesy of Berlin based Spaniard Denite. He follows up an impressive run of releases for other top labels such as Diynamic, Third Ear and Get Physica in 2018l. From the deep down and dirty late night groove of "As Within", through to the evocative and ethereal dancefloor drama of "So Without" - this ascendant DJ/producer has you sorted for surefire tackle already. Add to that a tremendous remix by Dutch veteran Edwin Oosterwal (Rejected/Green) who takes "As Within" into deeper and glacial dub techno territory and you just can't go wrong!
Safe House (feat Penny F - Dave DK remix) - (8:43) 125 BPM
Safe House (feat Penny F - Dave DK instrumental) - (8:44) 125 BPM
Review: Known for his work on Crosstown Rebels, MadTech and Simma Black, among others, James Edwards AKA Made By Pete comes to the mighty Gruuv with a track that, in its original form, ain't nothing but a groove, centred around a cavernous, throbbing bassline, shakers and odd electronic parps, and topped with Penny F1's earnest, breathy vocal. Dave DK supplies a remix that takes us into deeper, tribal territory and that comes complete with a matching instrumental, while bonus cut 'Justify Your Move' completes the EP with a nod to late 80s Chicago.
Review: For their latest dancefloor bullet the mighty Gruuv recruit Hungary's James Cole (real name Janos Bozoki), who in 'Khumba' serves up a truly epic houser that starts out sounding Afro-tinged, as the title might lead you expect, before some classical-style piano heralds a turn for the proggy/melodic - a real journey of a tune. Jay Shepheard provides a slightly darker, bassier refix, while the EP's completed by two more original cuts: the bottom-heavy 4am NYC groove that is 'Go With Me', with its vaguely disconcerting spoken female vocal, and 'Got You', a concoction of tribal drums and 'Plastic Dreams'-ish synths.
Review: Luuk Van Dijk is a rising star on The Netherlands' burgeoning tech-house scene and he presents the new banger for Leeds based powerhouse Gruuv. The Amsterdamer serves up three funked-up main room bangrs on The Pusher EP, with the title track's tough rolling attitude being just perfect to light up the main-room before peak time. Speaking of the peak time, that's exactly what he has in mind on the heaving acid express of "Acid Trip" which will appeal to fans of the Drumcode sound. Finally, he gets back to the program on the moody backroom dub of "On Your Mind" - a dubby DJ tool that will suit heads down moments on dance floors as far as The White Isle and beyond.
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