Review: There's a real "classic" feel about "I Am With You", with bouncy synth chords propelling the track forwards throughout. Given the presence of all round legend Chez Damier - alongside Hudd Traxx co-owner Eddie Leader and fast-rising producer Tomson - it's perhaps unsurprising. There's a gleeful positivity throughout, with soulful vocal snippets, clap-happy percussion, starburst chords and a killer bassline adding to the wide-eyed, dance-like-you-mean-it mood. The accompanying Dub strips back some of the pleasantries, leaving a no-holds-barred piano house groover that's almost rush inducing in its joyous simplicity. There's little new about "I Am With You", but it matters not: it's just a brilliant house record.
Review: Slum Science's Hudd Traxx is a label that just won't quit when it comes to proper, head-tripping house music for those who like their grooves serious. That makes Chris Carrier a natural participant, and the unstoppable Frenchman steps up here with a record that proves both his and the label's long-lasting appeal. "Cycle Psycho" is a simmering tech house belter with the requisite amount of funk rubbed into its limbs, while "Dimension 5" switches stance for a nagging acid workout. "Smoke And Flesh" brings a tougher thrust to the drums and then "Flying Sausage" cools the EP down with a simply fantastic deep house bump to get heads nodding all over the butchers shop.
Review: London based US Producer Lance De Sardi joins the Hudd Traxx fray for the last title before the label hits 50 releases and commence the 10th Anniversary celebrations. Although there's only three cuts on West Country, De Sardi more than shows his diversity as a producer and it's a fine addition to a discography that dates back to the '90s. "Pariah" kicks the EP off in fine style with smooth beats, an infectious vocal and lush pads ensure that this will be a big one for the heads. Flip for the B Side and find a tough acidy number in "Youth", and a groovy track in "Race the Clock" which is made for the dance floor. 2015 is already proving to be a big year for Hudd Traxx following releases from Iron Curtis & Nachtbraker, and Lance De Sardi keeps the flag flying high with this solid EP.
Review: Manchester's Hudd Traxx is back with the third installment in their Out Of Order series, and it is quite possibly the best edition yet! South American producer DFRA serves up the deep and sexy late night groove of "I Am House" (feat Diamondancer), Germany's Professional Gigolo (Audiomatique/Rural) delivers the very Mr Fingers influenced "For The Lovers", Mexico's Pinto (VL Recordings/Downhill) gets low-slung and funky on "Jaxx" and if that was not enough - Windy City legend and all round scene veteran JT Donaldson make a surprising yet welcome appearance - doing his thing in typically terrific fashion on the emotive "How I Feel" (dub).
Brett Johnson - "BrMr Smarty Pants" - (6:11) 125 BPM
Rhythm Plate - "Keep Moving" - (6:37) 125 BPM
Review: Hudd Traxx 3rd installment of their 10th Anniversary series comes from Eddie Leader, Hector Moralez, Washerman, Brett Johnson & Rhythm Plate. Label owner Eddie Leader delivers a deep & moody house groover with the slick vocals of long time Hudd Artist Hector Moralez, aptly title 'Way Back'. Washerman picks the pace up with 'Twilite', which is reminiscent of legendary Detroit label Underground Resistance, and adds to the continued diversity of this project. Brett Johnson's 'Mr Smarty Pants' is re-released after gaining plays from the likes of Laurent Garnier and an edit by Dyed Soundorom. Closing out the EP are 2 of the most underrated Producers in the business; Rhythm Plate. 'Keep Moving' was Overshadowed by 'Inside Me' on the 'Robbin Hudd EP' in 2007 but is given it's time to shine on 'Now & Then Part 3' and is a fine addition to the 10 Year celebrations.
Mihai Popoviciu - "Two Minutes Ago" - (6:30) 123 BPM
Rio Padice - "Dirty Belvedere" - (6:12) 125 BPM
JT Donaldson - "Just Bounce" - (7:02) 126 BPM
Review: The 4th and final part of Hudd Traxx 10th Anniversary series comes from Ekkohaus, Mihai Popoviciu, Rio Padice & JT Donaldson. Previous parts featured tracks from the likes of Chez Damier, Agnes, Iron Curtis & Luna City Express. Part 4 keeps the high standards that Hudd have set and Ekkohaus steps up to open proceedings. 'Modest Fun' is a peak time house cut with a big sub bass, shuffling hats and lush keys to boot. Mihai Popoviciu's 'Two Minutes Ago' plays a hypnotic Xylophone hook mixed with the dreamy vocal chant of 'Don't stop, let's go' to round off the 'Now' side in a classy fashion. Rio Padice & JT Donaldson close out the EP on the 'Then' side being 2 of the label's biggest sellers to date. Hudd Traxx have been swamped with requests for a repress of Rio Padice's 'Dirty Belvedere' so it was a no brainer for this to make the cut. JT Donaldson's 'Just Bounce' was played by any DJ worth their salt in 2009, and it's clear to see why, as once you've listened once, it goes on repeat a good few times. A great way to close out this 4 Part 10th Anniversary series.
Review: New York-based Evan Michael has been spotted on some respectable labels in the past, from Drumpoet Community to AirDrop, most recently appearing alongside Marco Passarani on a split EP for Cin Cin. He makes his first appearance on the ever-prolific Hudd Trax with this diverse grip of deep house jams, leading in with the emotive tones of "Duende". "PCH Passing" is a fluttering affair laden with sweet natured synths, but it also knows when to rain the cascading melodies in to let the groove take the lead. "Machine Pepper" builds up around an on-point bassline and powerful brass stabs, and then "Rainmaker" finishes the EP off with some tricksy delay use and a crooked beat.
Review: The Rhythm Plate posse are certainly no strangers to Hudd Traxx, and so it makes perfect sense to see their Goshawk project landing on the long-serving Northern deep house label. The vibes are impeccable on this EP from start to finish, not least with the soulful sway of "My Heart" bolstered by Astral T's vocals. "High In The Evergreens" meanwhile takes a woozy approach to straight up house music with its dreamy synth tones, and "Yes In This Way" turns up the pressure with a killer bassline and feverish gospel preacher vocal hooks. "My Business Ain't Your Business" takes a more laid back, choppy approach to the groove without losing any of that all important soul.
Review: That Hudd Traxx powerhouse keeps on pumping out the jams, with regular Hudd hood Goshawk back in the saddle with some of his most assured beats to date. "Get Up To Get Down" channels a limber, Prince indebted funk, straps it to a simmering house beat and then drafts Erik Rico in for a killer vocal that takes you right back to the best of '90s vocal house. Then Art Of Tones jumps on for a remix that beefs the original up with some more big room elements, as one might well expect from the French titan. "The Love Is Gone" gets into a spaced out disco house frame of mind, which "The Dub Is Gone" then shuffles up into a slinky little groover.
Review: Iron Curtis delivers his second 4 track EP for Hudd Traxx following up the huge 'Stansfield EP' in 2010. The opening track 'Care' demonstrates IC's diversity as a producer as he lays down a killer bassline with melodic keys which will find it's way into many big hitters bags. 'Sing Along With Your Friends' has deep laid keys and an MCDE esk feel to it accompanied by some heavy snares for good measure. 'Shouting & Screaming' is a dark driving track that even Spencer Kinsey would be proud of, whilst the EP is rounded off with a solid groovy little number entitled 'Lasga's Return' .
Review: Iron Curtis is back on Hudd Traxx with the second installment of his Lights EP. Much like the first round that dropped earlier in the year, the man like Johannes Paluka is on sterling form, dealing in the kind of refined yet earthen, deep but punchy house music he's built his name on to date. "Spectral" is the consummate opener, deft piano chords and rock solid drums with additional dubby FX pulsing through the mix. "Well Well Well" is a sunnier affair aiming for that euphoric terrace moment, while "See Ya" brings a rough swing to the party with a cosy, intimate line in soulful sample licks. "L&P" finishes the EP off with a warm, acidic bassline and more of that deep diving beatdown business.
Review: Iron Curtis' back catalogue is a formidable beast within the realms of deep and tech house, touching on labels like Morris Audio, Jackoff, Sudden Drop and Mule Electronique. He's intermittently popped up on Hudd Traxx as well, and he returns with a fulsome new EP that hints at a forthcoming second part. "Lights" is a bold, chiseled peak timer with some emphatic string stabs coursing through it, while "Captured" takes a slinkier route without dulling the impact of the Curtis studio approach. "22 Days" is a funkier concern that lets the low end synths do the brunt of the work, and then "My Humming Machines" rounds the EP off with a warm and bubbling deep house roller for a cosier part of the night.
Review: Proud Yorkshire label Hudd Traxx have been putting out a reliable stream of quality deep house since 2005, with artists like DJ Sneak, Rick Wade, Iron Curtis, Jay Bliss and Agnes just some of the many names to appear on the label. This 46th release features three debutants, while the fourth name, J.T. Donaldson, spearheads the release with a wishy-washy, bassline driven deep house vocal cut "Got Myself Together". Hudd Traxx provides Dusseldorf producer Maximiljan with his first physical release with the track "Son Of A" which merges the linear 909 house style of Norm Talley with smooth chords and cheeky vocals similar to the now defunct Swiss house duo Azuni. But most interesting for the label on this release, it's the two new names in Professional Gigolo and Tuneon that prove Hudd Traxx still know where to look when it comes to unearthing new and vibrant talent.
Review: It's been two years since the first installment of Hudd Traxx's Out Of Order series, which contained some fine material from previously unheard talents. This follow-up tweaks the formula slightly but retains the same high quality threshold. Experienced producer Julian Sanza predictably hits the spot with "Pata Negra", where Steve Hillage style guitars and ghostly chords ride a smooth-but-bumping deep house groove. The Joyfull Family [sic] raise the tempo significantly on the stripped-back but bombastic jam "I Gonna Love This", while Manooz wraps himself up a big duvet on the deep and soulful "Love The Underground". As if that wasn't enough, there's a bonus chunk of trippy deep house in the shape of Little Fritter's "Different Day".
Luna City Express - "Good Condition" - (5:16) 123 BPM
Sek - "Thug Life" (Interlude) - (6:24) 120 BPM
Iz & Diz - "Happy" - (7:54) 126 BPM
Rick Wade - "Do It" - (5:39) 125 BPM
Review: The second part in the Hudd Traxx 10th Anniversary 'Now & Then' compilation sees tracks from Luna City Express, Sek, Iz & Diz and Rick Wade. Berlin duo Luna City Express serve up a lush deep house groove that builds throughout the track, and will bring a smile to the faces of those who follow them on their beloved Moon Habour Recordings. Sek uses slick beats, trippy leads, a driving bassline and some 'Thug life' vocals to ensure this one has 'future classic' written all over it. Go back in time (to 2006 to be precise) on the 'Then' side to find Iz & Diz's 'Happy'. The words 'epic' & 'journey' are often misused in music but both can be mentioned about this track. It had devastating effect on first release and is set to do the same again nearly 10 years later. Rick Wade closes things out in fine style to fly the Detroit flag on an all Chicago / Detroit side.
Review: On the back of two well received releases on Dirt Crew amd Detroit Swindle's Heist Recordings, Dutch native Nachtbraker drops a beauty on Hudd Traxx. Zachtjes kicks things off in fine melodical style with live drums, lush keys and a smooth sax lick for good measure. Borrowed Identity mixes things up on the remix tip with a more upbeat dubby tool which is likley to find its way into the hands of DJs like Derrick Carter and Prosumer. The title track 'You Is What You Aint' is a moody groover with slick keys and sleezy beats perfect for warm ups or end of the night vibes. Nachtbraker rounds off the EP nicely with Overstappen last, but by no means least. Skippy beats and a killer bassline ensure that this EP is another 'must have' for the Hudd faithful as they near 50 releases and 10 Years in the business.
