Review: Following last year's outing for Poker Flat offshoot Sublease, Minus & Zianos drop this soulful, clubby EP on Hot Since 82's label. The title track is an immersive deep house workout. Led by a throbbing bass and moody synths, its vocals add an extra soulful layer. On "Radio", the duo opt for a more techy approach. Peppered with shimmering chord stabs, spine-tingling filters and vocal snippets, it strikes a near perfect balance between being functional and musical. The release includes a remix of the title track from Alex Kennon. With a focus on rolling drums and deft filters, this stripped back version is tailored for club use.
Review: British duo Ryan & Rory aka RSquared return on Knee Deep In Sound to follow up July's hit "Brown Eyes" with some more surefire tackle. Get get your head down and into the groove on the funky and rolling "Hey You" taking in the best of disco and balearic influences along the way, while the second and particularly infectious second offering "THCR" nails that perfect UK tech house sound just nicely, with its R'n'B vocal samples underpinned by a hypnotic and bass-driven groove - aimed squarely at the main room dancefloor.
Review: "Buggin"" was the first single from Hot Since 82"s 8-track album project, released back in 2018. Featuring the fine vocal talents of Jem Cooke, the track was inspired by the distinct brand of early noughties house music that he"s said to love. Four years on, we"re treated to a bunch of fine new versions here: whether it"s Jorhav"s slinky and hypnotic remix, UR2wo"s rework is a throwback to the evocative progressive breaks sound of the late "90s, while Svan Code"s re-rub tackles the main room at peak time with its tough rolling tech house groove. Elsewhere, Emma Forster"s rendition will get the hands in the air with her uplifting house perspective.
Review: Too Many Rules chief Javi Bora (Defected/elrow Music/Toolroom) teams up with Barcelona-based Richard Ulh (Aparenzza/Safe Music) here, resulting in the massive tune "Mondays In Ses Salines" for the ever reliable Knee Deep In Sound. Tough rolling tech house for the main room, with the White Isle strictly in mind, it makes you want to bring on the summer right now. Not before the vocal house flavour of "Move U Body" with its classic '90s Stateside vibe and an infectious classical guitar lick throughout - it's just so funky and equally worthy of your attention.
Review: Fellow German scene veterans Steve Bug (Dessous) and Matthias Tanzmann (Moon Harbour) have had a long history of collaboration, dating back to 2005's Tanzbug EP on the former's esteemed Poker Flat imprint. Fast forward to 2022, they've combined efforts once again for Hot Since 82's ever reliable Knee Deep In Sound and the result is "Jupiter Jellyfish". A dubby and hypnotic expression in minimal/tech house by two masters of the art, it is backed by second offering "Five Miles Past Midnight" a serving of late night mood music that's perfect for the warm-up
Review: Knee Deep In Sound has enjoyable a prolific and profitable 2021. As a result, this 15-track offering is packed to the rafters with vibrant and purposeful peak-time treats, including a string of cuts from high-profile artists such as CamelPhat and Hot Since 82. The latter's organ-heavy, '90s garage-influenced hook-up with Big Miz, 'Rules (Big Miz Mix)' is a highlight, as is the extra-percussive, 21st century tribal house flex of Yousef & CamelPhat's 'April' and the deep house dreaminess of Simon Doty's 'The Beacon'. Our other picks of a very strong bunch include the dark, throbbing drug-pump of Yousef & CamelPhat's 'One Summer' and the trance-tinged, sub-heavy tech-house rumble of Josh Butler's 'Roskill'.