Review: Back in the late 1990s, German producers Jorge Henze and Jerome Isma-Ae released a string of now sought-after 12-inch singles as ACME. 'Soul of Life', from 1998, is one of their most in-demand EPs - hence this belated digital reissue. What makes the three-track collection so unique is its incorporation of speed garage (as it was then called) elements alongside contemporaneous house and tech-house sounds. This hybrid sound is best exemplified by the skipping, dubby and glassy-eyed 'Soul of Life I', though the more melodious, deep house influenced 'Soul of Life II' - all saucer-eyed pads, tactile organ riffs and smooth grooves - is almost as impressive. 'Soul of Life III', the EP's final variation, opts for a Grant Nelson style late '90s 4/4 UK garage flex.
Review: The ONLY imprint returns with their sixth instalment of the series after a bunch of absolute winners by the likes of Ron Trent and Stasis, among others. For this latest outing they've invited Orlando Voorn down with his Format project, which means deep house beats and sci-fi-leaning melodies. The winner on here has to be "Destination", where gorgeous pads unwind beneath swinging slabs of percussion and a militant, heads-down beat structure. This is Voorn at his best and we love to see the man putting out some proper house music alongside his more usual techno shade.
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