Review: An outlet for both unreleased and exclusive music from the label's family members alongside rising talents, this is the fourth instalment of Toolroom's popular 'House Party' series. Featuring standout releases from Mark Knight's label plus the scene's biggest imprints, with highlights coming from: industry heavyweights Nic Fanciulli & Andrea Oliva on the slinky "Medium Rare", the inimitable Yousef with the pounding acid of "Save Me" (feat. Molly Green), legend Todd Terry with TCTS on the boompty bounce of "Get Freaky" and UK tech house hero Seb Zito delivering the peak time stomper "Don't Stop". As if that was not enough, there are also three continuous mixes by scene stalwarts such as Lefti, Piero Pirupa and label staple Maxinne.
Review: Simma Black has been in fine form of late, so it's no surprise to find that this bustling collection of new music and recent label highlights, compiled to coincide with the dance music industry's annual weeklong celebration in Miami, is something of a belter. There's plenty of variety across the peak-time ready tracklist, from the intense, trance-like builds and classic U.S house style grooves of Low Steppa's "One Day" and the piano house-plus-wobble bass brilliance of Martyin Badder's "Feel Loved", to the bumpin' New Jersey garage revivalism of Greco's "Move Your Body" and the dark, angular, bass-heavy late night filth that is David Keno's "Rip & Pop".
Review: Steven 'Sugar' Harding and Michael 'Milk' Kronenberger set out their soundtrack for this year's WMC - and this selection has all the makings of an unforgettable party. The pair's own "That Body" is a wonderfully soulful house cut, laced with lush vocals and uplifting pianos. On "Walls", Purple Disco Machine pushes that style into an epic, indie vocal-led direction while at the other end of the spectrum, Monolink's "Black Day" veers into a slower, smoked out take on modern house. The pair have dug deep to include tracks from DJ Hal - his "Don't Give It Up" is given the unmistakable disco touch by remixers Full Intention - while Glasgow Underground founder Kevin McKay also features with the big room "Love Rights".
