Review: Two legends go toe-to-toe in the studio right here on Natty Dub: new Bristol resident K Jah and Brizzle native (and stone cold west country pioneer) Suv on 'Bubble Soap' and 'Lavish'. Both men renowned for their love of the craft, these cut don't disappoint; the former is a real pavement pounder of a track with its steamroller kicks and flabby funk while the latter takes us on dreamy sway with pure Bristol class. Something for all heads. This is a powerful release.
Review: Off the top of our heads, we can't think back to a release that the Vitamin D imprint has felt disappointing, with the ever-present garage skills of both K-LONE & Wilfy D arriving here for another tasty double single drop. Firstly 'On The Down Low' sees the pair utilise classic R&B style vocals over a smoothened 2-step combo of fluttering chord lines and tightened sub-bass. On the flip to this, 'Nobody' gives us a slightly different feeling, giving the vocal textures a much more affected, choppy feel, topped off with a groovy combination of bubbling organ and piano chords, giving both tracks a tidy balance indeed.
Review: Once again, the System Music crew have touched down with the dubstep flame alive and well, welcoming the innovative production mind of V.I.V.E.K to the table for a fiery three track display. First up, the title track 'U Dub' delivers a spatial exploration through floating synthetic soundscapes and moody sub textures, followed closely by the more creeping sounds and clunky sub stutters of 'Voices'. The atmosphere continues to expand as we then roll into a highly memorable finale, as the grizzly LFO squelches and hypnotic synthesiser slides of '108' give us a vibey finale.
Review: On his latest EP for the prolific Heattraxx imprint, Chicago scene stalwart K-Alexi Shelby pays tribute to one of the Windy City's foundational house DJs, the late, great Music Box resident Ron Hardy. In its original mix form 'The Ron Hardy Memo' wraps hard-worked, cut-up disco samples and vocal snippets around a tough, low-slung, 4am-ready, filter-sporting deep house groove. It's a devastatingly simple idea, expertly executed for maximum dancefloor pressure. San Francisco sort Riva Starr remixes, beefing it up further to create one of the most energetic, rolling and sweat-soaked disco-house cuts of 2024 so far.
Review: Everyone loves a bit of percussion, right? Certainly, creative DJs have always reached for drum tools, while many others instinctively reach for drum-heavy workouts to raise energy levels out on the dancefloor. Sometime Wisdom Teeth and Idle Hands producer K-Lone fits into both camps, at least if his latest offering is anything to go by. Check first lead cut 'Drumz!', where drum circle style rhythms are accompanied by effects and dreamy synth washes, before wrapping your ears around Leod's EP-closing, pitched-up re-edit of the same track. In between, he cycles through sub-bass-enhanced Latin drums ('Cinco', the infectious 'Timbales', weighty and tribalistic rhythms ('Bombo'), and handclap-propelled percussive deepness (the deliciously dreamy 'Clapper').
Review: Let's take a wild ride through the funky time machine of Nu Groove's legendary catalog! "Nu Groove Edits, Vol. 2" is here to remind us why crate diggers around the globe have been worshiping this label since 1988. Nu Groove gets a new set of groovy re-edits that pay homage to the essence of Nu Groove's original spirit. First up, the Dutch dynamic duo Dam Swindle works their magic on Rhano's Equation project with "I'll Say A Prayer 4 U." It's like they've sprinkled a dash of Amsterdam magic onto this American house gem, turning it into the ultimate rainy day house anthem. You'll be dancing and praying simultaneously - a spiritual experience! Next in line, we have Rheji's Houz' Neegroz classic "Keep Dance'n" lovingly reworked by the house purist himself, Phil Weeks. Oh, but the party doesn't stop there! K.A.T.O.'s five-track Disco-Tech EP takes us on a time-traveling journey back to the disco hustle of the '70s. The lead single gets a makeover courtesy of Germany's house production virtuoso, the late Soulphiction. It's as if he's teasing the essence of the '70s and inviting it to the 21st century dance floor. Closing out this spectacular celebration of the Burrell brothers is the unstoppable production duo Honey Dijon & Luke Solomon. They take on Rhano's "When Can I Call You" featuring the soulful vocals of Lisa Lee. It's a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from nostalgic to futuristic, all set to a groove that'll have you questioning when you can call your dance partner back to the floor. This second volume of Nu Groove edits assembles modern house heroes like never before and let the funky beats transport you through the corridors of time!
Review: Next up on Innate is a split release between Gilbert and label owner Owain K. One of the UK's champions of esoteric machine soul, its sixth release sees Innate continue to fly the flag for deep, melodic music. Gilbert's "Low Flying Objects" plots a path that focuses on warbling, acid-tinged bass and tight drums - a framework that allows the author to weave in saccharine melodies. "Unknown Entities" is an introspective piece, recalling As One or even Ian O'Brien's Detroit-influenced home listening work. Owain K's "Corona Borealis" melds a resonating bassline with steely beats to create a brooding track. Like Gilbert, he also pivots to the dance floor - the deeper than deep "New Horizon" is a fluid groove that recalls contemporaries like Miles Atmospheric. Stellar stuff as always.
Review: Toledo-based Spanish DJ, producer and mastering engineer David Martin, better known to the music-buying public as K-Effect, comes to New York label Disc-o-lypso with two tracks that, as is his wont, blur the boundaries between progressive house, Italo disco and techno. 'Something Stronger' itself is a deep, dark chugger with a sleazy and at times quite menacing feel, and synths that get more intense as it goes on. The accompanying 'Arms', meanwhile, is a smoother, lighter ride with a buzzing bee-like synth riff serving as the track's primary hook. Think 'Arms' for the warm-up and the title track for those eyes-down 4am moments.
Review: Whenever we see a new combination release from K-LONE we know the anticipation is going to be high, especially when in collaboration with the wonderful Wisdom Teeth team who continue to impress. This tidy two-tracker is a tasty look into the modern musical mind of K-LONE, opening up with the subtle subby thuds and groovy drum skips of 'Balloons' for a stripped back yet hard hitting introduction. On the flip to this, another vibrant bubbler in 'Bubble Trouble', a solid B-side that packs another soulful punch, this time exploring a more spacious atmosphere with catchy synth tweaks to match. Very tidy indeed!
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.