Chart for September 2012
01> Jason Grove - Lost Cuts 3 [Wax Classic]
"Four very playable cuts from a new artist on my radar, Jason Grove. Each piece is absolutely top drawer and I have a feeling I'll be reaching for this EP for years to come. They all retain a deepness to them, which always earns stripes in my book, but the predominantly old-skool vibe that carries them is what gives it the edge. Particularly standing out amongst this solid set is 'Reach Out', which sets deep driving House keys against building vocals.But really, I could go on about each piece. So good, that I bought Grove's album '313 4 Ever' from earlier this year."
02> Ad Bourke - Raw Ivy [Scenario]
"Ad Bourke is another new name on me, as I reaquaint myself with the deep house scene. This generous helping of quirky deepness, presented on stunning green vinyl is getting some heavy rotation on my turntables right now. Most of these cuts are shorter but there is a loopy tech-jazz production to them with plenty of twists and turns that marks this mini album as a winner. For the DJ, they work as great set starters or openers to a mix CD and for the listener, they're some of the finest underground joints that you'll find right now."
03> Washerman - The Deeper Side Of Me
[SAFT]
"In this second outing for Patrick Luca's new Saft label, quality Swiss producer Washerman arrives with a top-notch EP. For the most part, it leans heavily towards the old-skool House sound that is so championed by both Washerman and Luca alike. It's this sound that is really grabbing me at the moment, with the likes of Deymare, James Johnston and of course Washerman using raw old-skool and garage techniques in their production. 'The Deeper Side Of Me' is as good an example of this as you will find right now and if you manage to secure yourself a copy, it'll soon become apparent as to why. The track that seems to find itself onto mixes the most at the moment is 'Mellow Go', but my personal favourite is 'Deep Feelin'."
04> Desos & Michael McLardy - Can't Live Forever EP [Say Deep]
"I've been tracking the work of both of these artists over the last few months, with both Desos and McLardy contributing some fine work to the scene. This, however, is the standout in both's discography in my books - with both of their respective production techniques amounting to a wholesome body of work. This EP will appeal to both Deep House and Tech House heads, with a great cross-over between these two related genres. All of the tracks are playable and it's difficult to pick a winner, which will ensure that you'll be lugging this one around in your box for months to come."
05> Ernie - Black Noise EP [Bliq]
"The ever-consistent Bliq label teams up with Minuendo label boss Ernie for the Black Noise EP, to which Ernie provides a monstrously deep set of tracks. The EP kicks off with 'Burning Detroit', a seriously deep and percussive low-slung number. It is remixed by the talented Ordell, who adds an edge to the track with broken beats, more of a groove and some simple spoken vocal samples. On the flip, 'La Posse' is another seriously deep number from Ernie, low-slung again but with a squelching bass line to carry it. 'Terra Nostra' completes the affair with a haunting deep groove. The tracks on this EP may not set the dancefloor alight, but this is just how I like my House music. Deep."
06> James Welsh - Wolf EP 013 [Wolf]
"The excellent Wolf Music label continue a consistent year with a fine set of tracks from James Welsh. Opening with the dubbed out 'M62' and following on with the much deeper 'Zippy Share', this EP kicks off extremely well. Welsh continues to vary this excursion on the flip, starting with downtempo vocal groover 'Nowt'. Whilst James Welsh has produced a superb and well rounded EP for Wolf Music, it is again the label's star-player that stands out - Medlar has done it again, with a superb and playable remix of 'M62'."
07> Deymare - Rhythm Box EP [Minuendo]
"Excellent Spanish label Minuendo have just put out this EP from Finnish producer Deymare in a hand-numbered limited edition. Deymare is a versatile producer, with his early material spanning more minimal production techniques on the likes of Morris Audio and other works possessing a classic garage feel. This talented producer seems to tailor his work to the label, and his versatility is further apparent in this superb EP for Minuendo. The title track adopts a Theo Parrish style deepness, percussive and gently effective. After this, the EP features a smooth remix from Above Smoke. On the B side, Deymare utilises the recording space to further promote his creative versatility. 'Days Gone' is another deep cut, but with much more of a driving force. Then my personal favourite 'Overground Is No Ground' rounds things off. Again, it has that Parrish, Moodymann feel to it but this one really kicks and is easily the most playable of the bunch."
08> DJ Steaw - White Journey EP [Local Talk]
"The consistently brilliant Local Talk presents an excursion from the equally consistent French producer DJ Steaw. This one is a two tracker which features DJ Steaw's signature old-skool garage House skills. 'I Want' is an edgier, more up-beat feeling slab of House that will make people go nuts. The flip-side track 'Sky Hunt' will still catch as much dancefloor attention, but this time it's more of a heads-down affair as the swirling keys take hold."
09> Paradise - Mercy [Cinch]
"This EP is a completely unknown quantity for me, but I stumbled across it and was impressed by the samples. When this arrived my fondness for developed further, despite being initially frightened by the dreadfully crass inset image on the vinyl. The fondness grew once the needle hit the grooves and these techy deep House grooves were given the time and space to do their thing. The title track is a bit of a peak-time groove, reminding me of the good parts of the filtered funky house scene from several years ago. The flip-side is where it hits my territory, with bassline-fuelled deep House track 'Reach Out' pleasantly looping on. 'Shone' sees things out, with another excellent tracky groove, underpinned by housey keys."
10> Satore - On Tape [Feelharmonic]
"A search for productions by Ordell and Ernie after being impressed by the 'Black Noise' EP yielded the discovery of this EP by Satore. It's a seriously deep and dubby affair, lots of percussion, moody keys and laidback vibes. The EP isn't one for the dancefloor really, but it's just how I like my House music and I feel sure that I'll be using this record for a mix CD at somepoint. The stand-out piece of the four tracks here has to be Ernie's remix of 'For The Road'."
06> James Welsh - Wolf EP 013 [Wolf]
"The excellent Wolf Music label continue a consistent year with a fine set of tracks from James Welsh. Opening with the dubbed out 'M62' and following on with the much deeper 'Zippy Share', this EP kicks off extremely well. Welsh continues to vary this excursion on the flip, starting with downtempo vocal groover 'Nowt'. Whilst James Welsh has produced a superb and well rounded EP for Wolf Music, it is again the label's star-player that stands out - Medlar has done it again, with a superb and playable remix of 'M62'."
07> Deymare - Rhythm Box EP [Minuendo]
"Excellent Spanish label Minuendo have just put out this EP from Finnish producer Deymare in a hand-numbered limited edition. Deymare is a versatile producer, with his early material spanning more minimal production techniques on the likes of Morris Audio and other works possessing a classic garage feel. This talented producer seems to tailor his work to the label, and his versatility is further apparent in this superb EP for Minuendo. The title track adopts a Theo Parrish style deepness, percussive and gently effective. After this, the EP features a smooth remix from Above Smoke. On the B side, Deymare utilises the recording space to further promote his creative versatility. 'Days Gone' is another deep cut, but with much more of a driving force. Then my personal favourite 'Overground Is No Ground' rounds things off. Again, it has that Parrish, Moodymann feel to it but this one really kicks and is easily the most playable of the bunch."
08> DJ Steaw - White Journey EP [Local Talk]
"The consistently brilliant Local Talk presents an excursion from the equally consistent French producer DJ Steaw. This one is a two tracker which features DJ Steaw's signature old-skool garage House skills. 'I Want' is an edgier, more up-beat feeling slab of House that will make people go nuts. The flip-side track 'Sky Hunt' will still catch as much dancefloor attention, but this time it's more of a heads-down affair as the swirling keys take hold."
09> Paradise - Mercy [Cinch]
"This EP is a completely unknown quantity for me, but I stumbled across it and was impressed by the samples. When this arrived my fondness for developed further, despite being initially frightened by the dreadfully crass inset image on the vinyl. The fondness grew once the needle hit the grooves and these techy deep House grooves were given the time and space to do their thing. The title track is a bit of a peak-time groove, reminding me of the good parts of the filtered funky house scene from several years ago. The flip-side is where it hits my territory, with bassline-fuelled deep House track 'Reach Out' pleasantly looping on. 'Shone' sees things out, with another excellent tracky groove, underpinned by housey keys."
10> Satore - On Tape [Feelharmonic]
"A search for productions by Ordell and Ernie after being impressed by the 'Black Noise' EP yielded the discovery of this EP by Satore. It's a seriously deep and dubby affair, lots of percussion, moody keys and laidback vibes. The EP isn't one for the dancefloor really, but it's just how I like my House music and I feel sure that I'll be using this record for a mix CD at somepoint. The stand-out piece of the four tracks here has to be Ernie's remix of 'For The Road'."
