The debut Lemon Top EP from veteran Newcastle duo My Own Mind — MJ Fitz and Mark Lowry — scores the house music hat trick on a solid underground bopper. “Big Beat” brings dominating drums, subtle layers and airy effects to the party while “All Night” turns it back with an old-school vibe and a punch that will keep the ‘floor moving all day and, well, all night. But the big marks go to the title track, thanks to its jackin’ beats, broad bassline and insightful message that come together to make this the standout track of the release.
Remasters finds London-based French house producer Giom revisiting music he produced between 2007 and 2012 for vinyl labels Amenti Music, Motion Music, Kolour Recordings, Ornate Music and Fly In A Jam, giving each track a remastered tune-up for 2016.
The compilation opens deep and rolls into a more funkin’ upbeat vibe as the hits tick off. Favorites include the dynamic opening cut “Play On,” the low-key funk and heavy bottom of “Bring Down the Walls,” the sexy groove of “I Know You Were Right,” and of course the uplifting classic “Be Free.” The compilation also features brand new reworks of the upbeat and disco “Stolen Soul” and the smooth pumpin’ feel-good vibe of “People.”
Remasters is a digital collection of some of Giom’s best vinyl-only tunes to date, all in one place. It’s a great album stuffed with great house music.
Colombian DJ/producer Fiona Beeson’s Drift EP will heat up any cold winter dance floor. Big picture: this EP falls somewhere in the deep/tech/house spectrum, but each remix has its own unique flavor and each remixer stays faithful to the original while imbuing it with their own unique personality.
The Original Mix rolls in with dynamic layers and hits the perfect balance between deep boppin’ house beats and melodic grooves. The song’s progressive structure is tied neatly together with a symphonic breakdown and rebuild. Slurm’s remix brings in a heavier kick to support a decidedly tech-driven vibe swirling in atmospheric ambience. Joseki’s vision starts off a bit darker but the subtle percussion and techy riffage really set it apart. Finally, Cesar Caballero’s remix keeps things moving with a humming bassline and energizing leads. It’s the contrast between the highs and lows that make this one work.
Final thoughts? Great EP. If this is any indicator of the future, 2016 will be a big year for Beesound Recordings.
We have reached the point where music can’t be just music, where everything needs a “deep” or “hard” or “minimal” modifier in front of the genre, where hashtag marketing seems to sell people almost as much as the song itself.
Believe it or not there was a time when music didn’t need to be stuffed into a pigeon-hole to enjoy. House music was just house music. And good music was just good music.
The Wilful Session EP delivers four unapologetic house cuts, each with its own personality and place in the set.
Khillaudio’s “The Newest Way to Enjoy Music” brings a deep vibe stacked in deceptively simple yet dynamic layers and ties everything together with an interesting sample. UC Beatz’s “Lucky Wind” is my pick of the batch, with a smattering of different genre elements that give it a fresh sound and unique style. The subtle bassline carries a sprinkling of horns, the broken-beat breakdown shakes things up, and the twisted French house attitude all come together to make this one something to get the trainspotters excited. Pat Lezizmo’s “Let It Ride” follows up with punchy kicks, a leading bassline, killer synths, a hooky piano, and some creative sampling. And JR From Dallas‘ “Guirlande De Fricadelles” has all the elements of a classic as well: beefy bass, a boppin’ vibe, and a subtle sample to spice it up.
House music is back and in prime form. Sure we can call it deep house, but it’s more than that. There aren’t any epic drops; instead the tracks build deliberately and roll up and down. So let’s just call it house music. That’s really all that needs to be said.
After all, the newest way to enjoy music isn’t new at all, right?
