Collection: House

Those Sound Metaphors guys are always digging out archival material from hidden corners of dance music history, and they've done it once again with this incredible holy grail for any devotees of the Balearic sound. Leo Mas attained legendary status DJing at Amnesia in Ibiza in the 80s alongside Alfredo, and in the early 90s he was exploring production with a variety of collaborators. Having entered the studio with Italian musician Sergio Portaluri in 1993, Mas sat on the resulting DATs for 30 years until they finally got unearthed as the heads-down, rolling breakbeat house stunners they are. Just to give things a modern twist for those who require it, there's also a remix on this 12' from Apiento.

Helmed by Kid Batchelor and Keith Franklin, Bang The Party were one of the first UK groups to capture the acid house explosion as it found a foothold in the legendary RIP parties and other seminal early spots. Their sound bridges the gap from the prior rare groove warehouse scene and gives it a sweaty Chicago injection, and it's captured brilliantly on this, their breakthrough debut record from 1987. There's a strong soulful edge to 'I Feel Good All Over', while 'Jacques Theme' has a dreamy, surreal tint, and 'Release Your Body' channels a little Motor City flair in its twitchy synth lines and drum programming, but crucially this was one of the first indications of house and techno finding a distinct character across the pond ahead of the wider house culture that would blow up in the years that followed. Truly pioneering music.

Klasse Wrecks has started a new catalogue naming convention for this Boy EP from Mogwaa which suggests it might be the start of a new series. Either way it's defined by an epic, side-long title cut that is a real house and techno fusion. It has the soulful pads of house but the drive of techno drums, with pitched-up hardcore vocals over the top and a bright, screwy acid line tearing up the middle. It's a beautiful collision of party-ready sounds. After that 14-plus minute epic is a half length VIP mix that distils everything into a more potent and direct track.

“The minute your expectations harden or crystallize, you jinx it… nothing was ever abandoned” the third 12” on Laen Disc from Farren Laen. hand stamped & numbered in NYC. 150 copies.

Scottish DJ Sally C's sound and her rapidly growing label continue to captivate audiences, showing no signs of slowing down. The previous release, "Big Saldo's Chunkers 002", created a sensation, with the track 'Downtown' becoming a beloved favorite. The label's third volume maintains the same uncompromising intensity, delivering a powerful sonic experience. The EP begins with "All Love," an electrifying and textured house anthem that pulsates with infectious beats and exudes a euphoric piano-driven energy that cascades throughout the track. Following suit is 'Hit It,' a true embodiment of the Chunker style. Informed by hip-house influences, this jam packs tight drums, stabs, sirens, and one of Sally's signature monster Chunker basslines. "Control" emerges as a forceful banger, featuring eerie hooks and skillfully manipulated vocal samples. Finally, "Get Up" concludes the release with a breakneck pace, offering the fastest grooves of the collection.

Asha Puthli's 'Space Talk' is one of those quintessential diggers delights, hardly a secret weapon any more but widely recognised as a magical slice of misfit cosmic disco from the genre's golden era, fronted by Puthli's ethereal vocal. Now the track gets a remix package courtesy of Naya Beat, and the versions aren't to be trifled with. First up comes the mighty Dimitri From Paris, who ladles the funk on thick, trips out the atmosphere and sends the track even further away from terra firma. Flip the record over for Dimitri's even trippier dub when you really want to juice the dance up. There's also a neat and tidy 2023 mix of the track and the original extended mix, making this an essential purchase for those craving the beauty of the OG version as well as those hungry for a classy-as-hell new twist on a dead cert classic.

For the second release of his own Steamy Pizza Box imprint, Italian producer Valerio Vaudano shows us his Italo-house side under the Steamy Pizza Box alias. The “Vibey” EP is a 5-track release that takes you back to the early days of house music, perfectly blending both atmospheres from the past and elements of modern electronic music. The A-side kicks off with “Are U Feelin’ It?”, a brilliant 90s flavoured track where groove and dream-house pads coexist flawlessly. From there it continues with ‘Amnesia’, a peaktime house tune in full UMM style. “Oshibori” opens the B-side with its dreamy but catchy atmospheres characterised by oniric pads and a romantic brass breakdown. “Vhs” continues the B-side with a cheerful old school riff, topped with a Lately bass and rolling drums. “Murder” closes the release with its minimal but significant dress: 909, a Juno bass line and a pad borrowed from the Chicago pioneers.

Steb feat Dario Rossi

VA

The Chris Simmonds Project