Choices - June 2014

Nicola Marano - No More Love (Batti Batti) PROMO
Yes! Its a pity that this release is only available in digital as in my opinion this is awesomely good and also deserves a vinyl outing. Three versions which are the massive original, a deep Nasty Boy remix, and the Maltese masters Owen Jay and Melchior Sultana who swing things up to more jazzy atmospheres. The advantage of digital here is that you can burn two compact discs or integrate your USB and stay mixing this in and out with all the versions.

Dodi Palese - Greeting From The Solar Systems Remix (Engrave Ltd)
A simultaneous vinyl and digital release, with three tracks from Dodi's 2013 release album receiving remix duties by; Marcello Napoletano, Myk Derill, Musumeci, and Owen Jay and Melchior Sultana.

Emiliano Papetti - Get The Funk (Apparel Music)
I like the original but three other mixes are available from; Francesco Zani, Rico Casazza, and label boss Kisk who slows things down.

Garnier - KL 2036 EP (MCDE Recordings)
Laurent Garnier has always been the front man of the always innovative musical country that is France. For 2014 Garnier has been releasing on new labels, and after 50 Weapons here he is on the MCDE Recordings imprint.

Leotone - Afrocloud (Leotone Music)
South African, Pretoria native Leotone continues to push his sounds and label with constant new releases which always deserve a second hearing. Here I like the other track Tell Them and its broken beat version Leotone Jazz Maestro Style.

Shinno Blackk - Long Time (New Generation Records)
Shino uses the vocal from Ralph Falcon's produced The Fog 'Been a Long Time' and adds new deep atmospheres.

Grassroots - United Over Ukraine (Grassroots)
The music is always united in difficult times, and deep and underground music has done this all over again so many times. Famous and less so unite for Ukraine presenting fifteen quality underground tracks. Vakula, Perc, Dustin Zahn, Murat Tepeli are some of known names in this compilation.

Detroit Swindle feat. Mayerhawthorne - 64 Ways The Remixes (Dirt Crew Recordings)
Kerri Kaoz Chandler makes a masterful remix of 64 ways. Good to see Mr. Chandler back in full swing.

Rundom Uolk - Loveintake (Rundom Uolk)
To me he is unknown, who brings the above single release. Loveintake is a nice eight minute quality deep house tune filled with a Balearic sound touch. He has also some interesting stuff on his SoundCloud page which you can check out.

Gari Romalis - Here and Now EP (Bosconi Records)
The highly rated Bosconi records does it again with Detroit man Gari Romalis who presents a four track extended player. Simultaneous vinyl and digital release.

Miltiades - Stmete EP (Echovolt)
The second release from the promising Greek Miltiades who presents three interesting deep house tracks filled with atmosphere.

Exquisit - Almost Deaf (E-Zoo Records)
E-Zoo records seems to be a record label founded since 2011, which mostly presents long players by what are so far unknown producers. Check its releases out, some like the above have some interesting tracks.

Dance Mania - Revival Traxx EP (Strut)
Strut continues to revive tunes from this legendary Chicago House music label.

Review: various artists - The Riot EP (Batti Batti)

Batti Batti returns with another serious release, this time from label boss Owen Jay and studio partner Melchior Sultana. Avoiding the use of sampling, the Riot Ep is a four tracker of genuine deepness, very original in style and structure and having all sounds produced on vintage hardware gear. Style wise this Extended player varies from the more club oriented tracks Silent Change and The Riot which could easily be categorized as deep techno, to a very house groove titled Afterparty and a Rhodes world wide infested mid-tempo groove titled Mirror from Melchior Sultana. Rumor has it that Dj Jus-Ed the Underground Quality boss has been playing these tracks for the past two years and as the engraving on the vinyl suggest BBR03 is a dedicated to the deep house community worldwide. Vinyl released in Spring was limited to three hundred copies with only a few left here and there. Now its time for the digital release.

www.battibatti.com

Review: Nasty Boy - Underground River EP (Batti Batti)

Italian DJ producer Niko Nasty Boy returns to BattiBatti after appearing for the various artists These Days extended player released in early March, with the solid track 'Something in my Shoes'.   A tune that personally I cannot stop playing! In this extended player Niko follows to the letter the BattiBatti signature sound, presenting three atmospheric deep house tracks; Early in the Sky, For My Bag, and Underground River. All three tunes are deep and underground with a classic mood to them, inspired from sounds of the mid nineties.  To sum up in short Early in the Sky is atmospheric, while For My Bag is mellow with a romantic feel to it, while the last track Underground River which gives the name to the extended player is the most moving of the lot.  Nasty Boy is definitely one of the names to watch in the months to come and the Italian young producer should be on the radar for all deep house music lovers.      

www.battibatti.com 

Review: various artists - Atmospheres EP (Batti Batti)

Number two for the Batti Batti vinyl series and as the first release the label goes on with presenting a four different artist extended player titled Atmospheres EP.  With such a title it is definitely a must that each track here offers a diverse flavour of atmospheric deep house.  Opening this vinyl on side A is label boss Owen Jay and his studio partner Melchior Sultana who presents the track 'Spheric'.  In this track the Maltese duet take you deep and dark with some nice keys and pads creating a thin genre border between house, techno, and dub.  The second track in this vinyl comes from man of the moment Nathan H who presents 'Alpinsim'.  Here Nathan creates a nice soft percussive groove which blends well with the build up of the track.  Side B sees the return of Belgian artist Cleveland who was presented to Batti Batti on the good number twelve of the digital series with a two track extended player.  'Pandora' which is Cleveland track is a mellow at some points romantic instrumental affair which takes you on a journey inside.  Last but not least is Bittersuite who appear for Batti Batti for the fourth time.  This British production team presents 'Monk Vibe', an African tribal rhythm track with hints of soul and dub sounds merging in and out.     

www.battibatti.com

Review: various artists - These Days EP (Batti Batti)

Number thirteen and the forth extended player from Batti Batti.  Again the Malta underground dance label takes the various artists route, bringing together three different protagonists.  Two House from Denmark, the Italian Nasty Boy, and Red Pig Flower a Japanese lady currently DJing constantly around Europe in such clubs as Tresor Berlin and Fabric London.  Some of these names might sound familiar  to some of you, as all have previously released music on different labels some also with a well known signature to them. All three tracks deliver a different flavor yet they all feature a special blend of deepness. From the Detroit chords of These Days, to my favorite tune by rising star Nasty Boy some nice warm pads in this, and the hypnotic elements with a border to minimal of Red Pig Flower track Romantica.  This is again a very interesting EP from Batti Batti. Need I add more!

www.battibatti.com

Choices - October 2012

Cleveland - Mid Sun EP (battibatti)
BattiBatti keeps on bringing a good release in each number.  Considering we are at twelve this is quite an achievement.  I play both the tracks in this extended player, a lot!

Third Ear Re:Imagined (Third Ear Recordings)
An always upfront label presents this extended player with four classic tunes remade. My favorite is the XDB remix of Benjamin Brunn 'No Kicks'.  Another interesting remix is the Upperground Orchestra take on Theo Parish 'Falling Up'.

Chris Carrier - Planete Euphorique (Robsoul)
Three instrumental tracks titled in the first three alphabet letters. I like the nineties New York sounding B.

Monocles - Loud, John-Carol feat Gisela Gold - Just Saying (Peng Africa)
Peng Africa makes it a busy month releasing two good records. The choice is also vast in both issues with Loud having ten mixes, and the more recent John-Carol seven versions.

Vedagor - Untitled EP (Burek)
Four all untitled innovative tracks.  I usually prefer even numbers but two and four work best for me here.

Grooveman Spot - Paradox (Jazzy Spot)
A very innovative album which fuses new wave and Italo disco eighties sound in more modern deep rhythms. Fourteen tracks to choose from with two tracks having vocal collaborations by Hollie Smith and Isaac Aesili, and Capitol A.

Marcellus Pittman - Pieces (Sound Signature)
Ten tracks by one of the most innovative all time producers. Mr.Pittman basically reinvents bass lines, kicks and rhythms in each tune for this mostly electronic instrumental release.  Note the real label is Unirhythm with digital distribution handled by Sound Signature.

The Zohar - Brooklyn EP (Tenderpark)
I like a lot the track Dog Day, but Brooklyn 9:30 AM is also worth a listen.

Elina Monova - Something Special (Rest)
The voice of Elina is really something special on the four minute of Give Me The Night.

Martin Iveson - 13.10.11 13.11.11 (Atjazz Record Company)
A good release in Afro jazz vibes.  Edit thanks to the Deep House Page forum peeps.  The title digits are dates, two important ones for Martin, that is all I can say.

Idrissa Sissoko - Lopilopilo (Offerings Recordings)
A six track mini album all in African rhythms, plus extra remix for Yiri and two for Wari.

DJ Mtshepang - Ubizo (Deeper Shades Recordings)
Lars Behrenroth label is always on my radar, and here it presents ten versions to choose from.  I like the Shaheedemo Colorful Instrumental the most.

Carter Cook - Because of You (Houseworx)
The original version title track features the over abused Obama lyrics in background a nice vocalist saying Because of You and a very Chandler style groove.  It works.

Review: Cleveland - Mid-Sun EP (battibatti bb12)

The new BattiBatti release comes from Belgium artist Cleveland titled Mid Sun EP which features two deep house tracks, with a moving groove.  Opening the dances in this release is the track Bruxlyn One, a nine minute key infected builder with vocal snippet and unusual sound coming off and on.  Number two is the title track Mid Sun a more deep track to the previous with a Chicago house drum style and nice warm sounds.  Cleveland a new rotation to the BattiBatti artist line up is also to be featured in the second upcoming vinyl release, along three other artists to come out before the end of this year.  Watch this spot for more information.      

www.battibatti.com

Choices - September 2012

various artists - Basement Tracks EP 1 (battibatti)
Released on 11 July on vinyl finally in this month sees its digital format.  Four artists pay tribute to the first Battibatti vinyl with High Quality tracks. 

various artists - Holdin On EP (battibatti)
The fourth release with a different four artist package from Battibatti.  This extended player presents an international flavour of artists from Britain, Malta, Germany, to the other side of the Atlantic in Mexico.

Guido Nemola - Jazz Piano EP (Revox)
Three different tracks from this Italian artist exploring deep groovy house.  My favorite is the Acid Mix of 'I Can't Forget'.  Trip.

Ralf Gum - Never Leaves You (GOGO Music)
Nice album from Ralf Gum anticipated in early Summer by the release of Linda.  Ten tracks with super vocal collaborations by; Jocely Mathieu, Kafele, Kenny Bobien, Jaidene Vada, Monique Bingham, Oluhle, Robert Owens, Caron Wheeler, and Jon Pierce.

Brad Petterson / Rai Scott - Future Imprints (Inner Shift Music)
A nice release with two tracks by Brad on one side, and two by Rai on the other. 'Inner Reflection' will be on my list for long time.

S.o.u.l. Vs Tinbota ft Dr.Feelx - House Music Was Born (Shines Records)
House was born official sometime in early eighties, although it was an evolution coming from like the sixties.  I like the House Music Was String Mix.

Ladybird - Ladybird Remixed (Peng)
After the album release in early 2012, two Ladybird tunes gets the remix job by Bittersuite, Andy Compton, and Dolls Combers.

Ed Nine - Hot Jazz The Remixes (Itch-N-Sniff Records)
Old school Jazz sounds, and vocals mixed in rhythm. Does it not always work.  Five versions to choose from.

Nick Sole - Flowers For You (Mojuba Records)
Debut album from Nick Sole who presents eleven deep tracks all in very well made African Tribal grooves.  Nice!

STL - Flying Objects (Something)
Experimental sounds is always what the German STL aka Stephan Laubner comes with.

Mass Prod - Deeply Cooked Music (Kontra Muzik)
Digital follow up to a vinyl out in 2009.  Jus-Ed mix is the one for me.

various artists - Langesthal (Meakusma)
Two tracks each by four different artists.  All is in experimental sounds, accept for the Detroit groove infected 'Nulldup'  by Bepotel.

Alexander East - Jest 4 Me (Fresh Meat)
Original released in 2001.  Derrick Carter Dubstrumental always works thanks also to the clever use of the sample from the disco song 'You Can't Hide Your Love From Me'.

various artists - Running Music 01 3 Hours Set (Irma Records)
Three hours of music in this compilation with 28 different songs and tracks.  You have the known names of Irma like; Don Carlos, Belladonna, Sicania Soul, Pasta Boys etc etc. 

Review: various artists - Basement Tracks EP 1 (Batti Batti)

Founded up in 2009 and since taking out ten phenomenal releases BattiBatti makes its entry into the vinyl world with this first four different tracks package titled Basement Track EP 1.   The deep, and underground house scene has always been a keen supporter to this pure Deejay medium, and being BattiBatti a label dedicated to those sounds the move was certainly expected in due time and most surely welcome.  Label boss Owen Jay with his partner Melchior Sultana opens the dances with the track titled 'Groove Me'.  He is followed on side A by 1Dan a repeat artist on BattiBatti who here comes with the dark, deep, cosmic but yet energetic 'Light Bridge'.  On the B side we have Nino with the trip deep track 'Nino' which reminds me a bit of Callisto from Guidance Records, and Benedikt Frey of Mule and Ethereal records fame and his acid infected 'Moving Shadows'. 

www.battibatti.com

Review: various artists - Holdin On EP (battibatti BB11)

Release number eleven for Malta's iconic deep and underground label Battibatti.  This third series in the various artist extended players titled Holdin On presents four tunes all by different artists, two of which making their first appearance on BattiBatti.  The repeating artists are 1Dan, the producer of BB07 'Wish You Well', and Melchior Sultana who here presents himself solo, being the usual partner of label boss Owen Jay.  The new artists are Marco Nega, and the duet of Romeo C and Alhan G.  Dan1 opens the player with the deep and voyage track Another Afternoon here in the late edit version.  Marco Nega an artist with releases on Underground Quality and BuMako follows with Intromental, an atmospheric tune with jazzy chords.  Third is Melchior Sultana 'Holdin On' a very jazz inspiring tune, which builds up to a groovy affair. Closes this extended player the more pumped up Romeo C and Alhan G 'Don't Tell Me What To Do', a deep tribal affair with nice keys and sensual vocal female and male vocal hooks.   

www.battibatti.com 

Review: Musumeci - Astounding Science Music (battibatti bb10)

What a way to celebrate Battibatti release number ten with a mini album from the obscure Musumeci, titled Astounding Science Music and having six tracks.  This Italian artist also made one of his early appearances, to be exact his third remix duty on Battibatti with his very good version to the much appreciated 'No Longer the Same' produced by US house music icon Demarkus Lewis and featured on EP 2. If you don't have this in your box I suggest to check it out, as at today I still spin it.  Prior to this long player Musumeci also made three releases on his own label which has the same name, the most recent Rules 03 released a year ago is also featured as a mash up here titled Three Laws.  Astounding Science Music is an early eighties Chicago house music inspired sound, with a bit of wave touch felt in all the tunes.  All the tracks feature a Science fiction vocal snippet from the likes of J.G. Ballard, Sir Arthur C.Clark, Isaac Asimov, Paul Anderson, and Jack Williamson.  To be true is hard to choose a favorite as all track have a high quality sound in them, but if pressed I would go with 'The Day After Tommorow', and 'Stranger in Paradise'.     

www.battibatti.com

Review: Caspian Rabone presents Deep Waters (battibatti bb09)

For its release number nine Malta's battibatti label crosses the Atlantic Ocean and heads up North to Canada, with a release by Caspian Rabone.  Hailing from Toronto, Canada Caspian has also founded Polaris Records which from 2000 till 04 has featured six releases all in Techno sounds.  For his first BattiBatti appearance Rabone presents a three track extended player plus a remix of the title Deep Waters by Malta's Sonitus Eco.  The original Deep Water opens this release what is a minimal groove with evoking deep atmosphere.  Deep Shores follows suit, but this one follows a more mechanical sound groove to it.  Also on his Battibatti debut Sonitus Eco remix of Deep Water which I prefer to the original takes the sounds and atmosphere of the original, and put into it a more Detroit techno groove creating a dub darker vibe.  Swallow Dive is a deep tech house number with energy which will without doubt be the preferred track of the many in this extended player.  

www.battibatti.com  

Review: Bittersuite presents Sea Legs (battibatti bb008)

After three previous releases on BattiBatti, Bittersuite present us with a three track Extended Player titled Sea Legs. This is the first fully dedicated release on the Maltese BattiBatti label to the Brighton production team, having previously been featured on the various artist extended players EP.1 and EP.2 and on remix duty for Owen Jay and Melchior Sultana track Way of Life. Their two previous releases on Batti Batti titled Orbit and To Be Free, have been burning my Cd's, and rocking dance floors worldwide.  In this Bittersuite extended player one of the most awaited tracks is Cabin Fever, which has been around for a while as a promo, and searched a lot by a few deep house aficionados.  So Cabin Fever is finally here, alongside two other amazing tracks, Reprog, and the head liner Sea Legs. Solid beats, jazzy chords and atmospheric textures all the way in all tracks.

www.battibatti.com

Review: 1Dan presents Wish You Well (battbatti bb07)

Another quality Deep House release from Malta label Battibatti who for its number seven presents 1Dan with the title Wish You Well.  For this new release label boss Owen Jay continues to present us his Brighton from the UK connections.  1Dan real name Dan Rodgers is the third to come from this part of Britain on Battibatti, following the trio of Bittersuite featured on three different releases, and Jaime Read presented on catalogue number five.  For his Battibatti debut 1Dan presents two high quality tracks orientated towards an underground dance floor from both the different tracks; Speckled, and Wishing Well.  Speckled is pure deep house with a smooth under pump and percussion's all making the perfect build up into colorful and romantic atmospheres.  Wishing Well on the other side is a dub techno house track provided with a darker element.  

www.battibatti.com     

Review: Owen Jay & Melchior Sultana present Distant Dream (batti batti bb06)

After the succesful and well received Memories of You EP on the New York, US Underground Quality label number 36, the Maltese duo return home.  This sixth release from BattiBatti does in fact see Owen Jay back to his home grown label.  For Batti Batti six Owen Jay and his studio partner Melchior Sultana take things back the deep route again with Distant Dreams offering two nice mixes.  The Original which is my preferred of the two, is a nice atmosphere build up with a very interesting broken drum pattern which takes a more hypnotic route half way through its journey.  Owen Jay Raw Edit which builds on the same pads takes things back to the old ways and reminds me a bit of old Kerri Chandler stuff may be due to the raw deep groove and distorted kick drum.  If you like deep stuff this is definitely worth a check, and sees BattiBatti continue to build its high reputation for a high quality label.

www.battibatti.com

Choices - January 2011

Artist - Title (Label)Jaime Read Presents Life In The Sea (battibatti)A three tracker from local Maltese BattiBatti label of which you can read my review in that section. I use them all!


Egal 3 - Dreams EP (Tzinah)
Five tracks in all, three different tunes all with an old school drum feel. Dreams & You which samples Loleatta Halloway is my preferred.

Pawel - The Remixes (dial)
Three remixes all of quality as is expected by this label. My preferred is surely the one by Osunlade of Panamerican.

MzkBx - Going Back To Chicago EP (karat)
The title says it all. This really looks to be made long time ago. All good.

Vakula - Nema (3rd Strike)Five tracks of pure deepness by one of the producers of the moment. All very good!!!

Spellband - Hipopotamus EP (look at you)An Italian production team which appeared in the late nighties. For Look at You they present a very mid nineties Sound Factory house style three tracker. All good.

Kimara Lovelace - Time After Time (New Generation)I purchased four out of six, the other two being an instrumental, and the Brother Vibes beats. I like the Brothers Vibe mix to punch up my set, and the others are good to go the romantic mood.

var art - 10 x 12 (I records)Twelve tracks all deep, and good. Hard to have any preferrences, when you have producers like Keven Yost, Peter Funk, Silicone Soul etc etc, but Feeling Loose remixed by Karol XVIII and MB Violence does rate on top.

var art - Mangrove (Lion1music)
Eight tracks of deepness in dub and soulful. Love them all.

Azulu Phantom / Kai Alce - Power Thru Part 3 Don't Turn On the Light (Ndatl Muzik)
Azulu Phantom / Kai Alce - Power Thru Part 3 The Re: Rubs (Ndatl Muzik)Two separate releases on Kai Alce Ndatl label. I went for four tunes of eight total, including the tune More 2 Come, and three versions of Power Thru which are the two Mush mixes and KZR Rerub.

Marcello Napoletano - The Movement Must Be the Moment (Mathematics)
Four tracks of deepness in a Chicago and Detroit style. All instrumental but very good.

var art - Re Printed (soul print)Six tunes of which two are the original and remix of Petkovski Love Machine. Damn World is the deeper of the six, while All That Jazz takes things to a live instrumental feel level.

var art - Disco Bullets Vol.2 (oryx)
Four disco reworks which are all in a different mood from this Italian label. Number four is a tribal groove with Obama's speech and Sister Sledge You Fooled Around bass line.

var art - King Street Sounds Reformed Classics (street king)Legendary remixes from the renowned King Street label. You have it all in this eight tuner from the more big room Noferini remix of Got To Believe Feat Shawnee Taylor, to underground tunes as are Mood II Swing remix, and more big room business from the likes of Supernova who remix Hallelujah by Kerri Chandler and Kenny Bobien's Brighter days.

MindTech - State of Insanity (Deeper Sounds of Rashani)
An album which has eleven tracks of all deep style. Interesting the more progressive We're Madness, or Sunset Weapon. But this is all good.

Jan Tenner - F.N.k. EP (fullbarr digital)
Six tracks of different deepness. FNK two mixes, Consciousness three mixes, and So Strong which takes things to space.

Review: Jaime Read presents Life In The Sea (battibatti bb05)

Another high quality three tracker from Malta's deep house BattiBatti label, which to be honest with every new release is setting a higher standard to follow. Number five of BattiBatti is courtesy of Brighton UK producer Jaime Read presenting the all instrumental three track Life In The Sea. Here Jaime starts the dances with the slow tempo Hanged Groove, which is an amazing instrumental tune. To The Bone as the title says goes very old school Chicago with the groove receiving high influence from the 1987 house hit "Work It To The Bone" by LNR i.e. Rick Lenoir and Larry Thompson on Jam Records. With To The Bone BattiBatti and Read also enter the Tech House and big room potential as I do feel this tune to be suitable for the larger clubs, and in a diverse varied sets. You have a deep set you want to lift up, or more friendly music you want to take to the underground, "To The Bone" can definitely do both with ease. Life In The Sea is a pad deep build up of over eleven minutes, but again in very old school Chicago House here in more Larry Heard manner influenced rhythms, high hats and percussion's, but with very Italo disco style pads and bass lines.
www.battibatti.com