10 big tunes you need to hear this month

1 Marquis Hawkes feat Jocelyn Brown

'I’m So Glad' (Paul Woolford rework) (Houndstooth)

Marquis Hawkes’ ‘Social Housing’ was one of the best house albums of the year so far, and both these Woolford remixes live up to the pure fire he’s been delivering. The staccato piano-strewn Detroit-ish remix is right up there with ‘Untitled’.

2 Offaiah

'Trouble' (Apexape remix) (Positiva)

Yes, it’s a commercial vocal house cut, but once in a while a track comes along that dances right on the line without stepping too far – and that’s precisely what ‘Trouble’ manages to do so well. Already endorsed by Pete Tong, this is the best new remix in the pack.

3 Dennis Ferrer

'Bubbletop' (Defected)

Well done Defected for reaching what will soon be revealed as a landmark! And there’s no better producer to celebrate with than Dennis Ferrer stepping up to bat with this serene, soulful houser. One for Solomun and Tong alike – and his biggest since ‘Hey Hey’.

4 808 State

'In Yer Face' (Bicep remix) (Feel My Bicep)

The original 808 State anthem came out back in 1991 (which makes it 25 years old!) – but as usual, Bicep have brought the acid bang up to date with two remixes that deliver two different sides of their sound.

5 Sasha

'Track 10' (Last Night On Earth)

First of all, we have no idea why this is called ‘Track 10’, and confusingly, we’re putting it at No 5 in Big Tunes. However, what we do know is it’s an undeniable peak-time vocal jam that’ll no doubt be featuring in a lot of people’s sets by the time you read this...

6 Oxia

'Secret' (Diversions)

With ‘Domino’ being revived right across Ibiza this summer (both Carl Craig and Erick Morillo have been hammering it), this is the perfect time for a thundering new ‘Secret’: but like Oxia, this one won’t stay quiet for long.

7 Kölsch

'Grey' (Kompakt)

In a year that’s seen Kölsch go from strength to strength like never before, it’s tempting to suggest he’s left the best until the very end of the season. A sublime mixture of pianos and ‘Strings Of Life’/’…Elephants’ energy, the key of A minor never sounded so good.

8 Andrea Oliva

'Scream' (Knee Deep In Sound)

Any track which tips its hat to Black Box is alright in our book, and the latest release on the consistent Hot Since imprint does just that – while also sounding super-contemporary in the rolling beats and bass department. This Swiss DJ/producer has really hit his stride.

9 Roman Flügel

'Family Vacation' (Hypercolour)

Regular readers will know Roman can do no wrong in our ears, and ‘Family Vacation’ is everything your childhood holiday was not: edgy, exciting and frazzled around the edges with sizzling synthetic touches. And it only lasts seven minutes!

10 B.Traits

'Still Point' (In Toto)

Mixmag first heard ‘Still Point’ back in March when B.Traits celebrated International Women’s Day at our London HQ. It’s a deep but uplifting instrumental underpinned by a nagging piano riff and a growling Booka Shade-y bassline that’s impressively epic.

[Main image: Vaiva Hawkins]