February: 16 house releases you need to hear this month

Red Rack’em 'Wonky Bassline Disco Banger' (Classic Music Company)

We were fans of this when it came out on Daniel Berman’s own Bergerac label last year, and now it’s getting a new release on Classic Music Company. KiNK’s remix removes the disco elements to focus on the wonkiness, while Lord Leopard, Eats Everything and Luke Solomon’s collaborative edit kicks things up a level with its sprightly drums.

9/10

Golf Clap 'Golf Clap Presents Country Club Disco' (Country Club Disco)

With Kerri Chandler’s MadTech recently citing Golf Clap as a force to be reckoned with, there are a lot of expectant eyes on the duo. Detroit pair Hugh Cleal and Bryan Jones are unfazed, though, as they bring you this 20-track strong compilation showcasing their own County Club Disco imprint. The blasting sound of Lenny Kiser’s ‘Dial Up’ comes on like a 2am festival anthem before breaking into retro dial-up tone samples. Golf Clap’s own ‘Late Nights’ is a touch of dark garage with a Korg M1 let loose over skipping beats and Gerry Gonza’s ‘DEVI’ is a tech assault bolstered by galloping drums and a metallic voice. With this compilation of fierce, peak-time cuts, Golf Clap are carving their own sound.

8/10

Deltawerk 'Passages EP1' (Atomnation)

Deltawerk is a collaborative project from Amsterdam residents Pascal Terstappen and Hessel Stuut. ‘Sample’ is a high-paced main-room cut with a syncopated tone that keeps the low-end pushing on like a freight train, while the high-end offers more musicality with vivacious keys and swelling strings. ‘Midstate’, meanwhile, is a dramatic peak-time cut with snapping drums and bouncing bass. Terstappen’s previous releases as Applescal and Stuut’s work as one-half of Polynation ensured we were already aware of their respective pedigrees, and this solid meeting of minds doesn’t disappoint.

8/10

Waterson 'Shelter' EP (Back To The World)

Waterson has already wowed us before, with his track ‘Tell Me’ producing major ripples. Now he’s back with a new EP produced by Back To The World label boss Ashley Beedle. Waterson’s vocal sits somewhere between Robert Owens and David McAlmont, and acts as a disco call to arms. ‘Ego’ is 80s-tinged synthopia that could have come out of Lipps Inc’s studio, while ‘Say My Name’ nods to Studio 54-era Grace Jones. There’s also a glut of remixes of the title track included, too: Moodymanc tones down the pop element with his deep rework and Hannah Holland takes things up a notch by addinga relentless groove, before Kryptogram signs off with a contemporary Chi-town groover.

6/10

Bodhi 'Outlook' (No Idea’s Original)

Coming out on Huxley’s very own No Idea’s Original imprint is this new EP from Cardiff duo Bodhi. The title track has a hypnotic, fidgety bass that makes for a catchy groove backed by some smooth production. Elsewhere, ‘Hail The Acid’ does exactly what it says on the tin and ‘Delicate’ is a kipper house track with a strong top-line synth and warm pads, while ‘Whalin’’ sounds like Sneak fuelled by vodka and Red Bull.

8/10

Paul Woolford 'Father, Son & Holy Ghost' (Aus)

Aus managed to prise Wooly from Houndstooth and XL Recordings in order to release this strong EP. The moody synths and broken beat of ‘Father’ sound like a grumpy Bicep and Aphex Twin jamming with Jean-Michel Jarre on keys. Completing the release are ‘Holy Ghost’, which is a piece of staunch club ammunition, and ‘Son’, a joyful, beatless version of ‘Father’ that makes for a stunning instrumental soundscape.

8/10

Theo Walbeck 'Freek Tool' (Tune)

Coming out on Local Talk’s new sister label, Tune, is the cheeky ‘Freek Tool’ from the anonymous Theo Walbeck. The track uses a familar hip hop vocal backed by deep drums, bass drones and subtle keys, all of which combine for a ‘freeking’ great tool. Yes, you’ll recognise the vocal, but it’ill be a great get-out-of-jail-free card for any DJ; we’re delighted it’s being released on wax.

7/10

Tommy Vercetti 'Blue Submarine EP' (Do Not Sleep)

We’re big fans of Darius Syrossian’s Do Not Sleep label, so we’re pleased it shows no signs of slowing down with this seventh release courtesy of Tommy Vercetti. The title track is full of percussive energy and diva vocals, with Darius himself turning in a beefed-up remix that sounds like it’s made for a CO2 cannon explosion. There’s also the techier tip of ‘Misch’, too – although the biggest cut here could turn out to be the closing ‘Where’s Ya Flute’, thanks to its tribal drums and elastic bass.

7/10

KOT (Kings Of Tomorrow) 'Kaoz' (Poker Flat)

Sandy Rivera brings his KOT alias to Steve Bug’s Poker Flat for some dark club fodder. This has a hypnotic reversed bass that sounds like nothing else out there just now and, when combined with a vocal that sounds like a drunk Grace Jones ranting over the mic, proves that Sandy’s as capable of rocking Berghain as he is a Miami Pool Party. Newcomer Dario D’Attis shows he knows his history with his remix, meanwhile, emphasising a shuffled groove that will get your shoulders dancing as much as your feet.

7/10

Phonique feat Antonia Vai 'Grass Is Greener' (Remixes) (Ladies and Gentlemen)

We loved Phonique’s original version of ‘Grass Is Greener’ with Antonia Vai’s beautiful house vocal, and can’t help but feel that it deserved to cross over. It’s now back with a new remix package, with Larse given the task of trying to repeat the magic he previously worked with Candi Staton’s ‘Hallelujah Anyway’ by producing another sincere house remix with universal appeal (there’s also an instrumental version of his rework, too, which suggests the label intend it to be the lead remix). Kruse & Nurnberg then turn in a mix that’s sure to suit darker dancefloors, before Bruno Be closes the release with his bass-heavy version.

7/10

Pezzner 'Evelyn' (Subtract)

Pezzner has a knack for consistently producing classy slices of house, so it’s no great surprise that he’s done it again with ‘Evelyn’, which impresses with its piano tinkles and crisp beats punctuated with occasional skips. He also gives us a Redux version of the original track which demonstrates his pitched-down melancholic sound. Dance Spirit’s 23rd Dimension mix is filled with shimmering pads and clacking drums, while elsewhere, DoubtingThomas’ 100bpm rework sounds like a stoned OOFT!

6/10

Rondevu 'ID EP' (Rondevu Music)

Having previously released tracks on Cheap Thrills, Needa Records, Conformity Not and Materialism, Rondevu has now decided to take the plunge and start his own label. He hits the ground running with his inaugural EP: ‘ID1’ is a climactic end-of-the-night cut with a booming kick, soaring chords and dramatic synths, while ‘ID2’ is also ready for the club thanks to its jaggy bass synth, vocal cuts, swelling pads and a heavy drum workout. Smart stuff from the producer, who launches his new venture with his strongest release yet.

7/10

Mr. G 'G’s Juiced Up EP' (No Idea’s Original)

We love Colin McBean’s extensive discography, and he just keeps on adding to it: here, he releases on Huxley’s No Idea’s Original label (an imprint that’s fast becoming a go-to resource for solid house cuts). ‘Can’t Stop’, with its looping vocal cut, raw drums and an evil modulating synth, announces itself as an essential mood creator without having to rely on any bells and whistles. The title of ‘4am NYC Downlow TS Version’, meanwhile, is a fitting description of the music within: it’s the perfect song for the DJ to put on and renergise you with when you’re flagging at the afterparty and thinking about getting a taxi home. ‘Make Me Mad’ and ‘Make me Dub’ complete the EP.

8/10

Dj Licious 'Calling' (Shomi)

Some of Belgian house supremo DJ Licious’ previous releases have garnered support from the likes of Avicci, Pete Tong and Oliver Heldens. He should get ready for even more attention when ‘Calling’, which is coming out on his own Shomi label, hits the world stage: bass tones lead the way on this juggernaut before giving way to a brass fanfare, but it’s not until the gorgeous string section drifts in that this big-room weapon really hits its stride.

8/10

Omni AM 'Beat Dis/Dangerous' (Euphoria Records)

This re-release gives us another chance to enjoy these two cuts from US duo Omni AM all over again. As soon as you hear the wailing guitar intro of ‘Beat Dis’, you know it’s going to be different – and then the two-step broken beat kicks in with a gravelly basline, hip house samples and muted vocal snips. If you’re looking for a track that will help change the mood of your set, this would be an excellent choice, and it’s easy to see why it’s won plaudits from Derrick Carter and Terry Francis, among others. Second cut ‘Dangerous’, meanwhile, is bubbling tech house with swagger.

7/10

Seventh Distrikt 'Smells Like ‘67' (Dear Deer)

Seventh Distrikt returns to Ukranian label Dear Deer with ‘Smells Like ‘67’, a joyous track that uses cheeky vocal samples in a manner reminiscent of Oliver Dollar. The whooping crowd noises are just the icing on the cake for this disco-infused house cut that sounds like it could have come from the Magnetic label. Add some organic percussion and a walking bassline, and we’ve got ourselves a track to remind us that, however cold it might be right now, summer is never too far away.

7/10