January: 14 house releases you need to hear this month

Anabel Englund 'London Headache' (Defected)

We know Anabel’s voice from her past appearances on various Hot Natured tracks, and she’s now poised to release her debut solo single. She hits the ground running with this lavish beach house cut for Defected, which proves it’s time for her to step out as the main artist. Crookers also turn in a 4x4 house remix, while Purple Disco Machine’s standout rework introduces waka waka guitar.

9/10

Patrick Topping/Nathan Barato 'Paradise On Earth 01 – Mexico' (Hot Creations)

Hot Creations launch a new mix series, with the first instalment a Mexico special from Paradise resident DJs and label stalwarts Patrick Topping and Nathan Barato. The first mix, which comes from the Canadian Barato, starts with the delightfully freaky ‘Where Ya At?’ from Derrick Carter before introducing the loud drum rolls of Moritz Piske’s ‘Dirt Cabana’, and we’re also pleased to see Ian Pooley’s ‘Higgledy Piggledy’ in there to remind us he was one of filtered disco’s pioneers. Barato includes a few of his own tracks, too, before finishing on Robert Hood’s wondrous ‘Dancer.’ Topping hits his pace quickly with an energetic late-night mix that drops into classics such as ‘The Boss’ and ‘Congo’ and weaves successfully though different styles.

9/10

Ilona Maras & Sanja feat Sutja Gutierrez 'Existe' (Get Physical Music)

Montenegro native Ilona Maras’s ‘Existe’ was one of the standout tracks on the ‘Full Body Workout Volume 18’ compilation released by Get Physical back in April 2016, so we’re chuffed to see it get a full remix release here: it has a warm, organic groove that envelopes you before the dark tones move in. Bryan Kessler’s remix, meanwile, introduces a dirty bassline that helps transform the original into a memorable peak-time cut, and its stripped-back breakdown will make for dancefloor devastation as it slides back in.

6/10

Dinky 'Slowly' (Crosstown Rebels)

This is the second single from Dinky’s most recent album ‘Valor’ and makes good use of the singer’s stunning vocals, while the fragile, icy piano rubs against the bass synths in a dancefloor-friendly way. Add some muted oboe and swirling string pads, and this is one classy affair. Matthew Styles, who was the first label manager at Crosstown Rebels and has since gone onto run the Running Back label with Gerd Janson, then loops extracts of the whispy vocal to give us an enchanting remix. Radio Slave, aka Matt Edwards, provides a futher two mixes, too – one an exercise in pulsing, glacial tech house, the other more ethereal and broken.

7/10

DALI 'Voynich' (Hobbes Music)

Here, DALI releases her debut double A-side 12” on Edinburgh’s Hobbes Music label. The producer first appeared on our radar when we heard her remixing Sophie Barker’s track ‘I Do It To Myself’ in an analogue style, a rework that sounded like it could have come out on Trax. This release, meanwhile, has already caught the interest of big names such as Auntie Flo, Ben UFO and Groove Armada’s Tom Findlay, and it’s not hard to see why.

We’re intrigued as to what the title of B-side ‘STCFTHOTA’ stands for, but what we do know is that it’s a self-assured grooving house cut with a skipping drum loop, pulsing synth rises and spacey atmospherics; it’s one of those tracks that won’t go stratospheric, but will definitely have longevity. ‘Voynich’ will find favour with the techno fraternity, but it’s the stunning simplicity of the flip that does it for us.

7/10

Brassica 'Time Tunnel' (Feel My Bicep)

Opening the doors of FMB to other producers hasn’t just given Bicep more time to pursue their busy career; it also means the tastemakers are able to bring us lots of exciting new music, too. The pair have already shown their fondness for Brassica by remixing one of his previous tracks, and now give him a platform for new cut ‘Time Tunnel’. It’s a moody house track that would sound equally at home on a beach bar as it would soundtracking a twilight warehouse party, while B-side ‘Wryders’ is a solid and dramatic breakbeat cut. Elsewhere, Roy Of The Ravers tackles ‘Time Tunnel’ in a techno style that sounds like a lost DAT, and The Sphinx does a great bigger room version, but our tip is still the wondrous original.

8/10

Kiwi 'Orca' (FUTUREBOOGIE)

Producer Alex Warren, aka Kiwi, has proven his versatility with previous releases on labels such as Optimo Music, Duke Dumont’s Blasé Boys Club and Sneaky. Now we find him on Bristol’s Futureboogie with these four deep, driving groovers. Still unwilling to be pigeonholed, he ably dances around genres but keeps a strong focus on quality. The melodramatic title track sounds like Giorgio Moroder working with Roman Flügel, ‘Minke’ is straight-up house and ‘Logman’s Beak’ features modulating melody and spacey synths. Finally, ‘Pygmy’ has an acid house bassline, fluttering arps and a dramatic organ riff.

8/10

Sqyre 'Lost In Ovum' (Bulletdodge)

Sqyre brings us another solid late-night cut on Bulletdodge. You can hear him drawing on influences from Soma and Planet E, but he still offers his own take on them to give them a new energy. The crisp drums have a percussion shuffle that gives it energy from the off, add a driving bassline, tripped-out vocal snips and an ethereal breakdown. There are some strong remixes included, too, from Space DJs Ben Long and Lee Pennington. If the strength of this release is anything to go by, we look forward to more releases from Sqyre in the future – it feels like he’s really starting to hit his stride.

8/10

Mathew Jonson and Sebastian Mullaert 'Pollen 4 Life' (Hypercolour)

Jonson and Mullaert’s latest meeting of minds came from a productive five-day session near one of Sweden’s National Parks, a short but fruitful period of time which allowed their creative juices to flow and produce something different. When ‘Pollen 4 Life’ kicks in, it sounds like it’s in full-on tech mode thanks to its twisting bleeps. Then the walking bassline drifts in and, by the time the pads flex their muscles, we’re hooked. This is for the discerning ear to appreciate and won’t be for every dancefloor, but Jonson and Mullaert have created something beautiful.

8/10

Arnheim Floras Of Autumn 'Street EP' (Barbara)

The title track of Arnheim’s new release for nascent vinyl-only label Barbara has a low-slung feel: with organic drums, subtle piano and vocal chants, it’s a very chilled laid-back affair. ‘Our Lady Of Perpetual Dance’ sounds like Theo Parrish on a Sunday morning with a sweet vocal refrain, charming piano hook and sporadic percussion, while ‘Which Of The Waltzes’ could be an old Talkin’ Loud cut with its take on modern jazz. ‘Groups Of Fourths’ then finishes off the EP in a similarly super-calm vein that’s so relaxed it makes Ooft! sound like Jeff Mills on Red Bull in comparison.

7/10

Ten Words 'Eighteen EP' (UMM)

The UMM (or Underground Music Movement) label spearheaded a movement back in the early 90s and was responsible for putting out some big records. Now, it’s relaunching with this EP from Milan-based artist Ten Words. ‘Eighteen’ has an intensity that seduces you with its pounding drums, ethereal atmospherics, spooky vocal lines and synth bleeps; you can imagine it being played in an outdoor club and moving into top gear. Elsewhere, ‘Satellite’ sounds like Jean-Michel Jarre releasing on Anjuna with its analogue synths, and the title track is given the remix treatment by 10WS and End To End.

6/10

iO (Mulen) 'Letters and Numbers EP' (Apollonia Music)

Ukraine’s iO Mulen dropped ‘To The Unknown’ at the start of the year on Apollonia, and now returns with this six-track EP. ‘RDM 37’ starts proceedings with a dependable full-on club assault before ‘XDT 54’ continues in the same vein with a sturdy low-end, although it does add a light-hearted top-end with subtle dancing keys and vocals. ‘MPC 13’ goes deep with its swirling keys and ‘ZGB 41’ has a 90s bass line and crisp beats, while the elastic drums of ‘YPT 58’ help turn it into a late-night roller. ‘ZXY 22’, meanwhile, has squelchy bass and even some snippets of electric guitar. If you’re ever caught somewhere needing to do an hour-long DJ set with only this EP in your bag, you’ll be just fine.

7/10

Tough Love and S Man feat Boy George 'Hold On' (Get Twisted)

House royalty Roger Sanchez, 80s pop legend Boy George and relative newbies Tough Love come together for this unlikely collaboration. We’re not quite sure how this all actually came together, but we are picturing the three of them all meeting in an airport departure lounge. Regardless, Sanchez is due another club smash and this reminds us how good Boy George’s unmistakeable voice is (and he, too, is a figure who’s surely overdue a revival). With the right radio backing, this has all the right ingredients to be a chart-bothering release thanks to the way George’s sincere vocal is underpinned by a solid bass tone.

7/10

DJ SKT 'Where You Went EP' (Love & Other)

DJ SKT has released a number of high-profile remixes for people such as Clean Bandit, Format B and Oliver Heldens. The title track from his latest EP has a chirpy vocal and incorporates elements from garage, bass, jungle and even muted rave stabs to produce something unique. The other track on the release, ‘Hot Tainted Love’, is strictly for the main room with its heartfelt vocals, rumbling bass line and jaunty synths. It’s a pivot for Love & Other that should introduce the label to a new audience.

7/10