Reviews
June: 18 albums you need to hear this month
You've got a lot of listening to do
Marquis Hawkes 'Social Housing' (Houndstooth)
Ever since his arrival in 2012, Marquis Hawkes has made sure his house music is always pumping, prickly and served with a big dose of reverence for Chicago. Far from pastiche, though, the still rather mysterious man behind it all manages to lay down bumping beats and scintillating percussion that are off-kilter and ghetto-fried, as well as being hugely fun. His debut LP is fine proof of that: all 13 tracks are club-ready weapons that range from slamming and sleazy to swinging and acid-laced, variously shaded with influences of Derrick Carter, Dance Mania and DJ Sneak. Catnip for DJs and dancers alike, this is as visceral yet charming as house gets.
9/10
