March: 14 house releases you need to hear this month

Various 'Africa Gets Physical' (Get Physical)

The South African house scene has been growing in stature recently, thanks to the unique spin it puts on the house sound we love. Is it the climate that gives their productions a distinctive airy feel? Mixed by Ryan Murgatroyd, this comp for Get Physical contains some freshly commissioned tracks as well as older gems. Murgatroyd’s ‘Kanna’ has joyous piano, sweeping pads and grounded bass, while the sturdy Loco Dice remix of Black Coffee (one of the leading lights of South African house) is also included. The second half of the mix, meanwhile, features impressive contributions from new names such as Floyd Lavine, Bruce Loko and Gumzscene, proving that the scene’s future is in safe hands.

9/10

Till Von Sein 'Forever' (Suol)

With an impressive back catalogue on labels such as Pets Recordings and Dirt Crew, Berlin producer Till Von Sein now returns to Chopstick and JohnJon’s Suol. ‘Forever’ has clanking percussion, subtle pads and bright, optimistic stabs. The classy ‘Puntarenas’ boasts rising strings and poignant piano and ‘Tilly’s Tool’ has a broken groove and grooving guitar, while ‘406 Lucy Ave’ couples elements of classic house with tech stylings.

9/10

Nathan Barato 'Freak Beater' (Hot Creations)

We’re already well aware of what Nathan Barato is capable of, but this could be his biggest release to date. ‘Stomp Change’ is a relentless peak-time dancefloor assault that comes complete with some 90s MC-style shouting (from “Hey DJ” and “Give me a big beat” to “Pump up the bass”). You could be forgiven for thinking it wouldn’t work at all, but it really does: seeing as there’s no one doing vocals quite like this anymore, it evokes memories of a fonder time. There’s no nostalgia to be found in the fierce, Eats Everything-sized backing track, though, which is brought bang up-to-date with some lively drums, a driving bass, vocal chops, expanding fanfare and staccato rhythms. Elsewhere on the release, ‘Freaks Of The Industry’ has metallic beats and an elastic bassline.

8/10

Outstrip 'My Pain' EP (Fingers Crossed Records)

Ukraine-based outfit Outstrip have already released on labels including Rejected, Immotion and Stil Vor Talent. The title track from their new EP, which makes use of frenetic drums, orchestra hits and a hypnotic sonar bleep, will be perfect for that moment when you need to start to put the pressure on the dancefloor. The track is then given to fellow Ukranian Hector Cooper, who calms things down by taking it on a trip to the Windy City with his classy Chicago house mix, before Katal’s staunch rework turns it into something more suitable for a debauched afterparty. ‘Lopata’, meanwhile, has deranged screams and a screwball top- line with a loop that will infiltrate your brain.

7/10

Catz ‘N Dogz 'Interpretations' (Aus)

The Aus label is on fire right now, and continues its run with these interpretations by Cats ‘N Dogz. They start things off with their treatment for Geeeman’s ‘Wanna Go Bang’, which gets a punchy, broken beat refix, before taking men-of-the-moment Bicep’s ‘The Game’ and injecting it with some subtle electro love for a beefed-up rework. They sign off with their take on George FitzGerald’s ‘Hindsight’, which is the biggest dancefloor-shaker here thanks to its stuttered vocals, spooky FX and warped drums. Call us greedy, but now we want a whole album of their interpretations.

8/10

Stelios Vassiloudis '66.6' (Bedrock)

Stelios returns to Bedrock after his ‘33.3’ wowed us back in April last year. ‘Blood Orange’ will have you feeling uneasy with its deepness, making you wait for things to kick up a gear. With its poised groove and metallic squelches, it’s an ideal choice for the first track in your set if you want to get everyone’s attention before going on your own tip. ‘Slippy’, though, is more what we would expect, its industrial clunks and clanging tone working together to hook you in, while ‘La Quarantine’ is a dramatic late-night cut showcasing the extreme depths of the Greek producer’s skills.

7/10

The Outfit feat Mikey V 'Revolution' (Apollo Music Group)

The Apollo Music Group is a new label brought to us by DJ Heather, Chicago’s Dan X and Bristol’s Lil’ Mark. Between them, they’ve recorded for labels such as Classic, Hot Trax, MFF, Om and Fabric, so we know what’s in store with their new imprint. They’re not giving much away right now, but The Outfit is a secret pseudonym for a Chicago producer who has recorded for Classic and Robsoul under his main alias (we have our theories as to his identity, but for now, we’re saying nothing). ‘Revolution’ features vocals from Mikey V and sounds like Green Velvet doing house. There’s a blistering acid mix, too, in addition to another mix by Mikey himself – and the a ccapella is also there for you to tease a crowd with.

8/10

Leo Grunbaum feat Aerial East 'Bloom' (All Day I Dream)

Here, we find Berlin-based Argentine Leo Grunbaumon releasing on Lee Burridge’s
All Day I Dream imprint. ‘Bloom’ also features the soft, sultry voice of Aerial East, with her feathery vocals underpinned by a wondrous deep-house groove. It’s a combination that makes for one classy piece of house with electronic stabs, soft strings and lush pads along with that stunning vocal (and there’ s also a beatless version by Safa that will be all over Balearic compilations). ‘Amaraone’ is thinking man’s house with its swelling strings and soft percussion, while the stunning ‘Cruxes Credo’ sounds like Dixon reading the Sunday papers.

8/10

Black Legend feat Phylea Carley 'Mr DJ (Something I Can Dance To)' (Defected)

Black Legend’s cover of Barry White’s ‘You See The Trouble With Me’ reached the top of the UK charts back in 2000. New single ‘Mr DJ (Something I Can Dance To’) taps into underground house with its clanging percussion, walking bassline and solid vocal from Phylea Carley, whose rant touches upon the list of demands some people use to annoy those working behind the decks. Even without the catchy, clever vocal this would still be a dependable house cut; join us in welcoming back Black Legend with a very warm hug.

7/10

Hannah Holland and Josh Caffe 'Fade To Me' (Crosstown Rebels)

Hannah Holland has been responsible for some great cuts for the likes of Classic and Nervous, in addition to her output on her own label Batty Bass. ‘Fade To Me’, her collaboration with Josh Caffe, is sure to gain plenty of attention thanks to its whispered vocal, modulating synth and tough drums; it feels right at home on Damian Lazarus’ label Crosstown Rebels and, if placed well in a set, it has the potential to be lethal. Tuff City Kids have been trusted with remix duties, and turn out to be an inspired choice: Gerd Janson and Phillip Lauer produce a kipper main-room mix that’s built upon trance fanfare and sine waves. Both the strong original and the massive remix should be very popular indeed.

8/10

Terry Farley 'Die 4 U' (Bonanza Records)

Terry Farley is British house royalty: he’s been responsible for some amazing music and is also a driving force in the cult Junior Boy’s Own label. ‘Die 4 U’ has all the elements needed for suitable club fodder, from the skipping beat and bendy bass to acid murmurings and a diva vocal. Horse Meat Disco’s Severino and Nico De Ceglia from Hyena Stomp take it to a shady afterparty for some late-night debauchery by concentrating on the track’s darker tones, before Alkalino serves up a funky acid mix and Bonanza’s own Handzoff adds enormous snare rolls for a peak-time rework.

7/10

Ben Pearce 'Ascension' EP (Different)

We’re pleased to welcome Ben Pearce with open arms after he took some time out due to performance anxiety issues. And we’re delighted to report he’s back on top form, too, with the first in a series of four EPs for Different. ‘Intro’ is a lush beatless introduction and ‘Transit’ is forward-thinking house that builds with soft melodies, pads and nimble drums, while the growing arpeggio and driving bassline of ‘The Middle’ make it the most club-ready cut here. ‘Crescent’ finishes off the EP with its building groove and cinematic overtones. It’s a strong release, and one that reminds us of what an accomplished producer Pearce is.

8/10

Hifi Sean feat Crystal Waters 'Testify' (Plastique)

Brighton-based Scottish artist Sean Dickson teams up with Crystal Waters on the latest single to be taken from his excellent album ‘Ft’. With tracks such as ‘Gypsy Woman’ and ‘100% Pure Love’ under her belt, Waters lends her huge vocal talents to Sean’s slice of northern soul. Terry Farley provides the standout remix, with a rework that uses vocal loops and snapping beats before breaking into piano house at its very best, while Superchumbo delivers a rolling, bass-driven main-room mix and Shalvoy provides us with a Roland drum workout.

8/10

IDAMOS 'Pitch Invasion' EP (Moda black)

We were first introduced to IDAMOS when he released the sturdy ‘Heads Down’ on a Moda Black compilation. His contribution was one of that album’s highlights, and pointed to a promising future for the producer (who’s acronym stands for I Do All My Own Stunts). But any stunt, whether it’s jumping from tall buildings or rolling a car, is usurped by his house productions. The title track of his new EP features OVR KILL and is a peak-time cut with relentless beats that includes acid squelches and pinging bleeps. ‘The Flex’, with its eerie synths and bumping bass, sounds like Roman Flügel on whisky, but the standout is the dub version of ‘Comfort In Madness’, with its haunted house sound of metal clangs and staccato synths.

8/10