Michael Whitehead

Danse Club 

Why release Jersey-inspired house when you can reissue the real thing? The “Meat Mixx” and “NYC Dub” of this Whitehead/Murk collaboration are compiled here, along with present-day remixes. The original NYC Dub is a transcendent example of American garage house - all vocal cutups, pristine piano, swung drums and organ steps.The Meat Mixx makes full-use of Whitehead’s powerhouse ( vocals. A1, the remix by Willie Graff and Tucillo provides an airier interpretation of the NYC Dub’s organ stabs and Whitehead’s soaring vocals, and adds a subtle acidic squelch. The Florian Kruse mix has a classic Strictly Rhythm vibe while Max Jacobson takes a deeper approach - looping a wordless sample of Whitehead’s vocal, but buoying the track with live-sounding bongos. Great release!

Purchase Under My Spell



Pharoahs
Island Time
ESP Institute

Their status as LA’s premier live dance/balaeric/kraut/? band cemented, the group of talented producers and music nerds (Pharoahs’ core consists of former Amoeba employee Sam Cooper, Dublab dude Ale Cooper and rising producer Suzanne Kraft) make the move to fellow diviner Lovefingers’ label for their most realized effort yet. “Ahumba” is named after surfer Cooper’s dream beach in Zanzibar - and the song reworks windswept digital beauty of the Innovative Communications label for the dancefloor. Sublime guitar arpeggiations color the tropical tracks. “If It Ever Feels Right” is a live staple that never comes out quite the same - a testament to the massive amount of improv that makes Pharaohs such an exciting group. The basis of the track is a descending Juno 60 arpeggio - delayed uptown sax, a far-off pad and varied percussion fill this out into perhaps the most floor-friendly track on the record. The insistent bassline eventually ends up scoring some light jacking and zonked sax-work worthy of Roland P. Young. Island Time successfully focuses on rhythm rather than the synth acrobats of the other tracks, bringing the tide back out for this great EP.

Storm Queen
Look Right Through12”
Environ

Morgan Geistʼs new project STORM QUEEN marks a return to his roots with an analog approach towards modern house music with a disco pedigree. STORM QUEEN is made for DJs, but doesnʼt sacrifice atmosphere and songwriting. STORM QUEEN owes a debt to classic house music from New York, Chicago and Detroit, as well as disco and boogie.

Listen to "Look Right Through" here:





John Daly
BIG PIANO 12"
Drum Poet

Ireland's JOHN DALY brings this 4 track EP of house perfection. The title track brings back the feeling of 90s KERRI CHANDLER; "REACH" continues the deepness with a warm sound; "LONG DISTANCE" adds more of a tech texture & "ATLANTIC DRIVE" finishes the 12" with a serene mood.

Listen to "Big Piano" here:




LUKID
Chord 3LP
Werk

Discreet Unit
Shake Your Body Down 12”
Prime Numbers

Born from a live studio jam this track is a real club groover inspired by early Chicago acid house and old skool Detroit techno. Infectious bassline guaranteed to get the crowd moving. B/w "TWILIGHT" an edited DJ session cut. Cover art done by DISCREET UNIT himself.











Penner & Muder
Let The Music Play 12”
Moodmusic

NILS PENNER & JOHN MUDER bring 3 single cuts from their album "SAME MONKEYS DIFFERENT ZOO". The 1st is a hot track with an uplifting late night feel. "TIME HAS COME" is a deep vocal driven track and "ACROSS MY HEART" ends the EP nicely with real nice chugger complete with filtered synthlines & vocals.

Listen to "Let The Music Play" here:






Pacific Horizons
Jack Parsons Lab
Pacific Wizards

Followup to their successful debut that garnered support from HARVEY, RAY MANG and more. Two Balearic tracks ("less Pacha, more Cafe Del Mar") that quietly uphold the West Coast soft rock tradition. B/w "FOREST ELECTRIC". Sleeve features a full color cover painting by Cali artist JAY NELSON.