Sleight of Hands - Lipstick Shades (Green Gorilla Lounge)

The Green Gorilla Lounge crew have been big movers and shakers on the San Francisco underground scene since the mid-'90s and Sleight Of Hands is the label's flagship combo. This collaboration between collaboration between DJ M3 and Phil Collis is responsible for singles on Smoke N' Mirrors, remixes for Om Records, and consistently working crowds on the club and festival circuit. Now Sleight Of Hands come at dancefloors with a potent collection of tracks from their Lipstick series. Behold: Lipstick Shades!

This beauty batch of beats is 10 cuts strong and explores a range of influences, from jungles of Tulum to old school electro to synthwave for late night drives, The vintage-meets-the-new vibe of "Yucatech" is pure nightclub bliss, as are the sleazy midtempo handclap strut of "Arpwave" and the ecstatic Chicago House homage "Are You With Me." Sleight Of Hands are also ready to deliver more pensive sounds, such as the dreamy techno of "Lone Driver" and the dubbed-out Balearic House Remix of "Thankful." Championed around the scene, heard round the block, now's the time to grab some shade.

Tyler Stadius (Deepen) – “So good! Every track stands out. Can’t wait to get playing these.”
Magnus Asberg (On The House Records) – “Yes yes! Full support on this.”
Spaceotter (SCOHM) – “Hey Hey has extraordinary levels of vibe.”
Brian Busto (Serious Soul) – “For me, it’s one of the best releases of the year. Excellent work!”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Show) – “Awesome selection here – I can see featuring all of these in my sets.”
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) – “Some brilliant tracks here. Already played on my show!”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Beatport, Apple Music, And Spotify.

Black Sjuan - How 2 Dance In The Dark (Assylum Effort Records)

Black Sjuan is probably the most notorious ghost producer in Chicago. Whether or not dance floors realize it, they’ve already heard his sound. Black Sjuan’s Assylum Effort has evolved from a boutique production house to a full-on Chicago house label, pushing a classic sound while injecting it with something unique and new.

Black Sjuan’s latest EP, How 2 Dance In The Dark, is meant as a musical diary of a DJ’s struggle to remain level during the ‘dance music depression’ of the pandemic. Says Black Sjuan, “Though I usually do a more jazzy and funky type sound, my contact with the outside world during the past year has been virtual. So I gave it tech-flavored sound.”

The EP opens with “4 the Free,” rousing the floor with a churning Chicago house rhythm along with pad stabs and percussive vocal drops. “Micro Dose” executes an old-school acid feel, perfectly suited for after-hours peak time in secret warehouse locations. Then “Keep It Movin’” is an ode to the Eric Kupper / Wayne Gardner style ethereal house tracks of the ‘90s. Rising arpeggiations and bright chords help spread dreamy good vibes through the speakers. The final track, “Space and Time,” is Black Sjuan’s ‘Metaphonic’ remix of an original by Nephertiti Amen. Lovely vocals and tribal four-on-the-floor deepness make this evocative track a cut above the rest.

Mr. V (Sole Channel Music) – “Interesting sounds I can dig.”
Tony H (Late Night Munchies) – “Space and Time is dope!”
Lee Jones (Country Gents) – “4 The Free really rocks. Fab track!”
DJ P-REZ (Not So Fast Records) – “This is a solid release.”
Geoffrey C (Edgemix Productions) – “All of these tracks are insane!”
Andrew Emil (Glenview Records) – “Solid! Keep it Movin & Space and Time are the ones for me.”
Dj Deelay (Underground Sessions) – “This EP is ace! Full of unique vibes which alert the ears.”
Joey Silvero (Soul Elements Radio Show) – “Rolling, bouncing house vibes. I like this one.”
DJ Hal (EQ Magazine) – “Nice & moody late night grooves.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, Bandcamp, And Spotify.

Ed Nine - Timeless (Groove Access Records)

After gaining much attention for his recent split single with Bai-ee on audioJazz Music, Chicago DJ / producer Ed Nine unveils four tracks of dance floor dynamite on his own Groove Access Records imprint. With the label previously limited to digital releases, the Timeless EP represents Groove Access's first vinyl-only issue and it's one to remember. Ed shows off his Chicago born-and-bred bonafides through an EP that touches on tough deep house, retro-tinged acid house, and bold late night rhythms. "Timeless" and "Almost There" capture the warehouse, after hours vibe with a seasoned precision, while "8x" and "Over & Over" bust the doors down using 303 swells and sweaty drum machine riffs. This is prime time DJ music.

DJ Heather - "Solid EP!"
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - "It's very refreshing and so good to hear a stripped, Chicago-style set of tracks. Music to my ears."
Larry Tee - "Chicago!"
Hippie Torrales - "Nice old school flavor."
Jason Hodges - "'Over & Over' is choice."
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - "Wow … amazing EP."
DJ Craig C (Pound Boys) - "I love this retro-feeling package … it reminds me of the good old days when it all began."
Dean Facer (United Colors Of House) - "Absolute quality throughout! Solid jacking vibe that can only come out of Chicago … a stunning four tracker."
Gene Farris - "Good stuff!"
DJ Harri (Sub Club) - "I'm digging all of these."
Jaymz Nylon - "A nee EP with great sound quality."
Louie Gomez (Bassment Tapes) - "I have always liked the productions on Groove Access and this is another really good EP from Ed Nine."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "'Timeless' is exactly that … a slice of real house music which could have been released at any time in the last 25+ years."
Kid Enigma (I'm A House Gangster) - "This is an amazing EP … Ed smashes again!"
Rory Hoy (Howlin' Records) - "Lovely acid house vibes with this one."
Jamie Topham (CDPool) - "A cool quartet of classic house grooves echoing the halcyon heyday of acid and techno."

Available now on 12" vinyl from Juno Records, Groove Dis, Phonica, and Deejay.de.

Ed Nine / Bai-ee - Heavy House 12" (audioJazz Music)

The audioJazz Music imprint presents the Heavy House EP, a split 12" featuring warm and solid club tracks from Ed Nine and Bai-ee. Both artists are knee-deep in the sound of Chicago … Ed Nine was raised in the south side and started rocking Chicago parties almost a decade ago at the age of 19. Bai-ee, now based in Oakland, also hails from the Windy City, having contributed to local labels like Farris Wheel, Smooth Agent, and Liberate. On the Heavy House EP they each contribute two tracks, creating a balanced offering of heavy hitting drums, rhythmic pads, and gently placed vocals and acid flourishes. As a whole, the 12" feels like a sincere ode to the soulful yet energetic house music sound of '90s. Dive in, feet first.

Mark Farina - "Nice old school feel!"
Gene Farris - "Great tracks!"
DJ Sneak - "Very cool."
Toomy Disco (Kitsuné / Under The Shade) - "I'm loving these housey vibes and really digging this sound at the moment. Will play at my next gigs."
Tensnake - "Nice EP."
Lady Blacktronika - "I'm feeling '33'!"
Gene Hunt (Rush Hour / Dope Wax) - "Solid EP … good job!"
Mr.V (Sole Channel Music) - "Dope!"
Hollis P Monroe - "Rough, rugged, and raw … I like."
Dave Mayer (Strictly Rhythm / Hardsoul) - "Great EP! I'll bang out 'Nothing Technical' this weekend."
Michael Serafini (Gramaphone Records / Smart Bar) - "An excellent, well-rounded EP! Uplifting, deep, and even an acid track. Great job."
Giom - "Cool tracks."
Shane Johnson (Fish Go Deep) - "Solid tracks all round with the tight groove of 'Lookin' working best for me."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Loving these! Sure, a nod to the '90s but fresh as ever. I'll play soon."
Vanilla Ace - "'Nothing Technical' and 'Palease' for me."
DJ Craig C (Pound Boys) - "Some beautiful deep house here! '33' is the jacker of the pack."
Willie Graff (Freerange / Circus Company) - "Great tracks here from Bai-ee."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "A truly wicked EP, with the acid-infused '33' being my favorite cut."

Available now on 12" vinyl from Crosstalk.