Michael Ruris - Loose (Handmade Recordings)

San Francisco house music imprint Handmade Recordings gets set to drop their ninth release, “Loose” from label veteran Michael Ruris, and it’s aimed towards fans of Chicago’s old school acid house sound. This is modern acid house though; minimalist, electronic funk that slyly nods to the phuturistic sounds of Chi-town’s yesteryears of dance floor glory.

“Loose” opens with a beatless intro, comprised of the original’s keyboard signature and a heavy, ambient presence. Then the kick-drum breaks through and is joined by a hi-hat and snare combo that slices through the darkness. An organ bass line joins the fray and pushes all these elements into a rolling, bouncy ensemble, perfect for the peak time dance floor.

The second MIchael Ruris mix, “Loose (Acid),” is everything that the title proclaims it to be. The acid in this little jam is subtle and comes on slowly, before taking hold and making the dance floor holler, “Ow, ow, owsley!” The 303 squelch is sandwiched between tough, funky beats, metallic keyboard sounds, and a tough, understated bass line. This track is not trying to burn you, but make you prance … its one for the surreal end of the AM or one just before the big build to midnight.

Closing things out is Alland Byallo (Bad Animal, Poker Flat) who takes “Loose” into deeper, funkier, and more abstract waters. The bass line jumps out more in the mix, drifting, 313-esque strings float in and out, the beats roll, climb and swing, and a dislocated voice spooks the tiny shards of synth that wheel around in the stereo field. It’s a groover for dancey heads who like things dancey yet heady.

Dubfire - “The Alland Byallo remix … 5 out of 5.”
Ewan Pearson - “The acid mix is the one for me.”
Jay West - “I dig it!”
Deepchild - “A Byallo remix is a remix well solicited. Homestar brings the heat with everything he touches.”
Neil Quigley - “Liking the acid version very much … I’ll definitely play this.”
Brett Johnson - “A solid package.”
Monty Luke - “Gonna check this out ASAP!”
DJ Schwa (Shades of Gray) - “The acid version and Alland Byallo’s mixes are great.”
Tyler Stadius - “I like the quirky, eerie feel in the original.”
Will SumSuch (Deepwit / Etoka) - “The acid mix is nice and twisted … good stuff!”
Jesus Pablo - “The Alland Byallo remix is on the money.”
Mark Bamford (Spiritchaser / Guess Records) - “The acid mix had me screwing my face up and nodding my head … I like it!”
JP Soul (Roam Recordings) - “Nice EP! Alland’s remix does it for me with the spaced old old-school warehouse party vibe.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “The acid version just pips it for me … the vibe is more stripped back and the groove is allowed to roll. Top class. Alland drops a cracking and really intriguing reworking … I love the way the groove builds and develops as the track grows. Ace!”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Marc Smith - Untitled 23 (Untitled & After) →

Following his acclaimed 2010 release Untitled 16 on Untitled & After, Marc Smith returns to “Hindsight,” his intriguing deep house track with vocalist Kevin Knapp. Now on Untitled 23, “Hindsight” is treated to four remixes that delve deeper into the moody, soulful sound of Smith’s original. In keeping with the U&A plot, the “Hindsight” remixes are cerebral and sensual, heavy dancefloor tracks to make your head spin.

The first remix is from San Francisco-by-way-of-Berlin producer Alland Byallo, delivering on big room bombast and rhythmic grit. Alland has been gaining global attention producing gems for definitive record labels like Poker Flat, Liebe*Detail, Dirt Crew, and Missive solidifying his reputation as a rising techno talent. Reigning in the cushy, atmospheric pads of the original mix, Byallo renders things a bit raw, unfurling the track on the slightly darker side of the dancefloor.

San Francisco’s Jason Kendig is a member of the Honey Soundsystem collective and has released tracks on their home label HNYTRX, Andy Butler’s (Hercules & Love Affair) MR. INTL label, and has produced a remix of Finesse on Portland’s Ecstasy Records. Slow, silky and atmospheric, Kendig’s remix takes a beach-side approach by slowing “Hindsight” down and warming it up in a sunset haze.

Kenneth Scott has managed to create a powerful string of releases with collaborators like Emilio Orlandi as Moniker, with Jason Short as Eutactic, and the aforementioned Alland Byallo alongside his own solo material. Deep, deep and pumping, Kenneth Scott’s remix spins the vocal into an atmospheric texture, awash with mysterious, drifting synths.

Marc Smith is one half of of the group Safeword alongside partner Clint Stewart, They’ve had a very busy year with releases on Dessous, Poker Flat and Paso Music just to name a few. With a slight departure from Safeword’s low slung techno esthetic Marc’s solo music embodies a deeper house vibe. Marc Smith’s own rework pulls disco elements into the mix to create a spacious, surreal version of “Hindsight” like a vivid dream of the original.

Laurent Garnier - “Superb slow motion house numbers. Full club and radio support from me.”
6th Borough Project - “Feeling the Marc Smith remix most. Nice production, real moody vibe to the track.”
Tony D’Onghia (Radio Koper-Capodistria) - “Very intriguing EP. The synth chord progressions are haunting.”
DJ Humus (Sweat Lodge Radio) - “Alland Byallo’s dark driving version really hits the spot!”
Grant Paterson (Edinburgh Evening News) - “Amazing warmth and character … deep-deep house that’s off the scale! Brilliant remix work, too.”
Leigh Morgan (UrbanTorque) - “Kenneth Scott and Marc Smith mixes here are rather good.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “The Kenneth Scott mix takes it to a classic era for me. Great sound … very cool indeed!”

Also supported by Danny Howells, Richie Hawtin, Charles Webster, Lawnchair Generals, Rob Mello, Ajello, Chris Fortier, Omid 16B, Makossa & Megablast, Horse Meat Disco, and Da Funk.

Available now from Beatport and iTunes