Various Artists - Vol. 16 (R Side Recordings)

R Side Records bursts out of the US Pacific Northwest with a new four-song release highlighting both the familiar and the fresh. Specializing in deep house with a jackin' flavor, the label goes from strength to strength with its series of showcase EPs. The latest, R Side's Volume 16, is no exception.

Manchester's Deep Trouble (Baldeelox, BlackSoul Music) joins forces with Kamal Imani and Michael Gill to launch the EP with the impeccably groovy "Dream Girl." A crisp rhythm track, throbbing bass line, and an old-school style spoken word vocal blend this builder from speakers to the latest of late-night dancefloors. Next, Los Angeles DJ/producer Kewk and R Side maestro DJ Samuel Lawrence come together for "Giving In." This one tests the bass bins with a pounding tech-house-meets-acid feel mixed with another fiery spoken word performance. Flip the digital wax for two cuts from DJ Samuel Lawrence, leading with the punchy tribal-inflected "Katherind." Rousing percussion and vibrating sub-bass pilot the first half of the track before an infectious horn line takes a flight of its own. Then the second from DJ Samuel Lawrence is "Games and Shit," and deep and intimate after-hours cut full of processed vocal cuts, effected chord hits, and a soulful midsection, all playing out over a driving four-on-the-floor beat. Grab some!

DJ P-REZ – (Not So Fast Records) – “This is an absolutely phenomenal EP. Every track is dope.”
Eric Davenport (Mind Loop Music) – “I dig the laid back groove on Dream Girl.”
Wilbour Craddock (Groovewest) – “The beat drives you and then the sax stabs come in and you are hooked. Katherind is a jam!”
Gihon Monks - “Nice, chunky, deep jacking grooves.”
Culliere (Jack Junkies) – “Great work!”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Katherind is a little gem. Great drums. Infectious stuff.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, Apple Music, And Juno Download.

Jacob Poe & DJ Samuel Lawrence - Vol. 2 (R Side Recordings)

From the southern wilds of Oregon comes R Side Recordings, a house music label representing hard working blue collar beats and DJs. R Side's second release is a split single featuring Jacob Poe (Radda Records) and DJ Samuel Lawrence (Uniting Souls, WeJack) each dropping a floor-ready original and remixing each other's track. Jacob Poe starts things off with "Whisper Softly," a deep cut with tech-subtlety. Cut-up vocals, swirling pads, and tight rhythms combine into a smooth late night treat. DJ Samuel Lawrence then remixes "Whisper Softly," raising the tempo and adding a pinch of techno. Bubbling arpeggiations and percussive effects build out the flow. Flip the virtual wax for DJ Samuel Lawrence's "Late Nite Aoili," a dubby, drum-driven adventure for the dance floor complete with rousing sub-bass, spicy vocal drops, and a dramatic mid-section breakdown. Then it's Jacob Poe's turn on the remix, bending "Late Night Aoili" into a hypnotic afterhours groover. A huge grimy bass line fills the sonic palette, rounded out with soulful vocal hits, expressive stabs and pad swells, and a crisp rhythm track. Massive.

Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) – “Hard to choose between both remixes. great stuff! will play on my radio show.”
Matt Prehn (Oh So Coy) – “It’s all about Jacob Poes Bassline.”
Sean Smith (Smooth Agent Records) – “Feeling "Late Nite Aoili". Very nice vibe!”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing) – “Slick! R Side is doing it right.”
Sandro Bianchi (Ibiza Sonica) – “Excellent originals. Brilliant remixes.”
Snooba (Radio Panik) – “Great delicious moments & top deep production.”

Available Now From: Traxsource, Beatport, Apple Music, AND Spotify.

Joe Silva - Can't Hold Back ft. Pucona (Purespace Recordings)

There’s nothing like the elevator parties out of Spain. A week long rave before three days’ dreamtime with the receding planet earth as backdrop. World’s best loji dancers in effect. All vying for a coveted hab gig on Luna.

Luna. Where my Neils is. Less than two hours now until I’m with you. He still hasn’t liked my tik post. Must be busy. “Ping”. Oh cool, a new Purespace release. “Can’t Hold Back” with Pucona on vox. Another Joe Silva jam. This is definitely a funky house banger. Pushing 130 bpm — perfect for lo grav — and living up to its title. Lots of build up and horns it seems. Vocals are dope. Hands in the air inducing. Sweetness.

Complimenting nicely is a classic DJ Freestyle (Guesthouse, Integrity, Grab) remix. Feeling that old school vibe done just right. Crisp hats and an understated but masterful production style. Smokin’ beats. This should work nicely for both early and late night lounge vibes. Can’t wait to try these out.

Looks like Freestyle does the mastering on both. Dude’s a pro. Sounding tight. And another kick ass artwork design by Chris Mulligan.

Oooh, a new message from Neils… Wait, what!?! YESSS!! Two tickets acquired for Burning Moon!!! See you in space!

Andrew Duke (Andrew Duke In The Mix) – “I’m really enjoying the original version.”
Lotek (The Shake) – “Loving the bouncy groove of the DJ Freestyle Remix.”
Lee Jones (Country Gents) – “I’m feeling all of this guys. The underlying groove of the title track is most infectious.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “This is magic!”
Matt Prehn (Large Music) – “Damn that remix is hot.”
Tony Fuel (ReFuel Your Soul) – “Wicked driving bassline on the original.”
Ket Shah (Mucho Soul) – “Great energy and production skills on both tracks.”
Kerem Gokmen (Dubmission Radioshow) – “What started off a simple house number had me turning it up and perking right up only 2 minutes in!”

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

Bobby Breezy & Matt Mason - Spare Change (Viva Recordings)

Native Soul’s Bobby Breezy joins multi-instrumentalist Matt Mason for “Spare Change,” a new single on Viva Recordings that prescribes a dose of feel-good energy. These two have been catching attention with their uplifting deep house vibes, with a track set to appear on a forthcoming King Street compilation. But first, “Spare Change” excites the dance floor with tough, swinging beats, an old school bass bounce, and cool riff exchanges courtesy of trumpet, jazzy guitar, and keys. The live playing is masterful and catchy throughout. Things get funkier as the legendary Demarkus Lewis comes on board with a pair of top notch remixes. Lewis’s Deez Triple D mixes layer extra keys, pads, and melodies over his trademark house rhythms, leading to a peak moment in a deep house DJ’s set. These are necessary grooves, giving the floor some positive late night action.

Brian Lyons (Flammable) – “Lovely organic sounds, and just in time for the summer heat!”
Steve Perez / P-REZ (Not So Fast Records) – “Viva does it again! Quality deepness. All 3 tracks are dope.”
Simon Francis (The Visionaires) - “Gorgeous. Perfectly chilled summery house groove. I’ll be playing this.”
Scheibosan (Shanti Roots) – “Very nice trumpet! Nice groove.”
Louis Hughes (6th Sense Music) – “Nice, sultry deep house. Perfect for the summer vibes.”
Rees Urban (Rubb Sound System) – “The Demarkus mixes are lovely.”
Greg Dowling (Fish Go Deep) – “Love the original mix. Deep house at it’s best.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Love the musicianship. Delicious stuff.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House Web Zine) – “A truly classy rework by Demarkus Lewis.”
Steve ‘Griffo’ Griffiths (Freak Da Funk radio show) – “This is going to sound cliché, but what we have here is summer, distilled into music.”

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