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.