Raw - Hutchinson's Project Vol 2 (Them On The Hill)

The '90s DJ collective turned record label from Sheffield Them On The Hill returns to the fray with the second installment of Raw's Hutchinson's Project series. The series pays tribute to Raw's given name (Steven Hutchinson) and sonically reflects the classic house and disco sounds that influence him.

Previously known as DJ Raw (he has stepped away from the decks and dropped the ‘DJ’ part), Raw is a longtime staple of Sheffield’s dance music scene, starting his career on local community radio playing a mix of UK and US house in the '80s. In 1997 Raw collaborated with Callum Wordsworth as Digital Boogie, releasing tunes for DIY Discs, Funknose, and Candy Records. Also, Raw worked with fellow Sheffield DJ / producer Groove Assassin as Vibes Inc., contributing seminal tunes for labels like Glasgow Underground, 4th Floor, Transport, and Black Vinyl Records.

Hutchinson's Project Vol 2 builds upon the percussion-friendly, broken beat, disco-infused house of its predecessor. "Latin Jazz" delivers a beat down of tribal rhythms before bringing to bat a smooth, drawn-out bass line and thin but melodic synths. Weaving in and out, a female vocal hook demands "all you've got" and expounds on the title of the track. A bright and breezy affair, "Stabbed" features rubbery, oscillating chords and equally uplifting percussion with subdued snare rolls, lovely hand percussion, and snappy claps. As if that wasn't enough, it's topped off with cool whispery vocals, urging the listener even further towards letting go with an echo of "come on." The release is rounded off by a rhythmically scattered and melodically revolving deep cut in "Related To The Blues". The voice of a late, great, and indistinguishable poet provides thought-provoking spoken word lecturing on the blues.

Chris Duckenfield (Swag) - "A true Sheffield inspiration … I'm so glad to hear these tunes."
Graeme Park - "'Latin Jazz' is absolutely bloody superb!"
Todd Edwards - "I love the vibe."
Inland Knights - "'Related To The Blues' is wicked!"
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - "Raw and ruff!"
Groove Assassin (Pacha / Defected) - "Hot grooves yet again from Sheffield's finest!"
DJ Craig C (Pound Boys) - "Nice throwback vibe on this one! 'Stabbed' reminds me of late nights in the early '90s."
Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) - "I'm digging this for sure. 'Stabbed' is the one for me."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "I like the retro sound to this … a real breezy uplifting house feel."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / BBE) - "Chunky classic sounds here. I will give 'em a spin!"
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - "I'm digging the Nervous Records / MAW feel of 'Latin Jazz'."
Phat Phil Cooper (Nu Northern Soul) - "Ace … lovely vibes."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "Truly eclectic and enchanting."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "Wonderful, wonderful house music … 'Latin Jazz' will have people coming to your side needing to know what it is."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Raw - Hutchinson's Project Vol. 1 (Them on the Hill)

The Them On The Hill collective was founded in Sheffield circa 1993 by a group of talented young DJs and party people to put on top notch club nights and warehouse jams in the UK’s ‘rave’ heyday. These parties were renowned and respected as events where the deepest and freshest tunes from Chicago, New York, and Detroit (and music influenced by those cities) could be heard. In 2010, inspired by those past hedonistic days and the sounds that accompanied them, Them On The Hill transformed into a music label focusing on releases and projects from the collective’s members.

Better known as DJ Raw (he has stepped away from the decks and dropped the ‘DJ’ part), Raw is a longtime staple of Sheffield’s dance music scene, starting his career on local community radio playing a mix of UK and US house in the 80s. In 1997 Raw collaborated with Callum Wordsworth as Digital Boogie, releasing tunes for DIY Discs, Funknose, and Candy Records. Also, Raw worked with fellow Sheffield DJ/producer Groove Assassin as Vibes Inc., contributing seminal tunes for labels like Glasgow Underground, 4th Floor, Transport, and Black Vinyl Records. On Hutchinson’s Project Vol. 1, Raw gives tribute to his given name (Steven Hutchinson) along with the classic house and disco sounds that provide much influence. The EP’s three tracks begin with “Think Positive” which busts out in an appropriately uplifting fashion, wrapping the dance floor in a funky flurry of percussion, phased guitar, and harmony-rich vocals. “Go Bak” follows with a summery, latin house feel complete with rolling piano riffs and Raw’s trademark effects and filtered sections. “The Story Unfolds” closes the release, launching with a serious broken beat-style rhythm as spacey strings, organ passages, and tribal vocals combine to provide a vision of some groovy faraway oasis.

Quentin Harris - “Good use of samples on ‘Think Positive.’ I’m feeling it.”
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “I love the way the beats get built. so nice to hear many of these samples again.”
Nick Warren - “Brilliant stuff. I love it.”
Tensnake - “A classic disco vibe at its best.”
Colin Dale (Abstrakt Dance) - “In a word - ‘class.’”
Danny Ashenden (C90s / Earl Grey) - “Great! Super disco vibes.”
Sleazy McQueen - “Totally interesting! I’ll play them all.”
Hippie Torrales - “Great package … the energy and groove are on target.”
Christos Kedras (Kapa Music) - “Nice EP. ‘Go Bak’ is my pick with its afro / broken beat action. It’s in the bag.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Nicely deep and funky vibes here. ‘The Story Unfolds’ has an Atjazz vibe going on, which is cool.”
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) - “Amazing stuff from a man who knows his club music very well.”
Kosta (Vibe FM / Dance FM) - “One of the best EPs so far this year in my book. I love the syncopated rhythms!”
Bobi (Global Movement Radio Show) - “This entire EP is really great. I’m feeling and loving this whole release. Deep and funky.”
Richard Hardcastle (Solid State / All Out War) - “Raw shows his talent for isolating funky grooves and loops yet again. I love these.”
Velanche (Velanche’s Playtime Radio Show) - “This EP is a beast … it’s got ‘party’ written all over it.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Raw - Pull Up A Groove EP (Them On The Hill)

The Them On The Hill collective was founded in Sheffield circa 1993 by a group of talented young DJs and party people to put on top notch club nights and warehouse jams in the UK’s ‘rave’ heyday. These parties were renowned and respected as events where the deepest and freshest tunes from Chicago, New York, and Detroit (and music influenced by those cities) could be heard. In 2010, inspired by those past hedonistic days and the sounds that accompanied them, Them On The Hill transformed into a music label focusing on releases and projects from the collective’s members.

Better known as DJ Raw (he has stepped away from the decks and dropped the ‘DJ’ part), Raw is a longtime staple of Sheffield’s dance music scene, starting his career on local community radio playing a mix of UK and US house in the 80s. In 1997 Raw collaborated with Callum Wordsworth as Digital Boogie, releasing tunes for DIY Discs, Funknose, and Candy Records. Also, Raw worked with fellow Sheffield DJ/producer Groove Assassin as Vibes Inc., contributing seminal tunes for labels like Glasgow Underground, 4th Floor, Transport, and Black Vinyl Records. For his Pull Up A Groove EP, Raw unleashes a trio of jazzy, uptempo house music tracks that will help bring the summer months much closer. The title cut features a chunky disco rhythm, a bit of snazzy percussion, and some heavy filter action over some foxy sample loops. “Go Higher” raises the tempo along with the dance floor stakes, featuring more slinky disco beats anchoring jazzy guitar riffs, spacey pads, and a floor-filling vocal line. “Loophole Funk” switches things up with a classic breakbeat rhythm, a funk-tastic bass line, and some effective vocal and flute bits that aren’t immune to the filter treatment. Pure disco bliss … dig in with Them On The Hill.

Miguel Migs - “‘Pull Up A Groove’ … sounds funky!”
DJ Sneak - “Really dope sh*t!”
Glenn Underground - “‘Pull Up A Groove’ is solid.”
Johnny Fiasco - “Digging the sample vibes!”
Graeme Park - “Mighty fine.”
Mousse T. - “Dope!”
Robert Owens - “A great group of tracks.”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “The title track is the one for me here … it’s got such a good feeling to it. Should bring the smiles to the dance floor.”
Moodymanc - “Wicked vibes … love these!”
Hippie Torrales - “Pure disco fire.”
Sebastian Davidson - “If you had told me this was Masters At Work I would have believed it … wow.”
Manuel Sahagun - “Sexy beats.”
Ant Plate (Rhythm Plate, YSE) - “Pure, chunky, straight-up club vibes … yes!”
Groove Assassin - “Amazing stuff from Sheffield’s finest … heavy support!”
Chris Udoh (Tigerhook) - “This is rocking!”
Norbert Borchers (House Sound of Hamburg) - “Hot hot hot! This EP is pure power!”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Cyan C / Raw - Acid Blossom EP (Them On The Hill)

The Them On The Hill collective was founded in Sheffield circa 1993 by a group of talented young DJs and party people to put on top notch club nights and warehouse jams in the UK’s ‘rave’ heyday. These parties were renowned and respected as events where the deepest and freshest tunes from Chicago, New York, and Detroit (and music influenced by those cities) could be heard. In 2010, inspired by those past hedonistic days and the sounds that accompanied them, Them On The Hill transformed into a music label focusing on releases and projects from the collective’s members.

The label’s latest release, the Acid Blossom EP, highlights two production outfits giving sonic nods to classic house music and acid house within three top notch tracks. Up first is Cyan C, which is a duo comprised of Simon Tappenden and Cliff Choudhury. Simon is previously known as a member of Pop Out and Play, having released tunes for the likes of Sumsonic, Alola, and Special Needs. Cliff was the winner of Muzik’s Bedroom Bedlam DJ competition in 1998 and went on to become the legendary Danny Rampling’s resident warm-up DJ. Together they deliver their debut cut, “Acid Blossom,” which explores the deeper realm of acid house through its enticingly chunky rhythm and funked-out 303 melodies while exhibiting a surprisingly dreamy touch. The track was also mastered by renowned New Zealand tech-house producer Pure Science who the Cyan C blokes have always held in high regard.

Next comes Raw, better known as DJ Raw (he has stepped away from the decks and dropped the ‘DJ’ part) and a longtime staple of Sheffield’s dance music scene, starting his career on local community radio playing a mix of UK and US house in the 80s. In 1997 Raw collaborated with Callum Wordsworth as Digital Boogie, releasing tunes for DIY Discs, Funknose, and Candy Records. Also, Raw worked with fellow Sheffield DJ/producer Groove Assassin as Vibes Inc., contributing seminal tunes for labels like Glasgow Underground, 4th Floor, Transport, and Black Vinyl Records. Here Raw presents a pair of tracks, opening with the uptempo but still deep-flavored “The House Always Wins.” There’s more funky acid riffage to be found here, complimented by snappy drum machine beats, deep, rolling bass, and hypnotic pads. It’s a pure late night affair. Raw’s second contribution, “Quite Gentle (Love Mix),” shows its classic-sounding feel through punchy synth chord stabs, a tough disco groove, and a lush vocal sample from “Sueño Latino” to help transport the dance floor back to another time and place.

Justin Robertson (The Deadstock 33s) - “Love this EP, all cracking and right up my street.”
Tom Findlay (Groove Armada / Lovebox) - “‘Acid Blossom’ is great. I’m shuffling in my chair as I write this.”
Giom - “Nice production!”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Good acid house.”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “All three tracks are refreshing, but it’s the chug of ‘Acid Blossom’ that’s won my favor. Superb release!”
DJ Schwa (Shades Of Gray) - “Great summery disco tunes. ‘Acid Blossom’ is nice.”
Murray Richardson (Rebel Waltz) - “Hypnotic house vibes … I like this. ‘Acid Blossom’ is cool.”
Baby G (Dance Disorder) - “Great release, all tracks sounding fantastic.”
Tim “Love” Lee (Tummy Touch) - “Lovely!”
Hippie Torrales - “Extreme groove going on here. ”
Stevie Kotey (Bear Funk) - “Bouncy, bouncy … I love it.”
Dave Mayer (Strictly Rhythm) - “‘Quite Gentle’ is nice.”
Chrissy Murderbot - “Loving this!”
Jan Mikulin (Data Transmission) - “This feels like an unapologetically rose-tinted introspection / reflection on the heyday of clubland and I love it.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “‘Quite Gentle (Love Mix)’ is the one. I’m feeling those deep rhythms and gorgeous melodies.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Really feeling ‘Acid Blossom’ and ‘Quite Gentle (Love MIx)’ here. In particular loving the little references to ‘Sueno Latino’/’E2-E4’ on the latter … cracking!”

Additional support from Erol Alkan, Severino (Horse Meat Disco), Space Ranger, Benji Candelario, Makossa & Megablast, Johnwaynes, DJ Harri (Sub Club), Natural Rhythm, Mademoiselle Caro, Vincent Kwok, Dave Mothersole, Jota Wagner, and Craig Stewart.

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.