Chris Forman - Presents 'Reaching Out To The World', Part 1 (Them On The Hill)

The Them On The Hill label is excited to welcome seasoned house music producer Chris Forman to their musical family. Based in New Jersey, Chris has a slew of classic releases on the likes of Bumpin City, Nite Grooves, Seasons, and – as Steal Vybe with Damon Bennett – King Street and Vega Records. Reaching Out To The World is Chris's Them On The Hill debut and is 'Part 1' in a promised continuing series. This double A-side single begins with "The Music (Soul4Real Dub)" which features gorgeous layers of instrumentation – including some particularly melodic piano lines – while a soulful voice pleads for us to "just let the track play." No coaxing necessary … this one's infectious enough to ride to the end. "SomeBody Else Tonight" follows with a beefier, old school flavor driven by a solid rhythm and bass track. The cut builds masterfully, and then a classic vocal sample makes an appearance giving this one a super-charged dose of dance floor fuel. Reaching Out To The World, Part 1 is here to thrill the die-hard heads and the deep house newcomers alike.

Andy Compton (The Rurals / Peng) - "Dope!"
Mr.V (Sole Channel Music NYC) - "Oh, man … yes!"
Glenn Underground - "Hot s%!t right here."
Shane Johnson (Fish Go Deep) - "Rock solid musical house with plenty of drive. It's great to hear new material from Chris Forman."
Opolopo (Tokyo Dawn / Local Talk) - "I'm feeling 'The Music (Soul4Real Dub)'."
Graeme Park - "This is really good!"
Tyree Cooper - "Nice stuff."
DJ Craig C (Pound Boys) - "'SomeBody Else Tonight' is the s%!t! Great track … old school with new production."
Nick Holder - "I'm digging it."
Jaymz Nylon - "Great vibe all around … captivating."
Robert Owens - "'SomeBody Else Tonight' … great track!"
Hippie Torrales - "Real nice deep groove."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "This is something different and fresh which I respect. I will be playing this."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "Cool stuff. 'The Music (Soul4Real Dub)' is wicked … love that bouncing bass groove."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "'The Music (Soul4Real Dub)' is an amazing soul-infused late night gem … sheer musical bliss."
Michael Terzian (Salvation From Sin Radio) - "This single proves that Chris Forman of Steal Vybe still has that midas touch."

Available now from Traxsource, Beatport, and iTunes.

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.

Cyan C - Trackside Trespass (Them On The Hill)

Cyan C showcase the diversity of the Them On The Hill collective’s talent, providing a journey not yet travelled by the label. The duo delves into the darker side with this peak-time nugget titled “Trackside Trespass.”

Cyan C is comprised of Simon Tappenden and Cliff Choudhury. Simon’s recent solo productions have included remixes for Android Cartel and Opolopo as well as original tracks on Atmospheric Existence Recordings and WAAP under the pseudonym Ourra. He previously released tunes as a member of Pop Out and Play for the likes of Sumsonic, Alola, and Special Needs. Currently working at Alola Records, Cliff’s career has seen him hold a residency as the legendary Danny Rampling’s warm up DJ, playing at Festivals like Glastonbury as well as clubs across the globe.

As the title “Trackside Trespass” suggests, this cut takes the listener to a place that’s out of bounds. Starting off with a solid bass line the track heads into the dark and as it slowly builds one gets a sense of exciting things to come. A distant rumble gives warning of a train coming but there’s nowhere to go. As clanking percussive noises coalesce from metal grinding against the grooves, in comes a sweep of whirling air displaced by the body of linked cars, with electric currents propelling everything forward. An ever-present stab and wavering synth pads are the beacons as the train thunders past. It’s a potent house music moment that’s totally suited for the late night warehouse, or for perilously dodging trains from the edges of a long tunnel. With its big sound for a big sound system, “Trackside Trespass” is now boarding for anybody willing to ride this twisted journey.

Brett Johnson - “Whoa! It’s a builder!”
Alexander Robotnick - “Nice.”
Tom Lown (Savoir Faire / Lost My Dog) - “Very cool. Tough, full, bouncy sounds. The nice deep chords at half way round it off well.”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “Lovely builder. I’ll be playing this.”
Tyler Stadius - “Good trippy track here. I like the way it gets from dark and serious into the groove.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - “This one rolls along nicely.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Wicked rolling deep-tech vibes … I love the gradual build of the track, with the synths adding a great touch in the last third. Looking forward to dropping this one all over the place! Awesome.”
Hippie Torrales - “Nice and deep … great mood.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Meaty and mean groove.”
Tom Conrad (Adaptation Music) - “A really well produced track with a fantastic deep vibe. Full support.”
The Orator (High On Beats / Mushpost Radio) - “Bouncy and catchy … the last half really opens up.”
Velanche (Velanche’s Playtime Radio Show) - “This track is deep, dark and wicked! A nice surprise.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

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.