Stolen from the internet lol
Summer is slowly but surely making itself present, and there is plenty of dope new music out whose heat matches or exceeds the weather. I will definitely be playing these at our outdoor parties all summer. Follow JET Party Services on IG to stay in the loop, and don’t forget to check my recent mix if you haven’t already. On to the new records…
Braxton Holmes – The Princeton Park EP – Brax Records 12”
Braxton is a Chicago house music OG, and one of the cats who helps maintain a direct lineage to the man I consider responsible for house music’s overall style, Mr. Ron Hardy. While I love nothing more than dope new music, it’s very rare that newer music will get me as excited as jams like the ones on this record will. Opening things is the “Disco Edit” version of Braxton’s Cajual classic “People Everyday”. I haven’t compared this directly to the previous versions, but this one is a bit longer of an edit that is taken from the original master tapes. The vibes on here are very strong, just full of that soulful pounding disco feel that sits right at the root of house music. The demo version of “Stomps and Shouts” takes a 909 and a sample of the string break from a jam Ron Hardy used to beat and crafts it into a simple and raw banger.
The best is saved for last though, with the EP’s title track “Princeton Park”, a funky acid joint from 1989 that still maintains a rugged energy despite being over thirty years old. The music included on this record demonstrates just how timeless and effective early house music was, as any of these could have been (and maybe were!) played by Hardy himself but also will hammer dancefloors in the 2020s.
I also picked up some earlier releases on this label, and they also capture that flavor and energy like most modern tracks simply cannot. True house music lovers will find a lot here to enjoy.
The Paradox – Counter Active – Axis Records 2xLP
The Paradox is a collaboration between Jeff Mills and the keyboard player Jean-Philippe Dary, and their debut release is a leading candidate for album of the year. Mills has been exploring more jazz and funk influences over the past few years, and even more heavily this year, to great effect. This one though takes the style to its apex, crafting a jazz and techno fusion that feels very natural and compelling. Dary is a very serious player; though I didn’t know him by name I see he played on the great Tony Allen 10” of covers of Art Blakey on Blue Note a few years back, amongst other releases. Here his chops are on display, but remain secondary to the groove which is laid down in a crazily organic style by Mills on the 909. Deep synths and electric pianos create an atmosphere which can feel deep house as on “Super Solid”, or go more jazz fusion like on “The X Factor”. The cut “Residence” leans more classic Detroit techno in its first appearance and then adds more ambience on the “Alternative Mix”. But the amazing thing is how well it all works together as an album, an easy listen but also dancefloor fire for DJs. I don’t think I have to remind the readers of this blog about Jeff Mills’ long and storied history in dance music, but once he is done challenging himself and others I believe this one will stand out, even in comparison to the overall quality of his entire back catalog.
East Coast Love Affair and Mary Love’ Comer – “Without You”/“Come Out Of The Sandbox (East Coast Love Affair Mix)” – Athens of the North 12”
East Coast Love Affair – “Date With The Rain” – Athens of the North 12”
East Coast Love Affair is a sort of house band for the AOTN label/studio, with the man Linkwood having heavy involvement. “Without You” is one for the 90s garage heads, utilizing some older vocals done by Avelino Pitts and adding new vocals by Lucy Ross to take Linkwood’s stellar deep house production sound to a different level. On the flip, Mary Love Comer’s rare gospel soul jam gets extended and a new mixdown that helps it really come alive.
“Date With The Rain” should be familiar to all disco and dance heads as the Eddie Kendricks version is a stone cold classic. It gets flipped on its head here, bringing in classic Lovers Rock vocalist Peter Hunningale to sing while Linkwood crafts a beat that is half 80s digital reggae and half 80s garage that works to create a lovely twist on the original. The dub mix takes it even further into Paradise Garage territory, I have to believe Larry Levan would have beaten this to death if it was out in 1987.
These two releases show incredible range and depth, which is not too surprising from the label and artists involved but still remarkable in their high quality.
Mark De Clive-Lowe – Midnight Snacks Vol. 1 – Mashibeats 12”
MDCL has been a mainstay in deep house and broken beat circles for more than two decades, but he also plays jazz and on this record he ties those together by crafting loose jazz fusion jams for the dancefloor. These were originally made as part of his monthly subscription service and are now compiled onto vinyl where we can all appreciate them. “Joyful Resistance” opens things with a neo soul type beat and outer space synths, while “Blue Hour” is based on a more straightforward soulful house groove before getting deep into the synth work. “37,000 Feet” and “Thanks Given” go more broken beat with their fusion, and Mark’s key solos seem to love the extra space the drum grooves allow for.
Jon Dixon – The New Tomorrow EP – Visions Inc 12”
Another keys player dropping a dope dancefloor hybrid fusion record! I guess it’s easy to see where my taste is currently residing. I almost feel like a broken record reminding you of just how dope Jon Dixon is, but when each release is as strong as his are, I have no other choice. “Tribute to Master Reese” is one of the more loopy tracks in his catalog, good for those who might recoil from too much jazz in their house. But for me the real heat lies on the B side, especially on “90 On The Lodge” (a speed I have definitely reached while driving there lol). This one is all about restraint, with Jon’s chords working with the funky drums to create a catchy groove. But then periodically the horns come in, adding flourishes of melody. You kind of wish it would just fully break out, but by holding back, the energy is actually increased. I think this will be a big track for house dancers. The title track “The New Tomorrow” closes things out, but it is a certified B2 killer, layering synths and electric piano into a dense moody cloud of harmony.
Dezaray Dawn – “The Real Deal” – Makin’ Moves 12”
Kai Alcé is in my opinion the best house producer currently working when given a full vocal to craft into a track. Nobody can touch the last decade of his work, and this is yet another lovely slice of neo soul influenced house music. Dezaray’s beautiful vocals are accompanied by deep Rhodes by frequent Kai collaborator DelvynW and some mute horn thanks to Dashill Smith. The ingredients here are standard house fare for sure, but when the quality is this high it still stands out in a sea of less successful tracks. For those afraid of vocals, Kai gives two different instrumental versions that give the horn and keys more room to breathe.
Zombi – Liquid Crystal EP – Relapse 12”
Pittsburgh synth prog group Zombi have a new EP out entitled Liquid Crystal, and I have to say that the artwork and colored vinyl versions work together with the music in a really fantastic way. The labels are even holographic! The cover art of rays swimming through Earth’s stratosphere is evocative enough on its own, but when combined with the slow, heavy groove of opening jam “Mangler” it feels like you have entered a strange new world altogether. “Chant” continues the guitar led vibes, breaking out into melodic flourishes towards the end. The title track “Liquid Crystal” relies more on synth sounds, with lush pads building and building up to climax.
Over on side B, “Turning Point” is the longest track on the EP, winding its way through minimal drum parts and chugging guitars, up to another heavy pounding track. “Black Forest” is the uptempo outlier here, belying the washed out deep intro by switching up to a Romero or Carpenter appropriate disco beat, a really nicely arranged trip.
Stefan Ringer + Ben Hixon – Back Seat Driver EP – Dolfin Records 12”
Stefan Ringer returns, this time in collaboration with Texas’ Ben Hixon. Stripped back and raw house jams provide the base that Stefan’s now signature vocal stylings decorate, creating some kind of Deep South hip house on “Tom Track 1” and “Back Seat Driver”. Ben enlists Stefan on the backing track for the vocal and instrumental versions of “Who Are You” which is my pick here thanks to its swirling synths and loose almost broken groove.