House

After two incredible EPs, Wayne Snow — the Nigerian-born, Berlin-based vocalist and songwriter — now presents his debut album on Tartelet Records.Freedom TV is the natural sequel to the Max Graef-produced tasters Red Runner (2014) and Rosie (2015), a project marinated in Afro-Caribbean, soulful grooves and topped by Wayne’s effortless falsetto acrobatics.As the title suggests, Freedom TV is an album with themes of liberty, struggle and creative identity pumping through its veins. Within ten tracks, Snow fluently meanders between musical styles: from low-tempo soothers like album opener “Cooler” and “Fall” to the syncopated bruk of “The Rhythm” and cosmic funk escapades found on “Nothing Wrong”.Production comes from three varied and solid sources. The tag-team between Snow and fellow Berliner, Max Graef — which started on Graef’s 2014 debut Rivers of the Red Planet — is in full effect. The result is six tracks (“Cooler”, “Still In The Shell”, “Drunk”, “Red Runner”, “Rosie” & “Fall”) anchored by Graef’s now-signature brew of warm-to-the-touch boom-bap, soul, jazz and house. Elsewhere, trips to see the French capital and Neue Grafik yielded three stormers: “The Rhythm”, “Freedom R.I.P” and “Nothing But The Best”.Naples-formed, Berlin-based duo Nu Guinea also lend a hand on “Nothing Wrong”, an uptempo jam which will receive remix treatment from Francis Inferno Orchestra as well as the pair themselves. The works of criminally overlooked, Zimbabwean guerilla fighter-poet, Freedom Nyamubaya (?1958-2015), bind everything together. It’s her verses, which occupy the end of soul-searching, Peven Everett-esque joint “Freedom R.I.P” and provide a regular referential touchpoint. More than anything, Freedom TV is the soundtrack for anyone seeking a wholesome exploration of groove.Smooth and contagiously danceable at points, Wayne Snow has arrived in album territory with an assured cool.

James Dexter's star has been rising for a while now - the young Brit turning out killer tracks regularly on the back of hugely well received DJ sets. On his second outing for Dessous Recordings, Dexter does what he does best - four slices of deep, funky and vibing house music for the floor. Lead track 'Drift' is typical of Dexter’s flair for subtle, edgy sounds, wrapped inside a warm and inviting groove. Elements come and go, but the shuffling, infection feel runs throughout. 'Take Me' is a more upfront vibe with a seriously bumping groove - Dexter clearly well versed in the roots of house music from Chicago. 'Whose Rules ?' is a snappy, bright and lively production, with a sub bass that will troubler some of the world's best club systems in the coming months. The light, jazzy vocals offsets the groove perfectly - sure to be a big tune for a wide variety of DJs.The last track of the release is 'Disco Deep' - and it pretty much does exactly what it says - a swung, groovy feel punctuated by disco claps and balearic flourishes that will sound as good on the beach as in the basement.

Original release ℗ 1994 Freetown Records 2017 repress © Groovin Recordings with kind permission of Kerri Chandler & Arnold Jarvis

Originally released in 2007 by Unified Records Peven Everett - Put Your Back Into It Official 2017 repress by Groovin Recordings Licensed courtesy of Peven Everett

Original release Polar Records 1993. Official reissue by Groovin Recordings 2017.

Lil Louie Vega's label presents the Grammy award winning British singer Caron Wheeler. Her track is entitled "A New Day". The one time member of Soul II Soul presented the track in its original format earlier this year and these remixes act as a follow up to Vega's latest album "Louie Vega Starring.XXVIII", which featured an ensemble of 25 artists across 28 different songs! It's a real who's who here or the 'best of the best' if you will and here's proof: the man synonymous with Spiritual Life Music and Body & Soul NYC Joe Claussell hands in a typically life affirming rendition. Chicago deep house don and Prescription Records boss Ron Trent shows us just how emotive and soulful house music should be. Also of mention is the great bonus "Starring XXVIII" (Jazzie B spoken word) where the legendary Soul II Soul front man gives us you an inspirational lowdown on the state of things.