Top 10 House Music Selections Of The Week
On a very sad note as all of you know, we recently lost the godfather of house music Frankie Knuckles. He is the one you have to thank for developing and popularizing house music in Chicago during the 1980s which later spread to Detroit. New York, & then onto Europe. So take a moment to reflect on how much we enjoy this phenomenon called house music while you review our top ten this week and recognize how important Frankie Knuckles is to the genre.
1. “Conjure Balearia” Maceo Plex, Ellum
This modern day dance music masterpiece off of the "Conjure One" EP was released last month on Maceo's own imprint and hammered just recently all over WMC in Miami. It has dance music written all over it but the breakdown about 4 minutes in takes you into a sci-fi soundscape that will remind you of Vangelis' Blade Runner.
2. “Blue Shadow” Chaim, Rumors
Following up Guy Gerber & Dixon's premiere track on the Rumors label is a beauty of a track entitled "Blue Shadow" by Israeli-based Chaim Avital who goes simply by Chaim. Out now only on vinyl and digitally available on April 21st.
3. “Bachi-Bouzouk” Rone, InFine Music
Another beauty of a track on this week's chart, this time by Berlin-based Rone who is in the middle of his U.S. tour staring down at gigs in LA, San Francisco, & finally Coachella!
4. “Housem 2.0” Damiano von Erckert, Ava Records
Not yet released but soon to be put out there on vinyl only for now, the playfully titled "Giant Pandas & Other Nice Things In Life" will be out on April 14th. Housem 2.0 is a feel good house jam full of soulful vocal samples that starts with a slow steady build that finally kicks into a beat two minutes in.
5. “Soul Catcher” Mark Henning, Swing Recordings
The second offering on Swing Recordings sees the label-boss himself Mark Henning back at the controls. Out now on vinyl and available digitally on April 21st.
6. “Afterhours” Lee Daley, Nordic Trax
Extremely deep territory covered here on the "See The Way EP" by Manchester stalwart, Lee Daley. "Afterhours" is a deep & moody affair that chugs along nicely with soft chord touches all the way through.
7. “Get 2 Ghetto (Grass Is Greener Remix)” Kaiser Souzai, Sullivan Room Recordings
New York representing here with New York based duo Grass Is Greener remixing "Get 2 Ghetto" off of New York based label Sullivan Room Recordings. About three minutes into this gem, we are treated to an arpeggiated melody that fits perfectly on top of an already gorgeous piece of music.
8. “Judas” Diva, Obsession Recordings
Vinyl-only imprint Obsession Recordings open up their label with a four track sampler full of house music that reaches towards the outer limits where few rarely go. Diva's "Judas" is no exception as the beginning sounds like the heartbeat of a drum machine that slowly tacks on different components in order to build into a proper dancefloor destroyer. Keep your eye on this label!
Peep the video clip here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ9FE6RNwPw
9. “Rhymes365” Dale Howard, Underground Audio
Dale Howard is on fire at the moment thanks to his dancefloor bombs that hit harder than most out there. The title track here rocks hard with it's hip-hop vocal samples and chop-heavy beats.
10. “Shake That (Shadow Child Remix)" Dansson & Marlon Hoffstadt, FFRR
Shadow Child's remix of "Shake That" was Pete Tong's essential new tune back in December but it has just recently finally gone on sale. Speed garage at its finest and an ace of a remix!
