House Is A Feeling

1. Oleg Poliakov-Rainy Dayz (Portable Mix) (Circus Company)

On this release Portable takes one of Oleg Poliakov’s original tracks for the thriving Circus Company and makes the “Dayz” even rainier. The effect is instant, coming on like a 10am journey home in winter, a howl in the swirling vortex of that is house in 2009.

2. Achim Maerz-Garish (Dérive)

This steam driven basement track is a pretty fresh take on German house deepness, with considerably more aggression bolstering a treacly, woozy breakdown. It’s easy to imagine hearing this a lot.

3.  Audio Werner-Easygoing (Hartchef Discos)

As I mentioned here, this guy’s return was long overdue. “Easygoing” is the sort of erratic trip he specialises in, making a lack structure sound structured, and dropping a jazzy swing into his own trademark deep freeze. The album is on the way.

4. Sven Tasnadi/Juno 6-Tranquillo (Liebe*Detail)

It’s good when two things you are a fan of come together. But while I await the union of anchovies and golf this will have to do. I should be serious here though, not least when I say that for me this is the best Liebe*Detail in a couple of years. It’s the second Juno 6 related release on the imprint that I really rate, and it’s a credit to them that after so many years they’re still finding new artists and trying to improve. Here there’s an original connection between rhythm and melody that makes the track stand out a mile from its recent peers.

5. Detroit Experiment-Think Twice (Mark E Mix) (Juno Records)

Some of you may remember the original of this, on a pretty good LP which Carl Craig was behind back in 2003. This was the standout track on the record and featured on a lot of mix compilations at the time. Of course not having heard of “swine flu” those were more innocent days. The original always reminded me of a soul version of Stardust’s “Music Sounds Better With You”. Guess what. So does this remix! It’s a pretty joyous rework, with Mark E just ramping up the unbridled cham-caine disco decadence of it all. I wasn’t feeling the Henrik Schwarz version on the A-side though.

6. Anton Zap-Half (Anton Zap Mix)

It’s hard to fathom Anton Zap in some ways. I’ve bought lots of his releases and played lots of them, but it’s as if he’s a specialist in making the very best 4 track EPs for you to mix with, rather than talk about at any length. This is slightly different though, a dynamic dubby groove with a more skewed feeling than his past work. One small complaint/question: can someone please find some good house vocalists to accompany all the amazing musicians we’ve got? This can save us from the dub-mire!

7. Diegors-O Sea…Hello (Comeme)

This wins title of the week, not least for using “…” in a sentence, a tic of mine. The record also offers something different, a slow African influenced disco groove with a heavy psychedelic style. Let’s hope this label can continue to offer music this distinct.

8. Madioko N Rafika-Elleli (Kalabrese Mix) (Innervisions)

This Innervisions Secret Weapons re-issue is easily one of the best tracks you’ll hear this year. Kalabrese’s raw bassline and minimal percussion is backed by Berber singer Rafika, to devastating effect (remember what I said about vocals!) It’s funny with Innervisions how these reissues sometimes sound more quintessentially of the label than some of the original releases. The swooning breakdown midway through the track couldn’t illustrate that any more. All sorts of DJs must be playing this.

9. Max Richter-I Swam Out To Sea (Return) (Waltz With Bashir OST)

If you’ve not seen Waltz With Bashir I can’t recommend it highly enough. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it here before but I’ve been listening to the soundtrack regularly since late last year. The movie is as good a union between music and visuals as you’ll ever experience. This track, like most of the soundtrack, is bursting with drama and melancholy. Remember where you heard it last! You can buy this soundtrack in most record stores.

10. El Perro Del Mar-L Is For Love (Licking Fingers)

Produced by Rasmus Hagg from Scandinavian Balearic act Studio, this sounds like lots of things I’ve been listening to in the last year, especially Julee Cruise and Kate Bush. I liked the first El Perro Del Mar record from a few years ago (about as twee as I get, well, at least as far as musical taste is concerned!) but this one seems deeper and more complete. You can hear more or buy it here.

(Most of these tracks can be bought as MP3s from WhatPeoplePlay, or as vinyl from Phonica or Decks.De, unless otherwise specified.)