Regis – The Master Side EP (Blackest Ever Black)
The sound design, the drum programming and the downright funk make this Regis stepper one of the best tracks this year.
Equiknoxx – Congo Get Slap/Flagged Up (Mark Ernestus Mixes) (DDS)
Mark Ernestus crafts these Equiknoxx tracks into a rhythm and sound of unique proposition. You will get lost in both these tracks.
Calibre – Lit (Signature)
By what I can tell a slept on future classic this year. Calibre approaching house music is some of the freshest music of recent times. A merge of UK Bass and classic deep house is underpinned by a beautiful vocal.
Chase Smith – Sending You Some Lungs EP (Apartment)
Absolute screamer here which shockingly hasn’t sold out everywhere due to the nature of the hype machine these days. Chase brings raw melodic funk to this entire record.
DJ Nature – Ultimate Delusion EP (Futureboogie)
Brilliant sample led swinging soulful house music which reminds me of Andres at his peak. So hard not to nod your head to this one
Gig of the year
Ben UFO and Volvox/Umfang at Dekmantel were up there but Jeff Mills at Dimensions was a whole different level. Sometimes he can go though the motions but that night his control over the music and crowd reminded me in why I fell in love with techno and the Detroit sound in the first place.