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12"
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DES 139EP
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Chocky returns to Dessous with Playtime EP. "Double Dip" is a chunky, stripped-down vibe, reduced vitals that will slay dancefloors -- a shuffling groove and a cut-up vocal reminiscent of Pepe Bradock. "Organism" is a deep affair -- spacy pads provide the counterbalance to the tough drum track. "Soul Alive" taps into Chocky's clear appreciation for the '90s, with a strong vocal, atmospheric strings, and a loose yet crispy beat. "Playtime (Dub)" is another stormer -- beginning as a driving basement jam but then an unexpected piano riff flips the script and takes things in a welcome jazzy direction.
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12"
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DES 138EP
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London's Chocky joins the Dessous label and shares three tracks of sublime house music on Steve Bug's imprint. "Self Knowledge" is a deep, tech-y roller clocking it at nearly ten minutes -- plenty of space to expand into its full potential -- the groove grows ever more hypnotic and engaging as the track unfolds. Next up is "A Reefa", a not too subtle reference to a certain herb that might have inspired this loose, yet highly funky deep house jam. "Casa De Estrela" changes the vibe up with a more direct and jacking track.
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12"
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DES 137EP
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The young producer Ivan Latyshev provides a second outing on Dessous Recordings. "Art Of Flying" is quite a statement -- a jazzy, swingy beat introduces the track, before solidifying around punchy 4/4 groove. Restless synths drift in-and-out, resulting in a funky and deeply wonky track -- topped off with a killer spoken word vocal. Eddie Fowlkes steps up on remix duties and supplies a more jacking interpretation, adding a filthy bassline on his "Fly Mix". The same track also gets a "Crazy Dub" rework which expands the space within the track and strips it down.
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12"
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DES 136EP
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James Dexter provides his second outing for Dessous Recordings, with four slices of deep, funky, and vibing house music for the floor. "Drift" is typical of Dexter's flair for subtle, edgy sounds, wrapped inside a warm and inviting groove. "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 bright production, with jazzy vocals and a sub bass that will trouble some of the world's best club systems. "Disco Deep" is a swung, groovy feel punctuated by disco claps and Balearic flourishes.
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12"
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DES 135EP
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Hailing from Japan, Iori Wakasa proves what all the fuss is about with a stunning three track EP on Steve Bug's Dessous Recordings. "Be There" starts things off right - über deep vibes throughout, with bubbling synths and spacey effects, all tied together by a hypnotic Chandler-esque rhythm track. "Give Me" continues the vibe, deep and jazzy chords punctuate the shuffling rhythm and trippy vocal samples add a layer of wonkiness. "Feel It Dizzy" strips things down a notch, a bass heavy dancefloor filler with dubbed-out percussion, effects, and vocals snippets.
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2LP
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DES 018LP
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After a considerable career releasing on numerous labels, as well as being co-founder of Essen based label Mild Pitch, Max Heesen finally drops the first album under his Langenberg alias. Heesen, (who is also one half of Ribn with Manuel Tur) delivers the smartly titled Central Heated House for Steve Bug's Dessous Recordings. The LP format suits Langenberg's hypnotic house classicism well, allowing time and space to stretch out the grooves and moods over four sides of vinyl - working both for the DJs and perfect as a soundtrack for the autumn. The LP kicks off with "Jade," a melancholic, tape-saturated introduction to Langenberg's deep tastes. "Room 210" maintains this atmosphere, with fizzing percussion and warm Detroit-esque melodies. "Groove 26" is perfectly timed for the hot summer, as lush Rhodes chords and KDJ style vocal snippets provide the heat for the open air vibes. The single from early 2016, "Shadows", features the talents of vocalist Blakkat, and caused some serious response when it hit airwaves and dancefloors alike. "Never Worry" is a heads down roller, built around a simple but perfectly executed bassline, while "Dreamliner" is trippy laidback sunshine house all the way. "I'll Be Late" and "Planitz Proposal" step back into the club, with Langenberg's signature crisp percussion, crunchy hits and analog synth wizardry on full display. "Rain & Roses" closes out the album in a similar way to how it started - wistful, thoughtful house music with soul.
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12"
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DES 133EP
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Timmy P presents Safety First EP. With Safety First, Timmy's playful approach to the deeper side of house shines though. The title track mixes crisp, crunchy drums with warm, soft pads and a bubbling bass line. "Grim Fandango" is a little tougher, the snares and claps snapping tightly over a taut, irresistible vibe. Timmy's balance of dynamics is masterful, each element perfectly complimenting each other to create a tour de force over eight minutes. "Bosh" is similarly crafted - the original echoing classic '90s house but feeling completely fresh for 2016, while James Dexter's remix is a robust, deep roller.
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12"
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DES 132EP
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Ivan Latyshev drops To My Youth EP on Dessous Recordings. To My Youth EP sees the young Russian bring his distinctive brand of deep, groove-heavy house to another level. The title track shows a deep affiliation for classic house vibes, mixed with some jazzy flourishes and swung grooves. "Can't Go Away" goes a shade deeper still, bringing layers of delay and reverb to the track that help shape a true slow burner. "Old Ages" also highlights Ivan's love of jazz rhythms and sounds, building from a live drum break into a rolling deep house monster.
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12"
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DES 131EP
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Long an unsung hero of the underground, Langenberg (aka Max Heesen) has a string of quality releases to his name, both on his own and as a part of his Ribn duo with Manuel Tur. Liquid-deep and balanced perfectly between euphoric and melancholic, "Shadow" sees Mark Bell (Blakkat) deliver an emotional invocation over a beautifully crafted track, with echoes of the master Larry Heard clearly present. Also included are two extraordinary remixes: UK legend Atjazz provides a sumptuously realized fusion of melody and driving dancefloor urgency, while Brooklyn's house veterans Frank and Tony (Scissor & Thread) drop a huge remix of their own.
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12"
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DES 129EP
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Sublime and slinky four-tracker from James Dexter on Dessous Recordings, Steve Bug's label for the deeper side of house. Have It Like That combines effortlessly club-ready grooves with exceptional sound design and a strong melodic sensibility. The title-track kicks things off with a chugging, hypnotic feel and crisp drums providing the basis for a cool vocal hook and thick, warm bass. "No Time" gets a shade deeper and no less funky, while "Get to This" points a little further toward the center of the dancefloor. Closer "120" goes even further into late-night vibes with a seriously infectious groove.
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12"
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DES 128EP
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Brussels-based Lockwood (Gert-Jan Haegeman and Billy Hillaert) open with "Let's Talk," a shuffling, laid-back house groove with an unruffled bassline and blue-tinged jazz chords. The choppy hand-claps and ridiculously over-the-top squidgy bass of "Sway" explore different territory; frenetic synth-funk shimmering with layers of synth and zingy repetitions. "Yearning" melds a tough, rubbery tick with cycling keys and choric pads. It's the bass that's the star here, bending the tune around its abrasive low-end. Nils Penner's remix of "Let's Talk" employs a huge, booming bassline and brings its spoken-word sample to the fore, lending the track a dark, glittering technoid edge.
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12"
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DES 121EP
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Alex Blaxx drops three original tracks for Dessous Recordings. Blaxx himself excels in lush house productions with plenty of soul and a lot of dancefloor knowledge. The EP's title-track gives a healthy nod to the hugely fertile period of New York house in the 1990s, but retains a freshness and spark that sets it apart. "Gilmore Heureux" is a darker affair, with a raw groove and a Detroit flavor. It's got plenty of grit, and a few innovative twists and turns along the way. "All the Difference" slows the pace slightly, unwinding a killer groove driven by a piano and punchy drums.
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12"
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DES 120EP
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Vincenzo returns to Dessous Recordings with "Merry Go Round," featuring the stunning vocal talents of Language aka Kaori Kaneko. Built on dream-like, evolving pads and textures, the vocals are reminiscent of the best work of Tracey Thorn, rising and falling over the 7-minute duration of the original mix. After some minutes, a crisp, chugging, mid-tempo beat develops and lifts the track yet further. The Reprise Mix is a totally beatless mix, emphasizing the pads, guitar and piano work. The third track sees Axel Boman on remix duties, who primes it for the dancefloor with a loopy, hypnotic rework.
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12"
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DES 119EP
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French producer/DJ Oliver Andrade returns to Dessous with his EP Madness. "Egregius" evokes classic deep house from the U.S. Midwest, while never being defined by its influence. Synths bubble to the surface, pads wash over the raw and funky drum track, and a looped vocal ties the whole piece together. "Madness" treads a similar path, but with a slightly tougher vibe. "Bac a Sable" shakes things up with an unsettling rhythm that works its way into an infectious driving groove, accentuated by jarring synths.
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12"
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DES 118EP
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Liverpool's Andy Ash has released finely-crafted, authentic house music for a number of labels, including appearances on StilLove4Music, Kolour and Quintessentials. Here he drops four slices of deep, raw house grooves. "Workin'" shares a little headspace with that other Liverpudlian pioneer, John Heckle -- emotionally uplifting electronic music that keeps things rough round the edges. "Mindflow" references the classic sound of Chicago in the early '90s -- a disco/funk vocal sample interplays with tightly-woven percussion and an ever-present bump. "Release and Check" is a deep, rolling jam with live-sounding keys, and a highly effective acidic bass line.
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12"
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DES 115EP
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Dessous Recordings team up with one of Berlin's most talented and thoughtful producers, Andre Lodemann, for this sublime three-tracker. "Imagine" is head music for the dancefloor -- deep house with true feeling. "Eyes Wide Open" also contains a wealth of melody, welded expertly to a groove that works the soul as much as the body. Alix Alvarez's reinterpretation maintains the gorgeous melodies but adds a little of that NY house bump to the groove.
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12"
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DES 112EP
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As co-founder of the Essen-based label Mild Pitch, the man otherwise known as Max Heesen aka Langenberg has been responsible for some sublime moments in house, both on his own label, and for imprints such as Liebe*Detail, Drumpoet Community and Poker Flat. Informed and influenced by the classic Detroit sound, Langenberg produces yet another exceptional transmission. The title-track is as smooth as liquid gold, yet contains a dub-tinged techno edge reminiscent of Langenberg's Ribn project with Manuel Tur.
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12"
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DES 109EP
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Jamie Anderson and Owain K team up again for another sumptuous slice of contemporary house music on Steve Bug's Dessous Recordings. Do You Know sees Jamie and Owain drop some serious sunshine grooves -- shuffling hi-hats and a classic, Chi-town synth let you know that this is all about the good times. The spoken word vocal pays homage to forgotten jazz legends. "Keep It Pumping" drops the tempo to 118bpm for a Balearic-tinged nu-disco stomper. A dub of "Do You Know" rounds off the release.
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12"
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DES 002LTD-EP
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Reigniting the dancefloors 10 years after its original release, Steve Bug refreshes this classic Chez Damier production, originally from 1992. Dessous label boss Steve Bug arranges two special mixes that celebrate this very special record. Steve's straight-up remix maintains the classic vibes with a sensitive '90s-themed rework. A "Re-Dub" version spaces things out and opens up the strings. A "New York Dub" has also been included, dug out from the Chez Damier vaults and re-mastered for 2012.
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12"
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DES 106EP
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Greek producer Echonomist presents an infectious blend of deep house fused with techy modern production on his debut for Dessous, featuring vocals by Mz. Sunday Luv. "Real Love" comes in various forms, the original being a vintage-styled classic house jam. Echonomist's solid beats, Chicago bass line and dramatic snare rolls make this a real show-stopper. The track is then revisited in a more East Coast slow-jam style. San Soda reworks it into a real late-night burner, perfect for the floor and heavier moments.
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12"
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DES 107EP
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Following Vincenzo's astonishing album Wherever I Lay My Head (DES 016CD/LP), Dessous continues the story with three new remixes. Tom Middleton, the legendary producer behind The Jedi Knights, Global Communication and Cosmos, hands in a modern deep techno remix of "Sometimes Saturday" that shimmers with melody and dubbed-out echoes. Genius Of Time rework "106 Downtown," adding sensitive, detailed downtempo beats with some wonderful, warm, swirling vibes. Finally, Mic Newman presents his very own dub remix.
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12"
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DES 105EP
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Safeword is an exciting new act comprised of two dedicated U.S.-based producers, Clint Stewart and Marc Smith. Their low-slung, warm and sexy sound already gave way to one EP on Paso Music and now we find them really hitting their stride with their debut for Dessous. "You Can You Will" introduces us to Safeword's world, a sleazy, percussive and intricate web of textures, flavors and audio fetishes. Phonique turns his hand to the title track with a cheeky, energetic remix.
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2CD
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DES 017CD
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Dessous presents the third volume of their Best Kept Secrets compilation series. Over two CDs, Dessous' boss Steve Bug and Phonique have hand-picked the best recent Dessous tracks alongside some of the more illustrious B-sides, album tracks and hidden gems from the recent back-catalog. CD1 features 11 un-mixed tracks in their full glory, including four new exclusive tracks from Salvatore Freda, Andrade, Echonomist and Steve Bug himself, representing the future stars of Dessous. The second CD is a 12-track mix by central Dessous artist Phonique, taking you through even more hidden classics, with exclusives from Jamie Anderson & Owain K, Vincenzo & Aram Chabdjian, Phonique himself and Tigerskin. Other artists include: André Lodemann, 9west, Salvatore Freda, Goldwill, Burnski, Zoë Xenia, Lisa Shaw, Langenberg and Jimpster.
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2x12"
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DES 017LP
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2x12 version of the third volume of Dessous' Best Kept Secrets compilation series. The Exclusives version features 8 tracks exclusively produced for Best Kept Secrets 3 (artists: Steve Bug, Phonique, Tigerskin, Aram, Jamie Anderson, Owain K, Andrade, Salvatore Freda and Echonomist.
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12"
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DES 104EP
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Vincenzo's expertly-crafted original version of "Seduction" is included here in all its bright and airy glory. The master of subtle chord changes, captivating songwriting and bright, glistening production, we're treated to an extended version of Vincenzo's future classic! Jimpster takes the reins in an easygoing, modern Chicago-style jam. Raw drums and modulating bass drive this summery yet melancholic re-think. Also includes a remix by Tuff City Kids.
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