Artist : D:Fuse & Hiratzka
Release “Breathe In”
Remixer: Fine Taste
Label: Currve
Catalog: CR041
Release Date: June-18-2008
Genre: Progressive House, Tech House, Chill Out
Format: Digital

Review: Fine Taste remix is repetitive and simple. Not a floor filler by any means. Something to get the crowd warmed up. Neil Colo’s Tech House remix has a lot of structured complexity with dark overtones. If you’re into the darker side of Tech House, this one’s a sure bet. The downtempo, chill out album version is included with the EP download.

Artist: Killfish
Release: Tatooman EP
Label: Jetlag Digital
Catalog: JED002
Release Date: July-04-2008
Genre: Progressive House
Format: Digital

Review: Out of the gate, Jetlag Digital put out a couple of nice tracks. These two are fairly forgettable. They don’t go anywhere or do anything exciting. Simply just filler tracks. “Grinder Cool” has a bit of an electro house flavor to it. A vocal sample drifts in and out, but there’s no reason to really care. The breakdown is fairly simple. Nothing we haven’t seen before. The modulation of the synth warps around as it comes out of the breakdown, but it doesn’t capture the big room, epic transformation you’d expect out of a long breakdown and build up. “The Fisher” is another filler track that I might play in the beginning of the night, but definitely not peak hour. These guys need to go back to the drawing board and take it a notch higher. The label is out of Spain. This sound may do well there, we don’t know, but we don’t expect them to break any records in the U.S. with this release.

Artist: Terry Williams
Release: San Francisco
Label: Lad Publishing & Recordings
Catalog: LADAL08041
Release Date: June-18-2008
Genre: Tech House
Format: Digital

Review: We’re digging this thick track with synth stabs that sound like urgent horns placed evenly along throughout. A nice twangy bass line carries the groove. This track is good for putting that skip in your step when you’re on the floor, grooving to it. If this is the sound of underground San Francisco, then we’re looking forward to hearing it played out the next time we visit. The Natalino Nunes remix takes it a bit darker, but that means it loses a bit of its cheery flavor. So, we’ll stick with the original here.

Artist: Incognito
Release: Tales From The Beach (Album)
Label: Heads Up International
Catalog: HUCD 3141
Release Date: June-24-2008
Genre: Jazz
Format: Digital

Review: Just when you were looking for a smooth, soulful jazz album from Incognito, here it is. The band has returned with lush, gorgeous music and vocals you’d expect from such a legendary group. Incognito fans will be satiated with all that’s great about this group. DJs have three house tracks to pick from, “Love, Joy, Understanding”, “Freedom To Love”, and “Feel The Pressure.” All three are perfect for a Lil Louie Vega set. We’re thinking someone from Giant Step has already called him for a remix.

Head to Giant Step to listen to the DJ Sampler.