House Reviews
by Brent Crampton
photo by Tony Bonacci

Whether it be funky and deep, bompty and quirky, or just click-click beepy – this is your monthly house music source for what’s hot and churning on the dance floors at the moment. And with the Winter Music Conference just behind us, so many great choons are now on the market.

Andre Harris - Get Down Africa - Large
Soaring trumpets, spoken word and crisp drums, Harris makes his Large debut with this afro-centered jazz EP. With the main mix giving more of an instrumental New York feel, the house mix and dub bring the energy level up with smooth production reminiscent of a Miguel Migs and Jay-J selection.

Jihad Muhammad feat. Carolyn Victorian - Melt In You - Hustle Music
B ordering on porno house, this deep, moody, minimal and above all - sexy deep house track is a sexually conscious mix. A female spoken word urges that she wants to feel your special place in hers, wanting to melt in you.

Sueno En Ti - Soul Creation - Deepagrooves
Beach samba bliss, a Spanish female spoken word floats over drifting drums and sun-shaded keys. This Brazilian and Latin-tinged four-tracker brings deep house with an end-of-the-summer tango.

DJ Sneak - Funky Rhythm Remixes - Leg
With house music, if you got a good thing going - remix it. This two-tracker calls upon Chuck D to bring a thick bass line, quirky loops and big-room reverb. The "Hip House Mix" takes on a break-danceable groove with a drifting funky guitar line.

DJ Colette - What Will She Do For Love - OM
What's everyone's fascination with Kaskade? I dug his older style when he bordered more on the San Fran house tip, but these days it seems like he's shooting for the billboard charts. With his signature poppy house style, Kaskade remixes Colette's track off of her debut album, "Hypnotized." I'll pass on this one. Moving right along, Andy Caldwell's remix takes on his usual taste as well, which I describe as glam-electro. With big dirty bass lines, tight drums and flirty female vocals, Andy's house is best enjoyed wearing Prada sunglasses in a club on Hollywood Boulevard. And for those Frisky fans, my favored remix is from the East Coast Boogie Men, bringing you the hollowed out bass, chunky rhythms and bouncing grooves. I must admit, OM has marketing down to a science, consistently putting together remixers of every genre of house to appeal to a mass market.

Trademarq - 32 Piece Set EP - Bananza
Farina turned out the party with it, Justin Long pushed Smartbar's club system with it and nearly every major underground house DJ has been playing it coast to coast. With the catchy spoken word - "If it's broken we can fix it, but you have to have good credit," the infectious vocal and bass line sucks you in.

Anane - Move Bounce Shake w/ Mr. V - Vega
NYC's man of the moment, Mr. V is the next wave of deep, soulful house producers. Budding his talents under the wings of Louie Vega, Kenny Dope and other masters of rhythm. I've been picking up most everything from V-man lately. This EP however does nothing for me. With a dirty bass line, spacey chords, scatting rhythm section of old-school clap patterns and drums, there's nothing ear catching here such as his other tracks "Jus Dance" and "Somethin Wit Jazz."