This DJ Chart features early house, balearic beats, deep house, UK garage and Jungle. Glistening synths, sax solos, and dubby basslines from some of the best in the business. Some of these tracks you won’t find on spotify!
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1. Dino & Terry - Morning
Tidy EP of deep house grooves from Dino & Terry. Released in 1999 on Classic (now owned by Defected). Dino & Terry are proper veterans of electronic music and these laid back grooves serve as great vibe setters.
2. Glenn Underground - Leavin' Today
Chicago maestro Glenn Underground is at his best on this EP released originally on Guidance Recordings in 1998. I found myself browsing the discogs archive of releases on the label and couldn’t miss this one, originally released in 1998, Now available on bandcamp on the Strictly Jazz Unit bandcamp page.
3. Deep Zone - It's Gonna Be Alright (Help Is On The Way) (Matty's Soulflower Dub)
Still on the 90s house vibes and we have this peak timer by Deep Zone released in 1995 on New York label Sub-Urban (also owned by Defected). It’s the Soulflower Dub that does the business for me. It is well arranged for the dancefloor with a perfectly placed breakdown towards the end. It’s all about the snap back from the euphoric synth line into the dance business with the korg M1 bassline. I was playing this on a Saturday night and this one person on the D floor would keep locking in to this level of intensity, which this track holds so well.
4. Juniper - Quiet Moon
Released in 2012 on Smallville Records. A georgeous deep house track on a slightly more techy tip. I heard this playing on the shop system at Alley Tunes record store in Melbourne while I was on a dig and had to cop. A deep moment to take a breath and cleanse the palette ahead of expansion.
5. Mark Seven - Vibes
Every now and then you get excited about an artist who you have already been playing their music without consciously releasing. Mark Seven is that guy. Absolute veteran of early house and deep house. a DJs DJ. His label Parkway Records has drip fed ultra high quality jams for over a decade now. This one was released in 2023 but would sit perfectly with something produced in 1989. I found his music to be a ‘missing link’ between midtempo disco and house vibes. There’s a range of mixes here that could be used in the earlier or laters stages of a night on the wheels but Body Vibe is the one i usually draw from this EP. Discogs prices indicate that this is reasonably sought after so don’t take my word for it.
6. Max Essa - The Price You Pay (For Loving That Way)
Breezy balearic boogie freshly released in April 2024. Beautifully arranged with top tier musicality. Afternoon-into-evening spritz on the deck type pool party vibes. Whole EP is quality, with this track paired up with an ambient groove and a sub-100bpm ‘sundowner’. Released on Japanese label Jansen Jardin Music.
7. Azura - Theme From Azura (House Version)
Released in 2022 this italo house jam builds off the back of the last track in this chart. Simple elements really well put together and road tested by me. This one has been a favourite in my sets recently because it has a nice intensity level that you can use to build your set while still keeping things positive and ‘on the way up’.
8. Zephan feat. Cool Affair - Let Me Show You (DJ Spinna Galactic Soul Remix)
DJ Spinna Galactic Soul Remix? That’s an easy sell. All time selector DJ Spinna doesn’t really need any introduction but if you use spotify you might need one for this release–because this track isn’t on there. The original mix also gets play from me. A fresh and high quality release on Swedish label Cataleya Music for 2024.
9. Dubby Man - In The Space (Song for Joey)
I’m a sucker for broken beat type jams at the moment to throw into my sets to break things up. This one is pretty deep but sparse jazzy echoes and wafting airy synths keep things rolling. Even if I don’t play this one out i’ll keep it on rotation in the whip cause it’s good to drive to. B side deepness from the trusted deep explorer Dubbyman.
10. Medlar - JJB
Rounding thigns out is WOLF music mainstay Medlar who reaches out on a 90s bassline Garage/Jungle tip with this EP. Channeling his youth into this Happy Shopper series available now on bandcamp. Another fresh for 2024. Bless!