This track only came out at the end of May ‘24, but I’ve probably played it more than any other tune this year. Such an intoxicating groove and an effortless flow on the vocals. A superb first release from Melle Jutte’s ‘Melleni’ moniker.
Bô’vel - Check 4 U
Make sure your bass bins are screwed down tight. I have loved this record since forever. It somehow manages to encapsulate all the genres I spent so much time listening to when I was young; 90’s R&B; UK streetsoul; lover’s rock; house; and yet it still doesn’t sound old. Timeless, energetic, soulful.
DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. Erro - Rock Wit U (Yoruba Soul Mix) - Dub
Everyone has at least one track that never leaves their record box, and this is my one. I have played it a thousand times and I’ll play it another thousand. I’d happily listen to it at anyone else’s set in between. Utterly timeless deep house remix by one of the masters of the genre.
Muzzy D Pilot, DJ Mavuthela, Ribby De DJ, Rhino - Shay’mpempe (Amapiano mix)
In August 2021, I saw my musical hero Gilles Peterson in Brighton with my brother. I’d only heard this track a day or two before on a house dancer’s instagram page and thought “Yes, what is this?!”, then Gilles dropped it while we were standing in front of the speakers. I love it when that happens.
Shaun Escoffery - Days Like This (Spinna & Ticklah mix)
This hits me in the same way Omar’s ‘There’s Nothing Like This’, or Maxwell’s ‘Ascension’ does. It’s not a song you just hum along to, you have to pin back your shoulders, point your mouth up to the sky and belt it like a Pentecostal priest.
Simbad ft. Steelo- Soul Fever (original mix)
I bought so many records off the Raw Fusion label in the early 2000’s, and this glitchy, soulful, bouncy track from French producer Simbad was my favourite of the lot.