From Rivera's Groove Box #400: Wizzard Of Wax - Fantasy (Close Ya Eyes)

Just like Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry or Masters At Work in the early part of the 90s – Armand Van Helden was at the top of the game when it came to making deep, groovy and soulful tracks with a bouncy bass and wicked drums. This is a very early production from the start of his career, when his productions weren't really tailor fitted for the popular charts, unlike the hits he later became widely known for.

From Rivera's Groove Box #399: Mike Dixon - Merry G-Swing Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! There aren't really that much good Christmas themed dance music out there, and many of them sound a bit quirky and camp, or just weird. King Street released a Christmas themed deep house compilation in 2007 - Christmas In The House. But for me, it had a bit too much serious gospel vibes going on. Mike Dixon is from Chicago and was one of the first to make his own brand of swing house, which I would have to say kind of predicted the coming of the later popular Electro Swing style.

From Rivera's Groove Box #398: Wyndell Long - She Heard Me Cry

In my opinion, this is the very best work produced by Chicago veteran Wyndell Long, who is mostly known for his very loud and banging basement style techno stompers he has made for labels like Djax-Up-Beats, Intense and Primate. With the tempo slowed down a bit, you'll get a nice deep house track.

From Rivera's Groove Box #397: DJ Hyperactive - Chicago

I'm seeing a lot of renewed love for Chicago's well known techno DJ and producer DJ Hyperactive, who's busiest days were in the 90s, where he released a string of well received raw and pounding warehouse classics. It was very nice to see him featured in the second techno blind test episode from Telekom Electronic Beats. Also Eris Drew & Octo Octa used 'Reptilian Tank' in their latest Fabric mix, which seems a fitting tribute. My favorite track from the Chicagoan techno veteran is the minimal acid cut from 1994 - Chicago!

From Rivera's Groove Box #396: N.Y. Connection - The Push

As played by Andrew Weatherall in his amazing 1996 Essental Mix. What a great mix that is, with a selection of deep and funky house tracks. The way the tracks are mixed together is a very fine example of a good DJ mix. Andrew Weatherall lets the tracks really breathe, and the blending is class.

From Rivera's Groove Box #395: SZCH - Untitled A

I really do miss the bright period of the second coming of lo-fi house music (2010-2018), the ideas many producers brought to the table were exciting and fresh. But from the moment this sound went really big with likes of  Mall Grab, Ross From Friends, DJ Seinfeld or Demuja, and tutorials started to appear on the web 'how to make lo-fi house' - it all became watered down and kinda lost its groove. SZCH made some of the most enthralling lo-fi edits, this one is rework of Michael Jackson's 'The Lady In My Life'.

From Rivera's Groove Box #394: DTR ‎– How Many Times? (Unity) (Acid Theme)

One of my best friends used to describe this tune as the perfect waking up in the morning track. Back then I didn't really understand it, but maybe she was right? Another Nu Groove classic track which is slowly desending into an underground cult status.

From Rivera's Groove Box #393: Pete Conman - Amplitued Modulation

There's really no info about Pete Conman out there, than the fact he released two records for the US division of Force Inc, the iconic German techno label in the 90s. Describing this track as a proper early example of tech house seems fitting. I can envision this sitting perfectly suited on a compilation like Terry Lee Brown's 'Terry's Cafe' series.

From Rivera's Groove Box #392: Abstrac & Lady Penelope - 10 Times A Day

Ah, UK style garage house - it's misunderstood by many, who don't think it is on par with the classic house sound of Chicago, New York and Detroit. But it has brought to us so many underrated classics, which deserve more praise. This Donna Dee production has not ever been released digitally. Very nice track, with lush chords and sensual vocals.

From Rivera's Groove Box #391: Black Rascals - Keeping My Mind

True early 90s deep house gem. Produced by Blaze, I don't even know if I prefer the vocal, dub or instrumental mix of the track. It all sounds equally just so good. This is why house will always be king.

From Rivera's Groove Box #390: Johan Kaseta - Everytime (I Talk To You)

Cold weather has taken its course for this spring, but this track brings the summer vibes into the soul. Groovy salsa house!

From Rivera's Groove Box #389: Highrise - Swings & Roundabouts SNR001 A1

Excellent UK 4x4 garage vibes from jungle producer Dwarde. Stripped down minimal keyboard patterns, deep lush pads and skippy beats with a swing. And that booming in a subtle way sub-bass!

From Rivera's Groove Box #388: Ian Pooley - Cold Wait

'Cold Wait' is an overlooked 90s deep house classic, one of Pooley's finest works. Lush pads and sensuous vocals carry the track for the whole nine trippy minutes. He opened up his 1998 Essential Mix with this track - what a great intro to a DJ set! Forget the remixes, they don't bring much to the table, even though Kevin Saunderson, Attaboy and Bicep are heavyweight names in dance music. This just shows how amazing and untouchable the original mix is.

From Rivera's Groove Box #387: Big Pharma - Danca Com El Diablo

This really sounds like Joey Youngman. Or Bosco & Terell, Count Funkula, Frequent Flyers, Mario Fabriani, Spyro Pappadopoulos, The Girth, White Collar Criminals... but we can't be 100% sure, because a lot of producers have tried to copy his unique sound over the years and Joey Youngman has always been secretive about his aliases and likes to keep it mysterious. Some mysticity can be a good thing, when it comes to music. What is certain, is that this tune is banging! 

From Rivera's Groove Box #386: Servo Unique - Swing It

Jeff Mills 1993 one-release tech-house project. The vinyl release has not been repressed and it has become quite rare. Features legendary synth stabs, a pounding TR-909 kick together with some percussions from the Roland TR-727 (the latin drum kit version of the TR-707). Simple, minimal yet very effective.

From Rivera's Groove Box #385: Ordinary People - Baby You Make My Heart Sing

Sought after UK garage classic from 1997. Timeless deep house sounds with lush keys, passionate vocals and skippy beats to make your feet move. Makes me feel soft and fuzzy all up inside.

From Rivera's Groove Box #384: White Gloss - Backup Plan B

"Deconstructed club", or "post-club" - they're umbrella terms from the always hip music magazines like Resident Advisor or Fact to describe any sort of new dance music which is hard to put into a certain genre. Old-timers jokingly refer to the sound of post-club "it's just breaks", although the sound has very often a certain edge of pretentiousness and IDM leaning side, which can be off-putting sometimes. Identified by aggressive, frantic, post-industrial sound design featuring metallic or staccato sounds such as samples of glass smashing, gunshots, random vocal shouts, rave stabs etc, deconstructed club aims for an excessive, apocalyptic-sounding soundscape, with constant rhythmic switch-ups and atonality. It's a sound which allows its creators to experiment in a lot of unorthodox ways. Trancey mid-90s synth riffs, 150 to 200BPM gabber beats, grime claps, jittery footwork, momentary atmospheric breathers, pop mashups - everything goes. Because of the nervousness of the sound, it definitely isn't for everyone and requires a certain degree of open mindedness. There's a microscene of post-club music rising in Estonia, with artists like White Gloss, Bible Club, Köster, Myspace01, the mysterious hardcore techno projects Boys Mit Uns and Hetero Holocaust. Their DIY leisuring casualness in making music and organizing events is very welcoming. White Gloss recently debuted his debut EP on Estonian underground label Internet Cafe, collaborating with handcraft-cassette manufacturer Trash Can Dance, who made a limited run of tapes. I think it's fitting to call it one of the prime examples of current status of domestic post-club sounds.

From Rivera's Groove Box #383: FJAAK - City Club

FJAAK is really blowing up right now, hope they'll stay on the right track. Their output seems to be very influenced by Shed aka René Pawlowitz, who has been one of the most prolific techno artists in the last ten years. 'City Club' is a proper stomper!

From Rivera's Groove Box #382: DJ Deeon - Do-U-C

Classic Chicago brewed house music from DJ Deeon. Vocal samples come from Caroline Crawford's 'Coming on Strong' which is a favorite disco record from the likes of Moodymann, Theo Parrish, Rick Wilhite and many old school house heroes. A Bohannon produced song, the vintage robust sounding synth-melodies give it a very proto-house feeling. Drew Sky also used the same samples in 'U Can't See Me' (1994) and Traxman 'What Do You See' (2020).

From Rivera's Groove Box #381: Nina Kraviz - Aus (Victor Rosado Release Yourself Mix)

One night I saw Nina Kraviz in my dream. We hanged out and then proceeded to cook some soup together. I hope it was borscht. This is the only Nina Kraviz record that I own, it's a very interesting disco influenced remix from New York's Victor Rosado, I'm not sure it's even official.

From Rivera's Groove Box #380: Paul Rudder - Raw Love

This one's already getting heavy play by Berlin's 803 Meme & House Music Queen Cinthie. I feel it's Paul Rudder's (not to be confused with the actor Paul Rudd, ha!) best work yet. A deep garage groove with some nice looping hats (not the ones you wear on your head), something you'd usually hear from Mr. G's works. An vinyl only affair on Jon Billick's Cahoots Record label.

From Rivera's Groove Box #379: Joey Musaphia - What We Need

Taking the loop from Kerri Chandler - Atmosphere and giving it a little more oomph and shuffle. Very effective deep garage house from Joey Musaphia's 90s 'Cover Ups' series.

From Rivera's Groove Box #378: Dr. Shemp - Do What You Like

Dr. Shemp is really awesome at making very old school influenced garage house tracks! Masterfully created, respectful tributes to the golden age of 90s house music. After years of putting out quality tracks on small independent digital labels, he finally made his big tribute on wax this year for Marc Cotterells Plastik People Recordings offshoot Rhythm People Recordings.

From Rivera's Groove Box #377: Shanti Celeste - Days Like This

Have you ever felt like you've been hit like a brick, or feeling empty like a script which nobody read. Or maybe you feel today like you're a joke without a punchline? Growing up, nobody ever warned me about days like this. Days like this never end. This song makes me feel melancholic. But I feel it's one of Shanti Celeste's best works, it should have been on her debut album 'Tangerine'. It's also her own voice singing, which she should do more often, because she has a really wonderful soothing voice.

From Rivera's Groove Box #376: Matt Early & Ray Hurley Feat. Abi Flynn - Get To Me Once (Mike Millrain Remix)

Soulful! Deep! Beautiful! Ray Hurley and Mike Millrain are veteran UK garage house producers, so you can trust the vibe. Very nice vocals from Abi Flynn. A true musician, Mike Millrain was heavily involved in the Nice 'N' Ripe crew and a member of Mike Skinner's project The Streets.

From Rivera's Groove Box #375: Cinthie - Everything I Say

Supertight deep house groove from Berlin based DJ-producer-record store and label owner Cinthie. Loving the stripped down garage feeling this track brings. Cinthie is a nice and wonderful person to follow on social media who interacts often with her fans, and she is getting recognized in the dance music scene more and more everyday which makes me happy for her!

From Rivera's Groove Box #374: Fellows - Rise Up

Today I read a cute and funny comment under a house track on the tube. It said: 'underground house is my girlfriend'. Oh yes, she can be a good girl indeed. For those who support proper early 90s house, Fellows 'Rise Up' is a very dangerous tune.

From Rivera's Groove Box #373: D_Roots - Let Me Go

A very beautiful deep house track which puts Smokey Robinson's 'Being With You' lyrics into good use: 'be out of the picture, and off of the screen, don't let them say we told you so, they tell me you'll love me and then let me go'. Another very good deep house track to sample the same Smokey Robinson song is Jack Fell Down 'Smoking With You'.

From Rivera's Groove Box #372: Trackstars - Bonanza

Trackstars (Delroy Edwards & Benedek) released this wonderful EP last year which is a proper nod to the classic house sounds of Chicago. Analogue and lo-fi in a lovely way. One of my favorite records from the L.I.E.S. label, that's for sure!

From Rivera's Groove Box #371: DJ Backspin - Speechless

He's back! And I'm truly speechless... I thought DJ Backspin will remain this mysterious dude with only one big track ('Weapon '97') and then fading into obscurity, and here he is back again with such a massive newschool 4x4 garage track which puts many imitators of the 'back in the days' sound to shame. I'm truly amazed how this producer has achieved a rich and complex sound design. Everything sounds so random, but so neat and polished at the same time. Massive!

From Rivera's Groove Box #370: Artist Unknown - Baby Baby Please

A rapturous disco roof raiser. Very simple and minimalistic edit work - 'Baby Baby Please' mixes two tracks together (Marcello Giordani 'Oh! Superman (Disco Spacer Mix)' and Thelma Houston ‎'Don't Leave Me This Way') with an additional dark synth lead played on top. Very fascinating is the fact that mashups like this have still the potential to hit big in the underground scene and become sort of sought after future classics, I thought the big 'selling like hot cakes' mashup era remained somewhere in the last decade. Still, I give this thumbs up!

From Rivera's Groove Box #369: The Klubb Kidz - Come On (Skool Flava Mix)

But why is it, that a simple sound collage with some disco beat drums underneath it, and few synthesizer stabs makes you feel so good and great inside?

From Rivera's Groove Box #368: Sounds Of Blackness - Testify (12'' Hallelujah Dub)

This is a CJ Mackintosh classic remix, which displays his soulful garage sounds which he is most famous with. A great DJ, a great producer and remixer, although releasing music solo under his own name, he had just two dance singles. His DJ mixes are mixed together with real precision and they feel amazingly uplifting - I really enjoy the mixes he put out for Nervous Recordings.

From Rivera's Groove Box #367: Mike Huckaby - The Jazz Republic

Sadly Mike Huckaby has passed away. He was one of the key players of the Detroit deep house scene, he wasn't maybe the most prolific producer from Motor City, but his signature sound of subtle jazzy chords, disco drums and carefully picked samples was unmistakably recognizable and loved by many.

From Rivera's Groove Box #366: Callisto - Junkle II

Superb deep house from 1997. Loving the thick dubby bassline, ambient synths and driving percussion. Sadly Callisto passed away in 2013. House music forever.

From Rivera's Groove Box #365: NYC Live & Direct - Move Like This

Davidson Ospina project, from 1998. A soulful NYC house and Philly disco influenced groove, with filtered electronic keys and dancefloor chants. Using some musical elements from Carrie Lucas 'Street Corner Symphony'. 

From Rivera's Groove Box #364: Royal Crown Of Sweden - Mälaren

Huerco S channeling some sweet 90s disco vibes, sampling the late seventies horny disco vibes of Donna McGhee 'Do As I Do'. 

From Rivera's Groove Box #363: Lokiboi - Daily Grind

Here's some daily grind for ya. A nice little lo-fi deep house jam with electric key chords and clunking percussion. Samples some vocals from Jomanda 'Make My Body Rock'.

From Rivera's Groove Box #362: JT Company - You Company (Working Happily Mix)

Serious garage house vibes. Workin' Happily was an italian house project who made some timeless sounding deep garage tracks. JT Company is one of Joey T. Vanelli's aliases.

From Rivera's Groove Box #361: DJ HMC - Hypnotizin' Funk

House music is repetitive and loopy in its nature, but every now and then some producers exercise in extremities, like this funky Donna Summers 'Spring Affair' sampling track here from the Australian pioneering DJ HMC. Totally banging. 

From Rivera's Groove Box #360: Cindy Lee - Just For Loving You I Pay The Price

Okay, we've been too long on a house music only stride. At the beginning of this blog, I posted a lot more different alternative music. I do listen to a lot of variety of music. I love everything what sounds unique and different. It just happens that house and electronic dance music are my favorite, but I do love a lot of rock music. I also dig lo-fi so much, and dream pop, and shoegaze. When I heard Cindy Lee aka Patrick Flegel it struck with me immediately. Some people call this kind of music hypnagogic pop, but I think it's one of the most ridiculous names for any music style. The album 'What's Tonight To Eternity' is such a beautiful listen. Almost perfect indie-pop.

Just for loving you I pay the price; When I think of you, no I don't think twice;  If you’re walking out of my life I can’t follow you and make it right; What am I willing to put on the line; Dreams of someone new; When I close my eyes; When I think of you I lose my mind

From Rivera's Groove Box #359: Cherie Lee - Love Me Or Leave Me

Such amazing dubby garage house vibes in this mother. Considered as a secret deep house weapon by guys like Brawther and Jeremy Underground. Thanks to Cinthie for finding out about this gem. She's such a great record digger and DJ. 

From Rivera's Groove Box #358: Roger S - Magic

Early Roger Sanchez at his best. A nice garage track with house music staple samples, like Loleatta Holloway's vocals. Good drum programming with sharp synth stabs. Simple and effective groove. It's actually a remix he did for Johnick's All Star Madness project. It was a Johnick track called 'Magic' which featured a bunch of versions and remixes from all the mid 90s house big names like Kenny Dope, MK and his brother Scott Kinchen, DJ Sneak, Armand Van Helden, Farley & Heller, E-Smoove, Tommy Musto and Victor Simonelli, Todd Terry, UBQ Project, Maurice Joshua. Wow, that's a proper remix package! But you can find the extended version of Roger S 'Magic' only on the CD version of 'Secret Weapons Vol. 2'.

From Rivera's Groove Box #357: Jason Nevins - Can't Stop The Feeling

Jason Nevins started up just like a lot of other New York city producers and DJs, releasing well produced singles under various monikers through many underground dance labels, like Nervous Records, TRIBAL America, Cutting Traxx, Freeze Records. This track right here is released on Todd Terry's TNT label for example. His early catalogue of tracks sound exactly like the house sound which was popular in the early 90s - garage, tribal, electro, ravey stuff for the sweaty NY's warehouse and basement clubs. Being influenced by hip hop, he used a variety of known rap and hip hop samples in his tracks. That's ultimately how he remixed Run DMC's 'It's Like That' in 1997, which became a big hit in 1998 and stayed in top charts for weeks. The remix made Nevins a well respected remixer and producer in pop music, where he works to this day. Nowadays his underground days are over, but the old school tracks sound still fresh and are worth picking up.

From Rivera's Groove Box #356: Schatzi Edits - A1 Schatzi Vol 6

Disco edits is big business nowadays. Lot of guys do edits and put them up digitally, and the bolder ones go one step beyond and even press them to wax. Of course, not crediting the original creator the music was sampled from is very poor form, but it's a way of being precautious from the labels side - there have been cases of unlicensed remixes being ordered to taken off sale. I don't even know what is the original song for this one here! Schatzi is a sub-label of Brooklyn's Let's Play House, and has done some fine edits, which have become popular by many house DJs and the 'Schatzi' stamp has become synonymous with quality end product.

From Rivera's Groove Box #355: Komatos - My Daze In The Netherlands

Todd Gibson made dance records for New York's Strictly Rhythm and Chicago's Saber and Housetime Records labels (both Trax sidelabels), which is very cool - because these cities had a vibrant house scene. Komatos is a a very nice project from him with very lo-fi-esque tracks, stripped back, kinda minimal vibes - but very good basslines with a strong groove. The groove is essential in house music, and you can say that it is important in dance music overall. A strong groove carries the whole track and it grabs your attention. When you're not feeling the groove, you're just not in the right mindset.

From Rivera's Groove Box #354: Einstein & Chewy - It's In Ya

First of all, the name Einstein & Chewy must be one of the coolest for a production team ever. Makes me the think of an alternate universe, where Star Wars Chewbacca is teaming up with a garage house professor of science - Dr. Einstein. These guys made some mad good tracks under different aliases and released them on their own label Groove Yard Records. Like the case with so many other garage house tracks from the 'Sunday Garage' period, these records have become quite rare. A lot of these records also suffer from low pressing quality, making the tracks sound really lo-fi and raw. But that's what also gives it some proper underground vibes.

From Rivera's Groove Box #353: RIP Productions - She's Got

RIP Productions are probably one of the best house production duos of all time. They're mostly known for their highly sought after garage house tracks, but DJ Omar and Tim Deluxe absolutely know how to make a good disco house groove work, as can be heard in this track. It really does sound like the disco edits which have been really popular in the past few years, but RIP Productions have predated the sound over 20 years ago. It's a track which is known to be a favorite of Daft Punk, back when they still actively did DJ sets. Proper feel good house!

From Rivera's Groove Box #352: Surface - Falling In Love

Disco time! This is the very first single of the post-disco/r&b band Surface, which was released in 1983 on the legendary Salsoul Records. It features Karen Copeland on vocals, who shortly after that left the group. She also sang on the next single 'When Your X Wants You Back', but after that Bernard Jackson took over the vocal duties, and the band changed much of their sound. 'Falling In Love' is a loved disco anthem, and sampled much in house music, especially the intro part of the song. Victor Simonelli used it in Cloud 9 'Do You Want Me' - a beautiful deep house groover, and Mella Dee used it for 'Out Of Love'. 

From Rivera's Groove Box #351: Emiel Emmereend - Everybody Dance

Is this is a suprise, that this is another one of Legowelt's aliases? He has used the name Emiel Emmereend only two times, to do some bootleg remixes too illegitimate to release (the other remix is for Yazoo 'Don't Go'). Would be cool if he'd do some more remixes with this alias, because this track is a real corker! You can download it for free from his homepage download section right here. It's sampling one of Chic's most known songs. Everybody dance, do-do-do, clap your hands, clap your hands!

From Rivera's Groove Box #350: DJ Spinback - Weapon 97

Definition of a thumper. DJ Backspin is a mysterious producer with not much info about him, except that he is from the UK, but even that is not a sure fact. But he sure is a real DJ, because you can find some old soulful house mixes from him from the web. Because of this track, vinyl copies have become sought after by vinyl purists and the track has gathered a sort of cult following in the garage house scene. It's only one of three tracks made by him which have been released, the other is a remix of this one ('Taste The Darkside VIP' remix, a more nastier and darker version) and a grime track titled 'True 2002'. Hope to hear more tracks like this from this secretive and mystical dude!

From Rivera's Groove Box #349: Karlos Moran - Woodrow Street

Karlos Moran is a really mysterious producer. There are some, who even think he is a made up alias by some more famous producer. At first I thought, that he's some unknown forgotten Chicago producer from the past who's tapes have just been discovered and now finally released. It would make up a nice story, but appearantly Karlos is a very real person and a fairly recent producer who has released a string of very strong house EPs on his own imprint Moran Music Group. Karlos has catched that old school house music spirit very greatly. All of Karlos tracks are magnificently put together, with nice mellow melodies, and they have some warm lo-fi vibes, which gives them a nostalgic feel. Strong energy, great atmospheres. I don't say this often, but Karlos Moran is a producer to keep an eye out for. I highly suggest checking out his whole discography, because it contains many hidden house gems.

From Rivera's Groove Box #348: Disco Elements - Girl I'm A Free Man

To my suprise this early Rob Mello project is sampling another classic house track from 1991 - El Barrio's 'So Confused'. I've always loved those chords on that track. In the early days of house music, everybody sampled everybody, and there was no fuss about it. Only very seldom there was problems about clearing samples. When house records started shifting and selling in bigger numbers, only then many producers started risking with legal action being taken against them. Nowadays labels are very strict with copyright control and you could get into trouble when taking a beat or vocal samples from very known labels like Strictly Rhythm or Nervous Records.

There's a a charm to those old sample heavy classic house tracks - they don't make tracks like this anymore. The technology is changed, many newer house tracks are missing the rougher edge, the raw soul, and very often, they have no heart, spirit or feeling.

From Rivera's Groove Box #347: The Melody - Tonight Is Fine

Very early Speedy J project. A nice ravey club house cut with a simple melody which will get stuck easily in your head for days. Recently Shanti Celeste presented this track as one of her favorite B-Sides on Telekom Electronic Beats TV. After that, you can guess already - the prices for this record skyrocketed on Discogs! There is loads of more similar techno from The Netherlands to explore and discover from the early 90s. While some of them might have been considered very cheesy sounding for years, the club scene of nowadays is changing rapidly to a more open minded scene where anything goes.

From Rivera's Groove Box #346: Shanti Celeste - Need Your Lovin' (Baby)

Shanti Celeste's debut track, and in my opinion, still her best. It's Classy, a little bit of 1990s US House leaning, samples vocals from Thelma Houston's 'Don't Leave Me This Way' in a really nice way, although it's not the first and probably not last time this song is sampled in a house track (HBN 'Need Your Love' comes in mind, superb track and a recommended listen for house heads). Shanti Celeste released recently her debut album 'Tangerine' which is lacking in tracks like this, but has some nice techno feeling dance tracks and dreamy ambient cuts.

From Rivera's Groove Box #345: Alex M - It Works

Holy freaking moly dude, what the hell - how haven't I heard this one before? This is a very early production from John Mateo & Eddie Matos. I've been a long time follower of their music and productions, but this project has escaped me so far. I was very suprised by the complex and deep nature of this early 90s New York deep house track. Gotta love those sweet vocal chops, nice drums, and the rumbling Juno 60 bass notes (very reminiscent of Mr. Fingers 'Can You Feel It'!). Appearantly, this is not a very rare EP anymore because this has been repressed numerous times, especially during recent years. Only showing that this is a treasured and loved release for house lovers all around the world. A very close friend once said to me, that 'maybe you don't understand yet, but house is simply the best music out there to listen and discover'. I do listen to a lot of different music, but I can only wholeheartedly agee. House is the best. 

From Rivera's Groove Box #344: Alias G - Natural Love

I used to think for years that Alias G was a Marcus Mixx project, but now I know better that they are two different persons and Alias G is a protégé of Marcus. Really rough and natural dance grooves straight from the heart and soul of house music, the city of Chicago. Love this raw lo-fi vibe this track is oozing.

From Rivera's Groove Box #343: Solid Groove - Jus' Dance

One of my treasured record digging finds. I found this at a small record fair in Tallinn Old Town, some eight years ago, which was happening at a nice and cozy venue called Hoov. The record was a bargain sale for 0.50€ cents. Hoov was an open space court with a small bar and stage, right in the middle of Old Town. It was a very special place, where many good events happened and there were always good people around. I was not living in Tallinn, so I never really got a good chance to check the place out in its busiest days. Nowadays, I think the place is a private property with its gates closed for those living in the renovated surrounding apartments. 

This record is a very early Solid Groove (aka Switch aka Dave Taylor) production. He was really big around the first decade of the 2000s, then faded into obscurity. I don't think he is active anymore. There are some really neat Solid Groove remixes he did for other artists worth checking out (Magic Johnson 'Feel Alright' comes in mind!). Also, one of his biggest hit 'This Is Sick' (2005) is being thought by many as a forerunner for the outsider lo-fi house music which is really popular at the moment (artists like Huerco S, Anthony Naples, Rezzett, Terekke, Kassem Mosse, The Analogue Cops, DJ Haus, Patricia, Willie Burns, Florian Kupfer and many others...).

From Rivera's Groove Box #342: Blak 'N' Spanish - Call Da Vibe

Chunky stompin garage anthem. Really great track, influenced by the US deep scene of New York and New Jersey garage house, made just before the new school wave of UK garage arrived with its 2 step beats, which eventually transformed later into grime, then into dubstep, and now it seems people are talking something about UK bass music, which I honestly have no clue about, because I'm not so good following trends. The producers behind this project are also known as Restless Soul - mostly for their broken beats and latin flavored deep house tracks.

From Rivera's Groove Box #341: House Syndicate - Jam The Mace

So it's the first day of 2020 for me, I sleep too much, I wake up almost noon and I'm very disappointed in myself, because I wanted to wake up much earlier and do some writing work. I remember to check out the new issue of Legowelts cyberzine 'Shadow Wolf' episode 8. It's a good read, but not as good as previous issues. From that magazine, I click a link to the Intergalactic FM webpage. There, this track, which is sampling Technotronic is playing. I feel embarrased, because the track feels very familiar, but I can't seem to remember, if I have even heard it before? I think, is it a newer track from some lo-fi outside techno or house producer? Why haven't I heard about this before? So many questions, but I have no ID for the track. So I go to check whosampled dot com for all the tracks containing samples from Technotronic 'Pump Up The Jam' and I find this - House Syndicate. And again, I feel embarrased. Because this is an early Kenny Dope project from 1990, and I should know this, especially because I have always thought I know the Masters At Work discography very well, but appearantly there are still gaps, haha. And it's weird, that I haven't checked out this EP because I know House Syndicate's previous work 'Kickin Ass' ver well. Oh yes, discovering new and exciting music, it is an neverending journey. I think 'Jame The Mace' is a really well done early house track. It's very raw in production, very lo-fi, which makes it sound really raw and old-school, proper underground sound. Very well programmed drums and beats, clever sampling. A lot of people seem to not like this track and call it a whack track and too simple, but I disagree. I think it's a true classic. A banger which still sounds very exciting 30 years later.