From Rivera's Groove Box #262: Jovonn - Love Destination

One of the best Jovonn tracks suffers unfortunately from one of the most awful mastering quality I've ever heard on a house record. Its bad sound has been notorious - too distorted, the bass sounds too heavy, overcompressed. And for years until the Mojuba repress, the record was really sought after and overpriced, with some copies fetching over few hundred quids on Discogs. But, it's still a great track - and while some deem it unplayable in clubs, I kinda appreciate its lo-fi quality. It gives the track some more personality.

From Rivera's Groove Box #261: Take One - Say My Name (I Don't Think So)

Sexy house. But since hasn't house music ever been sexy? It's dance music, it is supposed to feel sexy. George Morel made very nice garage sounding tracks, and he had his own sound - he didn't really work much with sampling other records (liiiike so many others did back then). Co-produced with Bobby D'Ambrosio, sexy vocals by Pamela Belcher (her only songwriting credit). Excuse me Charles, you want meee to say your name? I don't think so. 

From Rivera's Groove Box #260: Princess Di - Who's Dick This

Loudmouthed, X-rated, ghetto style New Jersey house. The beat is nice, as is its raw production, garage sounding grooves. Very nice. Princess Di also made a few other loudmouthed X-rated underground house tunes.

From Rivera's Groove Box #259: 1 800 Girls - U, Me And Madonna

This was probably my favorite house track from 2017! Lovely vid, kid got some serious vogue moves.

From Rivera's Groove Box #258: West Coast Swingaz - I Wanna Lose My Mind

As always, nothing makes my heart more warmer than a good garage house track. I can feel it!

From Rivera's Groove Box #257: James Braun - Tearjerker EP

James Braun - Tearjerker EP (Tartelet Records, 2017)

After a five-year hiatus, Tartelet mainstay James Braun returns with the EP Tearjerker, announcing his debut album for 2018.

I like the playful happy synth chord melodies of Tearjerker. Hakkebøf is a solid piece of hypnotic techno, one meant for those dark and sweaty basement dance nights. All tracks are very neatly put together with a superb sound quality. Deep and exciting dance music!

From Rivera's Groove Box #256: Justin Martin - Snow Day

Excellent deep, melancholic and dreamy house music.The day I uploaded this video to youtube, it was snowing and the snow stayed for a few days until it melted. The long term weather forecast says that in the bottom half of november, it will get colder and more snow is expected. December is promising to be very cold and snowy. I'm not that into cold weather and snow, but the kids love it!

From Rivera's Groove Box #255: Volruptus - Hessdalen

Iceland is a mystic land, and so is the techno music which originates from there. Producers like Exos, Bjarki, Ruxpin, Sanasol or Ozy are names which bring a smile to many techno music lovers all around the world. Volruptus is a new name from the Icelandic techno scene, but in a short time he has gained lot of attention with his doings. It's no wonder a forward-thinking techno label like Nina Kraviz Trip recordings has signed his latest EP. Volruptus is making classic sounding electro techno music, which is influenced from all things cosmic, extraterrestial, sci-fi and alien. In fact, Volruptus himself says he is an alien who has been reborn inside a human body with a mission to create and spread new and wonderful sounds to us unknowing humans. Listening to this track, I say that I totally believe this. Monochromatic music with crisp drum machine beats and weird beeping lazer synthesizers, which make the listener feel like he will start floating through space. It all sounds like Volruptus is trying to put together an intergalatic morse code, contacting some far out living alien civilization. I could see this music being compared easily with the likes of Drexciya, Legowelt or Hagues I-F, but Volruptus is still a newcomer and he has plenty of time to prove himself among these electro techno giants.

From Rivera's Groove Box #254: West Coast Swingaz - When I Think Of You

Deep, groovy, soulful, garage house vibes in this one!

From Rivera's Groove Box #253: Michael Watford - Holdin On'

Ron Trent says that this is among the best deep house track ever recorded. I agree. An early Roger Sanchez production, one of his finest.