Alexander Kowalski – Changes (2006)

Sep 28, 2010 by Mr. Nau This album is full of well-produced minimal techno tracks, abstract grooves, and collaborations with the likes of Joris Voorn and Funk D’Void. The music here is warm, full of soul, and mercilessly pounding. With a little touch of disco, this ten-count set features plenty of head-nodding moments. Grade: A-. [...]

Spirit Catcher – Coast 2 Coast (2009)

Sep 13, 2010 by Mr. Nau In this set of spaced-out instrumental deep house tracks, Spirit Catcher presents a collection of dancefloor-friendly cuts on two CDs — one with the tracks unmixed and the other with the same songs in a continuous mix. The track selection is beautiful and full of obscure bumping European gems. [...]

Spånka NKPG – Volume Two (2002)

Sep 13, 2010 by Mr. Nau Spånka NKPG, a Swedish house music collective, put together a dozen well-produced tracks unfortunately destroyed by a vocalist who wrote lazy, predictable lyrics on a spiral notebook in the sound booth moments before he started singing them. The funky deep grooves would be so much better here as instrumentals. [...]

Afterdark: Milan (2006)

Aug 22, 2010 by Mr. Nau In this compilation from Kinkysweet’s Afterdark city series, DJs Harley and Muscle each spin a deep house set to showcase Milan’s scene. The track selection here is wonderful here and, with a good ratio of vocal tunes and instrumental cuts, this sultry collection will please both househeads and newcomers [...]

Âme – Coast 2 Coast (2007)

Aug 22, 2010 by Mr. Nau This collection of tech house tracks features two disks, one of them a continuously mixed DJ set with a few strange voiceovers and samples, and the other an unmixed DJ-friendly disk with the same tracks. The music here is spaced out and hypnotic, a solid group of bumping gems. [...]

Eddie Amador – ICU Session, Volume 2 (1999)

Aug 21, 2010 by Mr. Nau In this DJ set from 1999, Eddie Amador puts together a relaxed mix of funky house music grooves, including a few vocal tracks. Some of the transitions here are a little abrupt and some of the remixes are dated, but this collection is a nice background for driving or [...]

Donald Glaude – Mixed Live: Buzz @ Nation (2001)

Aug 21, 2010 by Mr. Nau Donald Glaude thumps uptempo house grooves through the speakers at a Washington, DC, night club in this fun set from Moonshine Music from 2001. The tracks here are mostly funky house music at 132 bpm with plenty of backspins and other mixer tricks thrown in to excite the cheering [...]

Pepper Adams – Encounter! (1968)

Mar 15, 2010 by Mr. Nau On this beautiful hard bop album from 1968, baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams plays a number of originals, obscure jazz charts, and standards. He’s joined by Tommy Flanagan, Zoot Sims, Ron Carter, and Elvin Jones. The music here is thoroughly enjoyable, beautifully played, and accessible even to people new to [...]

Miles Davis – Bags’ Groove (1954)

Mar 15, 2010 by Mr. Nau Miles Davis leads a breathtaking ensemble in this set of dates from 1954. With Sonny Rollins (tenor saxophone), Horace Silver (piano), and three members of the Modern Jazz Quartet, this set of five songs is a superb example of tight improvisation and effortless musical chemistry between these astonishing jazz [...]

Oliver Koletzki – Großstadtmärchen (2009)

Mar 15, 2010 by Mr. Nau In this sophomore effort (Urban Fairy Tales in English) by Berlin-based house music producer, Oliver Koletzki, funky basslines, beautiful arrangements, soaring vocals in German and English, and laid-back rhythms create a compelling musical journey. These minimal house grooves vary in tempo and make for a very interesting experience. Grade: [...]

« go back — keep looking »