Some recent highlights

It Is What It Is – Masta Killa (Fat Beats, New York)

The quiet but deadly Shaolin assassin of Wu-Tang renown delivers another 12” of mid-nineties proportions with a fine verse from Ghostface. Nothing particularly new or smart about this one, just a classic style done to perfection.

What You Say Is More Than I Can Say (Isolee Speak & Spell Remix Long End) – Villalobos (Hard Wax, Berlin)

Isolee’s rework of Villalobos makes this a month of mutual remixes for the two powerhouses of reduced dancefloor symphonies - Villalobos having contributed an interpretation to “The Western Edits” from the former’s recent “Western Store” LP. Evidence, if it were needed, of Isolee’s enduring ear for subtle and beautifully crafted house music.

Alexandra – Cassy (Hard Wax, Berlin)

Perlon regular, Cassy, pays tribute to every party bore’s favourite… deep house. There are explicit nods to some fairly disparate elements: MAW, the bass sounds of early Warp techno and Detroit house music a la Serious Grooves.

Cursed Sleep – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billie (Reckless Records, Chicago)

A love song of unsettling, murky depths from Will Oldham’s latest, “The Letting Go”. Magnificently orchestrated and with an epic quality somehow reminiscent of those spiralling, bitter Dylan love-hate songs like “Idiot Wind” and “Sara”.

I Promise – Jeremy Warmsley (Pure Groove, London)

The most complete composition yet from young Londoner Jeremy Warmsley on the frequently brilliant Transgressive label. Programmed marching drums are augmented by wonderful harmonies, acoustic strums and majestically plinking piano and music box elements. So laden with lovely pathos its almost kitsch.