Originally released in 2014, Strut reissues Hardcore Traxx: Dance Mania Records 1986-1997, the ultimate retrospective of one of Chicago’s most influential and pioneering house music labels.
Rising as a raw alternative to giants like Trax and DJ International in the mid-‘80s, Dance Mania continued to represent the heartbeat of Chicago’s street-level club music throughout the ‘90s, playing a key role in the creation of the Ghetto House sound. Learn More
Space Ghost is excited to announce the release of Dream Tool, a four track 12” EP produced by Space Ghost himself. Dream Tool offers up four spacious house tunes exploring Space Ghost’s signature style of dance music. Each track is equipped with groovin’ drums, atmospheric pads, catchy piano melodies, and bouncy basslines. Dream Tool is the debut release of Space Ghost’s new label, Peace World Records. Learn More
Michele Manzo's Niños Del Mar on DIRT TECH RECK is a dynamic blend of Latin rhythms, soulful grooves, and deep house. The LP seamlessly merges organic sounds with electronic beats, radiating warmth and energy. Learn More
Francois Kevorkian is a name that needs no introduction. With a career spanning over four decades, FK has worn many hats—drummer, DJ, A&R exec, remixer, and producer—each showcasing his boundless talent. From the early days of New York’s club scene, sharing booths with pioneers like Walter Gibbons and Larry Levan, Kevorkian has been a central figure since day one. His years spent in the city’s most iconic nightspots sharpened his musical instincts, eventually landing him a role as A&R at the legendary Prelude Records in the early ‘80s. That move opened doors to collaborations with a who’s who of music royalty—The Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Erasure, D-Train, Yazoo, The Smiths, Kraftwerk, and countless others. A true NYC original, Kevorkian remains active to this day, and the respect he commands within the industry is as strong as ever. His genre-defying DJ sets, groundbreaking remixes, and ever-curious musical ear have solidified his status as a true pioneer. Learn More
The American female vocal trio First Choice released their rendition of 'Love and Happiness' in 1973. The track is a cover of Al Green's original released just a year earlier in 1972, but First Choice's version was perhaps helped along the way by a peak case of nominative determinism: for us, theirs is the first choice. Featured on their debut album, Armed and Extremely Dangerous, it stood out on the Philly soul girl gang's record as one of the records most propitious to sampling by house and techno musicians, such as Todd Terry and Jungle Brothers. But this time, the legacy of this preceptive soulful-house interplay is honoured by a newly reissued remix by the mysterious but titanic Chicago producer Ron Hardy, whose inclusion on the record is the real star here. Hardy's signature reel-to-reel fuzzes and presence-bled hues effect recollections of a pre-DAW production setup, and the resonances of dub (woodblocks, four-tone hooks, burly basslines) nest the original Al Green vocal nicely.
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Detroit's stalwart Kyle Hall is back on Apnea Records with "Crimson Clouds," his second release for the label following the acclaimed "Cosmic Touch." This acid-infused record is a tribute to Detroit's electronic legacy, drawing inspiration from the 90s sound of labels like Matrix and Underground Resistance, all while injecting Hall's unmistakable modern flair.
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Brian Harden is a second generation Chicago House head, starting in 1995 under the wings of Glenn Underground, being part of the legendary Strictly Jaz Unit. His work on Detroit's Mike Grant and his Moods & Grooves label should also be noted. One of his most famous works is his second EP on Cajmere's Relief Records, originally issued in 1996. Learn More