Following a string of big remixes for the likes of Underground Resistance keys man Jon Dixon, Dave Lee, Miguel Migs and his downtempo LP Birdhouse, we’re pleased to announce a new Jimpster EP entitled Tribute. Featuring South African vocalist Mavhungu and two remixes from Yoruba maestro Osunlade, the release shows Jamie Odell in fine form fusing deep, afro and soulful house on the lead track and rubber-bassline bouncing jazz and acid lurking on the B2. Leading the EP, Tribute is a track inspired by Jamie’s trips to South Africa, a country hailed by many as the deep house capitol of the world. Having played there many times over the years he always returns feeling energised by the sights, sounds and experiences. Having recently remixed a track for Foliage featuring Mavhungu it felt like a natural move to collaborate together on an original track and here she delivers a brilliant vocal celebrating the beauty of Africa in her native language Venda. Mixing up organic and electronic sounds is something Jimpster has always done to great effect, ensuring there is a looseness and bounce to the groove with contemporary sonic textures blending with classic Rhodes pads and analogue synth lines. Who better to draft in for a remix than the Yoruba Soul maestro himself, Osunlade. The producer and DJ whose music has been knocking our socks off since first hearing his debut LP Paradigms in 2001 stays true to his roots on two versions of Tribute. Th first goes heavier on the vocal, keeping the instrumentation and groove more stripped back leaving plenty of space for subtle Rhodes chords and synth flourishes to shine. His Jazzstrumental version switches up the groove and pushes a repeating Rhodes riff and chords to the fore, making for a rolling remix which will warm the dance floor with its soulful vibe. Closing out the EP we have another original track in the form of Jacidswing. With the clue in the title, this little gem sees Jimpster fusing a bubbling 303 bassline with swinging jazzy drums and washes of synthy ambience to form something deep, immersive and slow burning in the way he does so well. More

Jimpster’s lockdown LP was made throughout 2020 and finally sees the light of day at the end of February 2022 having been delayed around 6 months due to the ongoing vinyl pressing hold ups. Birdhouse is the revered producers seventh full length LP and can be considered a full circle as he takes a step away from the dance floor to revisit his early inspirations of jazz, 70’s fusion, library music, ambient and sample-based downtempo electronica. With its soulful touches, vocal and live musician features and trademark warm Jimpster production, we also think it could be his most accomplished and accessible yet. More

It’s been a busy year for Jimpster, with his Soul Spectral and This Thing (with Rich Medina) EP’s both being amongst the best received and highest selling releases of his to date. He has also added his touch to The Sunburst Band, Soichi Terada, Feiertag, Baiana System, The Secret and Retromigration in the form of some massive remixes to boot, as well as having just released an Anthology spanning 4 vinyl. To help celebrate 25 years of Freerange and Jimpster we wanted to invite some of Jamie’s personal favourites to dig through the vaults and give their own spin on his sound. Kicking things off we have Oakland’s Space Ghost taking on One ft Casamena bring his deft, musical touch to the track complete with layers of digital synths, punchy bass and vintage drum machine groove. Next up it’s Detroit’s own Jon Dixon of Timeline and Galaxy 2 Galaxy fame. The student of Mike Banks and long-term Underground Resistance cohort turns Smile For A While into a late night, piano driven, fusion masterpiece with all that Detroit sonic trickery we know and love so much. LA duo Aaron Paar and Dave Fogg aka Teflon Dons released a slew of incredible 12’s in the mid- late 90’s before almost completely disappearing for most of the 00’s. Thankfully things are reactivated and we’re so happy to have them bring a tough, jacking, bass-heavy warehouse workout to the package. Atlanta’s Kai Alce is someone we’ve hoped to have contribute to Freerange for some time and finally it happened. Bags of smooth and soulful deepness drive Jimpster’s Inside The Loop in a classic direction with Wurli pads and Moogy solo all adding to that vintage sound. Man of the moment Kareem Ali takes the baton as he reworks Bought To Bare into a Balearic beauty worthy of playing during the most perfect sunset. If you’re a fan of Kareem Ali you’ll know the magic he brings and why he’s been hotly tipped as RA’s breakthrough artist of the month and included in Pitchfork’s best releases of 2020. More

The world of dance music 25 years ago was a very different place from the one we now inhabit. Rave had transitioned through Hardcore into Drum & Bass whilst UK Garage was brewing nicely and the UK pop charts were full of underground dance records. Meanwhile, the likes of Mo Wax, Ninjatune and Compost were pushing away from the dancefloors, introducing blunted beats, jazz-fusion sonics and a whole new movement to electronic music. It was into this atmosphere that Freerange was born, a UK label that reaches its quarter-century this year. At the helm over the last 25 years has been the partnership of childhood friends Tom Roberts and Jamie ‘Jimpster’ Odell. It’s been a long and eventful journey, from an era of 56k modems, faxed reaction reports and when DJs still bought actual records, Freerange has weathered many storms and sailed through some of the most revolutionary changes to hit the music industry. Through those 25 years, and like the proverbial comforting sound of Bob Ross’ voice, Jimpster’s own music and those artists he releases through the label remain a constantly reliable, not to mention dance floor-smashing presence through the ups and downs of the house music continuum. This Anthology brings together some of Jimpster’s finest productions across two double pack vinyl LPs from the preceding two and a half decades, showcasing his detailed approach to production and proving why he continues to thrive in the current scene, continuing to be held in high regard by many of the founding fathers of house music and young up and coming producers alike. TRACK LISTING: A1. Dangly Panther, A2. Seventh Wave, B1. Sleeper, B2. Can't Stop Loving, C1. One (feat. Casa Mena), C2. English Rose, D1. Curve, D2. Don't Push It More

With his One EP still getting love from the likes of Spinna, Jamie 3:26, Joey Negro, Osunlade and many more, Jimpster strikes back with another release to lift spirits during these unprecedented times. Produced during the first few weeks of the worldwide lockdown, it was his intention to spread a message of positivity and optimism which can be felt on title track Smile For A While. The overall mood of the track has a slightly ambiguous yet heartening tonality, with a filtered looping vocal sample taking centre stage whilst piano lines and analogue arpeggios layer up adding depth and texture. The subtle and seductive groove will draw you in and its warmth and soul will make sure you smile for a while. Flipping over we have Echoes In My Head which takes a more percussive approach based around a rolling bassline and crunchy live hihats. Taking a slightly darker route, Echoes In My Head feels like Jimpster has successfully managed to get all his influences to meld together perfectly to form something cohesive and substantial. His love of 90’s ‘intelligent techno’, On-U sound, early US house, ambient, all going in the melting pot and forming a track which we’re sure will be something of a secret weapon for many DJ’s. Just the kind of track that can completely hypnotise a discerning dance-floor during the hazy hours. Closing out the three track EP we have the Head In The Clouds Mix, which is an alternate version of Echoes In My Head which heads in a more soulful direction. Piano chords and a bending bassline grab your attention whilst a percussion-heavy groove and dubby elements create space and depth to draw you in and ensure you get lost in its heady confines. TRACK LISTING: A. Smile For A While, B1. Echoes In My Head, B2. Echoes In My Head (Head In The Clouds Mix)
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A leading figure of the contemporary electronic world, Jamie Odell aka Jimpster sets his sights firmly back on the album format with this beautifully crafted long-player; Silent Stars. A self-confessed creature of the night, the Freerange Records and Delusions Of Grandeur boss taps into his nocturnal and escapist impulses to deliver a superbly executed modern-day fusion album. His seventh studio album and first since 2013’s highly-acclaimed Porchlight And Rocking Chairs, this is an album dedicated to the nocturnal hours. Silent Stars is a richly textured ride through the tapestry of house, from jazz-infused opener ‘Migrations’ through to the dense, orchestral euphoria of ‘Tau Tona’ and the minimal, percussive bounce of title track ‘Silent Stars’. The listener edges a touch closer to the dancefloor on tracks like ‘Yansa’ and ‘Power of the Doof’ - yet the grooves stay subtle with intricate percussion, dense sound design and a mischievous streak being palpable throughout. A range of guests are welcomed by Jimpster across Silent Stars. Hotly-tipped Londoner Florence Rawlings adds her vocals on ‘Crave’ and ‘Everytime’. Past collaborator and member of Kirk Degiorgio’s The Beauty Room, Jinadu weaves emotional soul on album centerpiece ‘The Sun Comes Up’. Khalil Anthony lends his vocals on ‘Where You Are’ and leading session drummer Andy Gangadeen (Massive Attack, Chase & Status, The Bays) lays down his immense beats on ‘Tau Tona’. Jimpster is a true veteran of the global house scene, a custodian of the authentic deep house sound and a producer who has quietly created some of the most reflective and sophisticated electronic music of the past two decades. 20 years on from his album debut, Jamie Odell continues to impress.

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Jimpster serves up the first single entitled Crave from ahead of his forthcoming Silent Stars LP complete with remixes from Atjazz and Flabaire.In its original form Crave, which features the vocals from hotly-tipped Londoner Florence Rawlings, is an emotionally charged electronic torch song guaranteed to get inside your head from the very first listen. The spacey chords and punctuating string stabs bring hints of the 80’s to mind whilst Florence’s gentle vocal floats in the air like a fresh sea breeze. In addition to the mesmerizing original we present two brilliant and contrasting remixes from one of the UK’s legendary producers Atjazz as well as Paris‘ rising star Flabaire whose D.KO Records has been dropping gem after gem since 2013. Atjazz spins Crave into outerspace with a fat, driving groove and twisted sonics making for an incredibly deep and forward-looking slice of aural gold. In contrast, Flabaire looks back to the early 00’s for his classic soulful house rework which calls to mind the sounds of Spinna and vintage Naked Music. Closing the release we have another original track entitled Where You Are featuring Berlin based US native Khalil Anthony. Here we find Jimpster doing what he does best, creating a sublime late night club track with his deft musical touch making this one that will stand out in the crowd. More

Here we bring you the second part of the Jimpster remixes package with amazing new interpretations of Brought To Bare from Deetron and Tanner Ross. Deetron delivers two diverse versions of the original in his own unique style. First up is the main remix which goes for a stripped back approach but works Jonatan Bäckelie’s full vocal to maximum effect with just a sublime Reese-esque bass line and fat kick for company. The second mix aka Deetron’s Paradise Version oozes quality with a unique and dynamic arrangement, echoes of Underground Resistance in the drums and stabs and amazing pads all making for a deep and musical journey. Finally Bostonian Tanner Ross goes raw R&B on his version with jacked up drums straight out of the Neptunes school of beatmaking, keeping things stripped bare for the vocal to shine. Another fine example of why this man is causing so much damage with his bold and interesting productions right now. Hope you enjoy! More

In March of this year we saw Jimpster's Porchlight And Rocking Chairs LP fall on expectant and eager ears, winning praise from the likes of RA, DJ Mag and Groove as well as plays and support from a host of the worlds best radio and club DJ's. With the majority of the LP being more home listening than club-focused we decided to call in some of our favorite producers to rework a track of their choice for the dance-floors and here we present you the first part of the amazing results. KiNK needs little introduction of course, except to say that his live set as well as his hands on hardware approach in the studio has seen him become established as one of the most exciting producers of the last couple of years. When he agreed to remix Porchlight And Rocking Chairs (a track he incidentally referred to as his favorite of the year!) we couldn't have been happier and knew that something very special would come from it. When he got in touch to say he'd done a version but explained it was done live in one take with all the parts being tweaked in real time making it very hard to change anything we were even more intrigued and excited. As expected, what he delivered is an intense, high energy reworking full of piercing high's and rattling lows, keeping the original chords and many of the keyboard lines in place but injecting a raw drive and improvised feel which has already seen it become a highlight of Jimpster sets this summer. Andre Lodemann provides the perfect antidote to KiNK's frenetic version in the form of his Towards The Seer Remix, going for a tight, emotive, late night groove which develops slowly, teasing out the arrangement and keeping things sublime and understated. Subtle bass twists and dubbed out FX build to the extended break where we're introduced to the original's acoustic bass riff in all it's glory. Another brilliant Andre Lodemann production. Looking forward to hearing your feedback on this and if you're good people and provide us with a little comment other than 'support!' you can expect to be hearing the Deetron and Tanner Ross remixes coming your way very soon! More

One of the UK's most established and consistent deep house producers, Jimpster, is due to drop his eagerly anticipated Porchlight And Rocking Chairs LP on 20th May 2013. His first studio album in six years sees him continue where he left off on the 2006 masterpiece Amour by taking the blueprint of House music and infusing it with an attention to detail and musicality often lacking in much of today's more disposable dance music. As Jimpster himself admits, much of the inspiration for Porchlight And Rocking Chairs came from the countless hours spent exhausted or hungover in airport lounges on the way back from gigs. It’s during this early morning never never land that he would seek solace in his ipod or start creating tracks on his laptop. Anything too challenging or abstract would be an irritation. Anything too ambient could sedate to the point of missing flights. So normally it would be the kind of lo-slung, emotive, deep shit with enough groove to get into but also just the right amount of warmth and soul to keep spirits lifted in those tiring, and often solitary hours. On returning to his studio we see Jimpster lean heavily on his hardware synths and drum machines, rediscovering their quirks and foibles after too many years working with convenient but sometimes sterile plugins. This hands on approach runs right through tracks such as Brought To Bare, featuring the vocals of Jonatan Bäckelie, where a simple, sparse and honest quality help make this one of the LP's highlights. Hold My Hand or Rollergirl show off Jimpster's innate talent for dubbed out, late-night deep house whilst elsewhere we find more raw and bass heavy downtempo tracks such as Cracks In the Pavement and The Glowing Embers. A true journey from start to finish, the LP draws to a close with an alternate LP version of Jimpster's recent single These Times featuring Beauty Room vocalist Jinadu. Here we see the producer incorporating acoustic guitar for the first time ever on a glitchy yet beautiful reworking of this future classic, making a fitting close to a fresh and forward-looking album from a long-standing yet still completely relevant artist.
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For his latest single we see Jimpster opt for a much more organic sound palette following a return to a hardware and microphone based approach to his production. Dusting off his analogue synths and busting open the big box of percussive toys has clearly been an inspiration as we're treated to a track that goes way beyond his more linear club tracks Alsace & Lorraine and Change In You yet without ever losing sight of the dancefloor. Jinadu, whose second Beauty Room LP (with Kirk Degiorgio) is about to drop, has delivered a mesmerising vocal with conscious lyrics and the kind of melt your heart harmonies we're more used to hearing on a Steely Dan track. Up next we have Jimpster's own Dub version of These Times which keeps the vibe intact but builds a more dramatic arrangement using layers of building vocal harmonies. Extra energy comes from stripping back the groove and simplifying the bass parts resulting in a deep and driving track with a warm and original sound. Finally we have a second original track in the form of Can't Stop Loving which is about as raw and warehouse as Jimpster is likely to get. Not from want of trying of course, but we know he just can't help himself when it comes to bouncing basslines and lush pads always drenching his productions in a sweet soul infusion.
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As Freerange hits another landmark release with their 300th EP we see label head Jimpster join forces with Philippa who together deliver 3 original tracks which epitomise the labels’ sound over the past (almost) three decades. With recent releases appearing on Slothboogie and Razor n Tape, remixes for Roach Motel on Faith, and James Curd and Robert Owens on Pronto, not to mention her recent Panorama Bar debut, it’s safe to say Philippa is making waves. The Berlin-based New Zealander has a sound all her own with an organic, deep and musical style winning her many fans from Terry Farley and Aroop Roy to DJ Spen and Dave Lee. Lead track All I Wanted sees the duo pooling their influences with both producers sonic touches shining through. Chunky drums and bassline are the bedrock for pulsing synths and MON’s vocal which is chopped up and looped bringing a rolling momentum to the track. Dreaming features the wonderful vocals of Care and goes on a floaty vibe with chiming synths and crusty Rhodes keys layering up to produce a densely textured track. The mood is powerful yet subtle and refined and will work as nicely on a chilled house playlist as it will on a discerning dance floor at 4am. Closing out the EP we have Say What which goes on a jazzed out, UKG inspired excursion. Shuffling beats, bouncing square wave bassline and big brash synth chords all combine to form a track which sounds both retro and contemporary. More

Freerange welcomes back dutch producer Yannick Roberts for his follow up to his 2022 I Can’t Hide From Myself EP. That release gained club spins and chart support from the likes of Dave Lee, Jamie 3:26, Luke Solomon and Fred Everything and became a hit with lovers of deep, disco-influenced Detroit house sounds as championed by fellow countrymen such as Dam Swindle, Fouk and Nachtbraker. Opening track Grace sets the tone with a chunky groover guaranteed to set the right mood on the dance floor. Next up Yannick picks up the pace with Anyone (This Late At Night Mix) which uses syncopated synth stabs and a simple two note bassline to create peak time energy levels. Amsterdam Nights keeps things bubbling along nicely with fat 909 beats, piano stabs and intense vocal samples while the EP closes out in fine fashion with All For You. Four tracks which perfectly demonstrate Yannick’s knack for producing quality club tunes. More

Ralph Session is a producer who has been making his mark on the house music scene dropping quality underground house music since 2009. The New Yorker, now based in Barcelona, has racked up well received releases on some of the hottest labels around including Razor n Tape, Local Talk, Nervous, Moulton Music, Large and Exploited and continues to head up his own label Half-Assed as a platform to curate the culturally deep sound of his native New York City. For his Freerange debut he’s joined forces with LA producer and vocalist Juliet Mendoza who can also be found dropping gems for the likes of Planet E, Ocha and Shaboom. Freak sees Ralph stay true to his roots once again with all the US house hallmarks present and correct. Muscular beats keep things punchy and with plenty of weight and energy whilst the simple stabs and vibraphone hook and just the right touch of musicality without getting in the way of the all important groove. Juliet Mendoza adds the icing on the cake with her spoken word urging you to cut loose on the dance floor. Detroit’s own Ladymonix steps up for remix duties and turns the Freakometer up to 11. Fresh from output on her own Frizner Electric label as well as Planet E, Toucan Sounds and Studio Barnhus, she twists things into an otherworldly house jam which will lock you into it’s minimal groove. By glitching out the vocal and keeping the groove stripped to the core Ladymonix has created a club track that will stick in your head long after the lights come up. In addition to these two versions we also have Ralphs own Brooklyn Bounce Mix and an instrumental to get your teeth stuck into. More

When great music minds get together, good things happen and this latest Freerange outing is testament to that. Bridging the gap between Toronto and Detroit, the Detoronto EP is the result of Mark Kufner aka Toronto Hustle’s vision of deep, underground house music and Sean Roman’s production prowess. With decades of experience promoting nights, DJing and running his own brilliant vinyl-only label Selections, Mark teamed up with production partner and fellow Toronto DJ, Sean Roman. Sean has worked with a diverse selection of imprints such as Nervous Records, Local Talk, Strictly Rhythm, as well as his own imprint Lately Bass.

On the vocals, Detroit’s ubiquitous Javonntte rounds out the artists for this heavyweight EP. Classic deep, raw, late night house sounds are the order of the day here. Deep In This is just the kind of fat, swinging groove to warm up the dance floor with. Simple yet robust, the square wave bassline brings the right amount of attitude whilst Javonntte’s vocal’s draw you into his world.

Next up, the duo give us their own Light Night Dub of Deep In This which strips out the harmonic elements, putting all the focus on the drums, bass and vocals. This makes for the perfect club tool, sounding massive on a nice system and guaranteed to get the floor locked into its unrelenting groove.

Flip over for a brilliant remix of Fall In Love by another legend of the Toronto house scene - Demuir. This guy is a production powerhouse whose soulful, funky, jacking house sound has seen him releasing on such diverse labels as Yoruba, Classic, Heist, Hot Creations, Robsoul and Desolat. Here he brings his trademark, loose and jazzy drums and funky AF Moog bassline which is accompanied by a beautiful, filtering piano loop.

Closing out this brilliant EP we have Fall In Love, another late night basement jam featuring the vocals of Javonntte. Classic rhodes stabs add a rolling energy to the chunky drum groove making this one of those classic B2 tracks destined to become a secret weapon in your sets. More

City To City: Johannesburg is the first in a new series of V/A releases which will shine a light on exciting producers from a different city for each edition. What better place to start than The City Of Gold, somewhere synonymous with deep and soulful house and whose scene and artists have finally begun to get global recognition despite the relative geographical isolation. Labels such as Kid Fonque’s Stay True Sounds have been an important platform for South African artists and who can deny the incredible journey of Black Coffee. Deep house really is a way of life for many young people growing up in often challenging conditions and it’s been exciting to see many becoming known outside of their own country and starting to gig internationally.

Here on the debut City To City we showcase 6 tracks from 6 different artists hailing from Johannesburg, relative newcomers rubbing shoulders with more established names. Kicking off the release we have one such producer who has been slowly but surely stamping his mark over the last 10 years: KaySoul. With output having appeared on labels such as Shall Not Fade, Dirt Crew, Lazy Days and Tribe KaySoul is definitely making waves with his soulful take on the South African deep sound. Icey Baby featuring Mr Beale keeps things raw and minimal, letting the vocal stay front and centre, a naivety and playfulness giving an almost demo-feel to the production.

Sculpturedmusic steps up next with Midnight Talk. Another SA artist who has earned his stripes with some huge tracks including Sad To Think which deservedly became a substantial hit, Sculpturedmusic’s contribution to the release keeps things deep, percussive and rolling with an African vocal sample backed up by pensive piano chords.

With just a handful of releases on his own Herbal Soundz label as well as the much lauded vinyl label Adeen, SizLeCaude is one of the exciting up and coming artists worthy of attention. Taking a classic early 00’s deep house approach on Far Apart he reminds us of the output Ben Watt’s Buzzin’ Fly sounding both timeless and contemporary with buckets of warmth and soul.

Flipping over we have Love (Kinda Thing) from Radic The Myth whose harmonically rich take on house music brings a floating yet punchy feel to the release.

Persie Botta joins forces with Jade Nickels on the next track entitled They Never Loved Us. The duo deliver a sublime slice of true Joburg-style deep house with lush layers of pads, reverb-soaked pads, snaking sub bass and a powerful, low slung groove.

Last but not least we close out the release with Thabang Baloyi who joins fresh from releases on established SA labels Just Move and Basement Art. Lost In goes in DEEP with a syncopated snare groove and simple, repeating vocal line. More

Aroop Roy’s star is deservedly in the ascendancy! As one of London’s most exciting selectors, he’s managed to position himself in the sweet spot of being the DJ’s DJ and causing wild scenes wherever he plays, with headline grabbing sets at Defected Croatia, We Out Here, Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide and many more. As a producer, musician and label owner, he continues to excel, armed with a vast knowledge of outernational sounds, from rare African disco, jazz, funk, to house, UKG and seemingly everything in-between. His open-minded approach has led to brilliant releases and remixes for labels as diverse as Soundway, Heavenly Sweetness, Permanent Vacation, Club Bad, Delusions of Grandeur, Atjazz Recordings and his own Vive La Musique imprint. Having played a few gigs together, it was only a matter of time before Jimpster convinced Aroop to get an EP together for Freerange and the resulting Re Bulele EP couldn’t be any more satisfying! Leading the charge, 'Mama Mwana' captivates with entrancing thumb piano loops and a traditional African vocal all propped up by a subtle yet chunky house beat to lock the dancers in. 'Re Bulele' features the hypnotic vocals of Botswana native Fox Meropa. Aroop masterfully combines a deep, techy Afro House groove with glassy synth pads to form a stripped back instrumental with the vocals front and centre. Seemingly disparate elements shine on this wonderful alternative to the deluge of maximal Afro House tracks being released these days. Moroccan producer FNX Omar delivers the goods with a sublime remix of Re Bulele. Creating tension with layers of looping vocals along with a rolling, percussive groove. Like the original, this remix transcends genres and will create special moments on the dancefloor, whether it be in a dark, sweaty basement or daytime festival in the sunshine. More

New Zealander via Berlin Philippa is a producer and DJ whose passion for house music, tireless commitment to her craft and ear for what makes a dance floor tick is slowly and surely starting to pay off. With her recent release Rainy Nights on Slothboogie and Things I’d Like To Be for Razor n Tape getting a lot of love Philippa continues to deliver the goods and has led to remixes for Fat Freddy’s Drop (The Drop) and Roach Motel (Faith). Here on the Latent Magic EP we’re treated to three new tracks which highlight Philippa’s deft touch and musical approach to making interesting and left field house music. Opener Hold sets the tone with lush orchestral strings, crunchy drums and a bouncing analogue synth bassline which drives the track along perfectly. Latent Magic uses a similarly wide-ranging sound palette, mixing up the electronic and organic, but goes heavier on the epic, arpeggiating synths for a spacious and uplifting genre-defying track to lift the spirits. Closing out we have There It Is which has hints of Mr Scruff with looping horn stabs, live drum groove and rolling electric bassline. All in all another mighty fine Philippa release which reminds us of the early days of Freerange when artists such as Square One, Shur-i-kan and Jimpster were melding live musicians with electronics to make a refreshing, UK-centric take on house music. More

Freerange regular Simbad is back with a new 4 track EP following on from his 2021 Peaceful Revolution EP which got big support from Ron Trent, Gilles Peterson, Osunlade and Horse Meat Disco to name a few. Having based himself in Cape Town the last 5 or so years, the French born producer and DJ is one of the most prolific artists in the scene having notched up countless EP’s, remixes and production work for labels like Apron, G.A.M.M. Faces, Hyperdub, Atjazz, BBE & Brownswood. His association with Gilles Peterson and Worldwide runs deep, hosting regular shows on WWFM as well as traversing the globe delivering his unique and eclectic sets from Africa to Asia and beyond. Lead track Nuphoria kicks things off in typical Simbad genre-bending style, sitting in a sweet spot between the Baltimore house of Karizma, the epic, uplifting techno of Laurent Garnier and the UK-centric rave sounds of Bicep and Kieren Hebden. Not an easy track to pigeon-hole but one that can’t fail to grab the dancers attention if dropped at the right time on a discerning dance floor. Up next we have Dream featuring SA native Sanele who delivers a beautiful, raw and intimate vocal performance which fits perfectly with Simbads’ roughed-up drums and chiming Rhodes chords. Flipping over Simbad delivers an alternate Pretoria Mix of Nuphoria which slows the pace of the original, adds a more rhythmic bassline and spoken word sample. A deeper alternative to the original which retains the euphoric quality thanks to its epic synth line and chords. Closing out the release we have Wake Up featuring Frederick of Fifty Fathoms Deep who contributes to a bright and breezy house track with soulful chords and bouncing square wave bass line. More

Two leading lights of UK house join forces for a special collaboration which delivers every bit as much as you would expect from anything with the Jimpster & Crackazat stamp on. Having been introduced to Crackazat’s vocal and lyric writing on his acclaimed Evergreen LP from last year Jimpster was keen to team up to bring some of that flavour to his own sound. Born out of a desire to stretch outside of their comfort zones, and with a mutual respect for each others productions, the Natural Child EP brings us two original vocal tracks and two dub versions covering a spectrum of moods from classic soulful to deep, atmospheric, contemporary house. Opening track Natural Child leads the charge with Crackazat’s trademark jazz-influenced piano part, swirling moog lines and vocal being complimented with Jimpster’s punchy drums and warm, rounded bassline. The result is a spacious and deceptively simple track which will wrap you up in its warm confines.Next up we have a completely different take on Natural Child which ups the BPM and adds a more live, percussive and rolling vibe which will no doubt get the house dancers throwing down. My Harmony comes next with its slick and soulful sound which draws inspiration from golden era NYC sounds of Blaze and Louie Vega while Nick Cohen’s live bass brings a bounce to the chunky, shuffling house beats. Closing out the EP we have a dub version of My Harmony which loops up the Rhodes part, strips back the groove and adds layers of FX and arpeggiating synths resulting in a heads-down deep and soulful track to warm up the dance More

Greg Paulus joins forces with fellow Brooklynite Taylor Bense for a new Freerange EP showcasing their left field, raw house sounds across three original tracks plus a bonus Martinez Brothers edit. With previous releases appearing on labels as diverse as Soul Clap, Let’s Play House, Ghostly International and Kompakt, the producer, DJ and trumpeter is perhaps best known for being one half of No Regular Play who have recorded LP’s and EP’s for Wolf & Lamb, Crew Love, and Let’s Play House. Never one to be confined to one genre, Greg takes influence from Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop and underground house to form a unique sound primed for discerning dance floors. Taylor Bense is an in-house composer and producer at the highly regarded Hyperballad Studios in Brooklyn, where he works and records a wide spectrum of music for everything from high end commercial work to EP’s for Wolf + Lamb and Soul Clap Records. The entire EP was recorded and produced at Hyperballad Studios over the past few years. Title track Heat Make Sense wears its Prince inspiration on its sleeve with a hooky whistled tune, crunchy live bass fills and punchy, raw beats. Next up we have Switch which features Brooklyn MC’s Stimulus and Malik Work on vocal duties and Greg’s own trumpet adding top lines to the deep pads and rolling groove. Marino takes us back to golden era jacking Chicago house of the 00’s but with Greg’s trumpet flourishes bringing a live, jazzy energy to the track. Fellow NYC mainstay Big $exy provides his trademark deep baritone vocal to give a little hip house flavour. Closing out the EP we have NYC’s Martinez Brothers providing an uptempo minimal edit of Do You Love Me, a track from Greg’s previous Freerange EP. The MB’s keep things rolling and stripped back for maximum club impact creating a useful DJ tool whilst allowing Greg’s musical and vocal parts to shine. More

Josh Wink is someone who needs little introduction having created some of the biggest and most influential club tracks over the past 30 years including I’m Ready, Don’t Laugh, Superfreak, Talking To You, Meditation Will Manifest and Higher States Of Consciousness to name just a few out of his never ending catalog. He has recorded on some of the biggest labels of house and techno including, Nervous, Strictly Rhythm, R&S, Bedrock, Cocoon, Ellum Audio and PokerFlat. In 1994 he started Ovum Recordings which is still as strong as ever, and is heralded as a buy on sight imprint for lovers of deep house, techno and acid. Josh and Jimpster first became acquainted when Jamie was asked by Josh to remix a track from his 2009 LP When A Banana Was Just a Banana, and the favor was retuned when Josh remixed Jimpster’s Alsace and Lorraine in 2011. The pair haves tayed in touch since, cut to 2023 and we’re excited to present you with a full signature sounding Wink EP made with Freerange in mind, right in time for the summer. Autonomic Journeys leads the charge with a track which hits that sweet spot between pumping Detroit techno, deep house atmospherics and twisted acid. 909 drums, 303 squelch and 106 pads ensure Roland is well represented in the track and all underpinned by a fat rolling bassline. Pan Gloss gives us a chunky slice of bouncy percussive house which exudes a positive energy as it unfolds over 7 minutes. Fat stabs sit front and centre while chiming arpeggios and acid line dance around the beat making for a track which makes you move as much as get lost in. Closing out the release things go deeper on San Guine, with a snappy groove laying the foundation for lush sine stabs, filtering pads and a hooky cross-rhythm analogue synth line. More

Following a string of big remixes for the likes of Underground Resistance keys man Jon Dixon, Dave Lee, Miguel Migs and his downtempo LP Birdhouse, we’re pleased to announce a new Jimpster EP entitled Tribute. Featuring South African vocalist Mavhungu and two remixes from Yoruba maestro Osunlade, the release shows Jamie Odell in fine form fusing deep, afro and soulful house on the lead track and rubber-bassline bouncing jazz and acid lurking on the B2. Leading the EP, Tribute is a track inspired by Jamie’s trips to South Africa, a country hailed by many as the deep house capitol of the world. Having played there many times over the years he always returns feeling energised by the sights, sounds and experiences. Having recently remixed a track for Foliage featuring Mavhungu it felt like a natural move to collaborate together on an original track and here she delivers a brilliant vocal celebrating the beauty of Africa in her native language Venda. Mixing up organic and electronic sounds is something Jimpster has always done to great effect, ensuring there is a looseness and bounce to the groove with contemporary sonic textures blending with classic Rhodes pads and analogue synth lines. Who better to draft in for a remix than the Yoruba Soul maestro himself, Osunlade. The producer and DJ whose music has been knocking our socks off since first hearing his debut LP Paradigms in 2001 stays true to his roots on two versions of Tribute. Th first goes heavier on the vocal, keeping the instrumentation and groove more stripped back leaving plenty of space for subtle Rhodes chords and synth flourishes to shine. His Jazzstrumental version switches up the groove and pushes a repeating Rhodes riff and chords to the fore, making for a rolling remix which will warm the dance floor with its soulful vibe. Closing out the EP we have another original track in the form of Jacidswing. With the clue in the title, this little gem sees Jimpster fusing a bubbling 303 bassline with swinging jazzy drums and washes of synthy ambience to form something deep, immersive and slow burning in the way he does so well. More

If anyone deserves to have the name Don, it’s Don Carlos. Responsible for one of the most influential and genre-defining deep house tracks of all time the Italian legend more than lives up to his name being a true master of his craft. In 1991 his debut release Alone was presented to the world via Calypso Records and quickly gained classic status, blissing out dancefloors worldwide with it’s euphoric piano stabs, sun-drenched strings and laidback groove. Establishing the blueprint for what would become known as ‘Italian dream-house’ Don Carlos would follow up a year later with another masterpiece in the form of a mini LP entitled Mediterraneo which took influence from the Chicago master Larry Heard but added a European ‘Balearic’ perspective which would pave the way for a wave of warm, emotive late night house tracks emanating from Bel Paese. Don Carlos releases have been fairly sporadic since his seminal early 90’s output so Freerange is very happy to bring you brand new material in the form of the I’m Steel Here EP. Across the three original tracks we get to hear him revisit the vibe from those early years whilst bringing things bang up to date for todays DJ’s and dance floors. The title track marries a driving Italo synth bassline with trademark Carlos strings and piano to form an uplifting club track which will lift the spirits of all who hear it. Azimuth comes next cutting up and filtering a piano hook calling the mighty Trackheadz to mind, a gated vocal sample adding a distinctly 90’s hook for a nostalgic slice of regal house. Closing out this gem of an EP we have In The Sky which loops up a classic feel good disco riff for a mid tempo house jam which bumps along nicely and will create the perfect mood in any warm up set worth its salt. More

We hope you’re sharing our enthusiasm for Milton Jackson finding his creative flow again after several years hiatus. The Scotsman has played a key role in helping shape the sound of the label since his first release on Freerange back in 2006 and we’re proud to continue bringing you his chunky, warm, deep house sounds you know and love! Here on the Closure EP we’re treated to three tracks of jazz-flecked summery grooves to move to. Kicking off with Need Your Love, Milton teams up with London keys-man and producer Ski Oakenfull for a bouncing piano house track which sounds like Roy Ayers jamming out with Kerri Chandler and Larry Heard over stripped back beats and an infectious bass line. Next up is Day In, Day Out, just the kind of sun-drenched soulful groove that MJ does to perfection with building strings, euphoric synth stabs and a little vocal hook for that icing on the cake. Wrapping things up in fine style we have the EP title track Closure which pushes the jazz influences to the front, and even adding a touch of gospel flavour in the heartfelt chord progression and organ pads. Crisp, punchy, swinging beats and MAW-style vocal hits keep things rough and ready and before you know it you’ll be bouncing along with a massive grin on your face. Brucey bonus for the vinyl heads… we’ve added a favourite track of ours from his last digital-only EP to this release. Birdsong is a low-slung tropical delight which is one of those grooves that can’t fail to nice up the dance! More

New Zealander via Berlin Philippa is a producer and DJ whose passion for house music, tireless commitment to her craft and ear for what makes a dance floor tick is slowly and surely starting to pay off. Having been a prominent DJ and promoter back in New Zealand she relocated to the European mecca of electronic music in 2013, where she embraced not only Berlin’s nightlife but also its rich heritage of synthesisers, samplers and sound design. She immersed herself in a new world which saw her lecturing at an institute of arts and technology by day and creating beautiful and unique house music by night. Launching At Peace Music in 2019 led to her music falling on the ears of Jimpster who was suitably impressed and eager to hear more. Cut to 2022 and we’re proud to present There’s A Ghost In My Synthesizer, an EP which showcases Philippa’s musicality and production nous across 4 tracks which takes in funk-infused, rolling grooves, blissful, string-heavy atmospherics and crunchy disco beats. On the title track Philippa goes heavy on the strings and horns bringing some welcome Philly Soul vibes to a track which is guaranteed to bring something special to the party. I Guess I Have Boy puts a live bass line front and centre whilst sweeping pads keep things deep and warm. The uptempo funked up groove of Dimes follows, giving us a little hint of Philippa’s love of jacking Chicago house but with her own unique twist with that live, jazzy feel which she does so well. Closing out the EP we have Slow It Down which brings a smooth, soulful touch to the release with lush strings and vocal from Mo Van Zandt. More

Yannick Roberts is a Dutch producer who popped onto the Freerange radar following a rather tasty release on S3A’s excellent Sampling As An Art label. Yannick’s own take on the deep, disco-influenced Detroit house sound spearheaded by fellow countrymen Dam Swindle, Fouk and Nachtbraker is warm and punchy with a big sound which feels like the perfect fit for Freerange. This four track EP kicks off with title track I Can’t Hide From Myself and rolls along perfectly with the help of an infectious roughed up bassline, crunchy hihats and saturated claps. Next up we have the shuffled bumpy groove of Glorious Illusions reminding us of early Dam Swindle complete with sampled stabs and neck-snapping beats. Flipping over we’re treated to Femme Fatale which continues the dusty chopped up MPC sampled vibe in fine style with looped up vocals adding bags of extra energy. Closing out the release we have Desalniettemin which treads a similar path but with a more jazzy approach cutting up some classic Philly soul and reimagining it into a late-night, heads-down basement jam. More

One of the keys to Nervous’ longevity has been our willingness to take chances on new producers and new sounds. As long as a track contains the essence of House, we encourage producers to experiment with combining House with other musical genres. And if the results are creative and fruitful enough we are always ready, willing and able to create a new sub label and logo to go along with a fresh sound. In the 90’s we felt a movement toward House being juiced with Jazz elements and we created the Nervous Chill Sub-label. Now all these years later we are once again seeing a new appreciation for the sounds, flow and energy of Jazz on the part of some of the world’s premier House Music Producers, and so we are embarking on a re-launch of the Nervous Chill imprint. Onboard for the re-launch is the very talented and dynamic producer Felipe Gordon with the two tracks “Elisa” and “Resonant.” Both songs feature the legendary musician Paul Shapiro, who has played a key musical role in many of House Music’s most celebrated tunes including “The Whistle Song” for which he supplied the eponymous “whistle.” “Elisa” features an uplifting and bouncy rhythmic vibe that’s topped and energized with Paul’s jazzy flute, while “Resonant” has a deeper and slightly more aggressive tone that’s propelled with Paul hypnotic and free wheeling sax instrumentation. More

DJ Support: Kerri Chandler, Jimpster, Dave Lee, Kevin Yost, Brian Tappert, Don Carlos, Seamus Haji, Marcel Vogel, David Harness, Marc Cotterell, Dirtytwo, Demarkus Lewis

Get yourself geared up for summer season with some fierce dancefloor prime time certified with the Groove Culture Deep Stamp. DEEP INTO HOUSE vol.2 includes some fresh House/Deephouse actions from Milton Jackson, Sebb Junior, Luca Olivotto and Folkness. Energy, Groove, moods and vibes. An essential package for diggers. More

The third instalment of the Best OF Various series sees Malta's Melchior Sultana return to Ten Lovers Music with an amazing new track called Spectres. Following that we have a special reprise of Secret Garden by Paul David Gillman Presents Red Earth Design, from England. The main mix of Secret Garden features on Paul's debut album (TLP004) of the same name, we thought this reprise was too good to remain unreleased. On to the AA side and we have two tracks back to back from Italy's ReeKee with his debut release on TLM, Here We Stay and Next To Me showcase his unique sound. We have been a fan for a while so great to have him on board. Finally someone who needs no introduction, from the USA, Detroit's very own Javonntte following up his TLM 7' release last month with this superb track called Satellites and Dreamers. More

After a long hiatus from the imprint over the past six years, white label Italian imprint Outlaw delivers welcomes the return of its label boss, Matthew Oh. Comprised of four originals with the labels dub-tinged aesthetic.

300 copies vinyl only! hand made stamped. More

Tiago Walter goes back to basics on his own Jisul imprint. Classic hands-in-the-air house music from a producer who never misses. JISUL07: license to groove. More

DJ Support: Jazzy Jeff, Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, Dj Koco, Skratch Bastid, Dimitri From Paris, Dj Spen, Dj Pierre, Dr Packer, and many other.

Groove Culture Bosses Micky More & Andy Tee Provided 2 beautiful jazzy-house djfriendly versions of the Classics 'Gypsy Woman' and 'Special Love'. On Both side everything is played live from the bass to the horns. A Must Have. More

Session Victim need little by way of introduction having been releasing on Delusions consistently for the last 10 years and becoming the undisputed poster boys for the label in the process. Despite their regular appearance however, it’s always a real treat to announce a new record from the German duo and we have to say, the Screen Off EP may well find them in their finest form to date! Coming hot off their latest downtempo LP entitled Low Key, Low Pressure for Night Time Stories, you can tell Hauke and Matthias were ready to take things back to the dance-floor and have delivered an EP which looks set to become a future classic and no doubt big in the box of discerning DJ’s the world over. Screen Off is really it’s own thing, living somewhere on the long and winding road between the Bar Kays and the Bad Brains, suffice to say that what it lacks in easily definable attributes it makes up for in sheer energy and raw attitude. Hauke and Matthias re-invite Jamaican poet and vocalist Ras Stimulant, who contemplates our screen addictions and urges us to disconnect and be present in the moment. Matthias’ rolling bassline provides the backbone, whilst hints of crunchy Moog and chopped guitar samples all bring a sense of urgency to the track. Light The Way acts as an antidote, bringing a sense of calm melancholia in contrast to the title track’s low-end, funked-up fervour. A soft focus and almost distant drum groove draws us in whilst arpeggiating synths add a sense of optimism, reinforcing the tracks title. Closing out the release we have Session Victim’s studio partner, good friend and all-round top producer Iron Curtis in for a remix of Light The Way. Johannes takes an interesting approach for his Illuminati interpretation, enhancing the breakbeat feel and mixing up chopped samples with classic 808 drums. A muscular bassline adds extra weight to his remix but without losing the subtle musicality and positive vibe of the original. Being the vinyl purists they are, Session Victim and Iron Curtis top up the physical 12“ EP with the exclusive Screen Off Acapella and an additional Iron Curtis Remix Reprise. More