French label D3 - which when pronounced in French sounds like there French word for Detroit - is a decade old and celebrates the milestone with a special three-part EP series. As has always been the case over that 10 year period, the sounds it serves up are deep and housey. This various artists affair kicks off with AsTreJinkins' slow and propulsive 'Terror' before some nice airy and live sounding broken beats from New Digital Fidelity. Moroka picks up the pace with some hi-tek soul that sounds straight from the Motor City and Byron The Aquarius shows off his mastery of the keys again with a dreamy deep cut 'Tua Su Ra'. Nico Lahs shuts down with a heavyweight beatdown in the form of 'It's Spelled BARI.' More

Classy French deep house label D3 Elements (D3, pronounced day-trois, is French for Detroit, which is a big inspiration on its sound) returns with more of that lush and timeless backroom tackle, this time from Neuronphase. 'Outside' is a dusty jam with atmospheric vocal samples and sustained chords, 'Information Society' has a more playful piano lead and ramshackle drums and 'Shadows' then brings some acid madness. 'Soru' comes as a skipping, percussion-laden original and as a hi-tek soul remix with cosmic leads from Hugo LX rework. Plenty to love here, as always from this label. More

The French deep house label D3 Elements is now a decade old and to mark the occasion it has assembled a superb three part EP series featuring plenty of talents both new and old. The second EP kick off with some Japanese stylings from Koizumi Yukiko and his piano laced bongo workout '526'. Taelue sets off on a deep and heavy bassline pulse that will make floors march and Nemanja Krstic's 'Aquae Sulis' brings some jazzy chord work and bubbling funk bass for a nice heartfelt vibe. Gnork shuts down with a skittish, stripped back broken beat that makes this another diverse offering. More

The third and final EP from the ten year anniversary series by French label D3 Elements is another one that offers a wide range of excellent grooves. To kick off, Jason Hogans takes us into woozy late night territory with muffled leads and lazy breaks, then Zopelar heads for the cosmos on his radiant synth laced house offering 'Resolution.' Malik Hendricks keeps it low key and slow with his intimate basement sounds on 'Green Mango' then Meftah rebuilds on a dusty Theo Parrish tip with 'Maha Shatki.' Damar Davis offers pure cosmic deep house lushness on closer 'Kiss In The Dark.' More

D3 Elements is an always cultured deep house label and so it is no surprise to find the great US producer Alton Miller has been recruited for a new EP. He has a richly musical sound and roots that go back decades, and it shows: 'Clone' is the sort of stylish backroom house that layers diffuse chords with dusty drums and cannot fail to warm the heart. 'All Of It' explores more broken and Afro-tinged drum patterns with golden Rhodes chords and astral leads. This top trio is completed with the funky kick patterns and perfect soulful vocals of 'Waitin 4 You'. Detroit mainstay Kevin Reynolds remixes it into a hypnotic Motor City roller. More

Brian Harden is one of the many talented Chicago house producers out there who sit just below the top talent in terms of global reputation. But he shouldn't - his sound is as musical and timeless as any from the Windy City. He's been grafting since the 90s and now taps into that long career with a new collection of rare cuts and unreleased gems on this Instinctive Meditation album for French label D3 Elements. There is textbook heavy drum work and spaced-out synths on 'Zion' before warmer, deeper basement cuts like 'Nomadic Jazz'. 'Yeah' is a party starter with clattering percussion softened by more jazzy chord work and 'Motionless' allows you a moment to catch your breath on some cosmic ambiance. The rest of the record takes in deeper techno, samba-tinged deep house shufflers and star-gazing beauties for 4AM. Proof if you needed it that Harden is a boss. More

Texas native Demarkus Lewis is up next on the great D3 Elements label. This time, Demarkus brings his signature diverse house style on this release, which features tracks from his Mental Notes album that only came out digitally in 2011. Luckily for lovers of vinyl, D3 is putting out three of the gems from that release. First is the upfront house of Without Pause that is full of Demarkus' bumping drums, masterful combination of spacey, Detroit style electronics and swirling chords that will get anyone onto the dancefloor. Lady In Pink also features some wonderful spacey chords, but is a more downtempo, broken beat type of affair, resplendent with computer bleeps. Over onto the B side, Demarkus takes us into a more spiritual and deep territory, with Behind Closed Doors (Afro Main Mix). The afro rhythms coupled with Eman's spoken words turn this into a track that do wonders with a heaving, sweaty dance floor in the early hours. Another winner for the D3 Elements label. More

Formerly of France, now based in Brazil, D3 Elements returns with their second instalment of the "Beatz" series, this time with jazz artist, Bruno E, also hailing from Brazil. Bruno, who has been producing and performing since the late 90s, has worked with and remixed the likes of Silhouette Brown and Gilles Peterson, as well as releasing albums in his own right. This limited colour 10" release features three versions of the track Ventos Do Outono, (loosely translated to Autumn Winds). First up is drummer, composer and producer, Pat Van Dyke, taking a break from composing the soundtrack to Jerry Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee", with a breezy, laid back version of the original. Featuring lush horns and flutes, along with vintage keyboards, the track urges us to "Get Down", while straddling the boundaries of jazz and golden era hip-hop. Still on the A side, it's Bruno's turn, delivering a wonderful broken beat track. Full of beautiful keys, strings and intricate rhythms, this track is reminiscent of the sound championed by Kaidi Tatham and Nu Era. Flip over to the b side, and techno legend, Kirk de Giorgio takes us on a deep, futuristic ride. The track starts off with banging drums and a pulsating bass line, priming us for the cosmic pads and keys to come as the UK producer takes us on a journey to outer space and back. Another quality release from Bryan Hervieu's label, with three diverse versions of the same track, sure to appeal to a wide variety of tastes. More

MD (Michael Dykehouse) marks his debut to the D3 Elements family with the wonderfully diverse self titled LP, MD. Having previously released on labels Planet Mu, Rushhour, Ghostly International, Black Catalogue and Night Gallery, MD is given the honours of the first full length LP on the French label. From the opening dark and deep house number Wilder Penrose, with a chugging beat and delicate keys sprinkled throughout, to the electro sounds on Key Gen & Unison Dethrone and the G-Funk/Nu-jazz inspired Rat Bucks, this record showcases MD’s quality in a myriad of different styles. On the D side, Chitroit needs no explanation to its inspiration, with the Chicago styled beat and Detroit pads, this a sublime track. Rust Belt rounds off a great record, with enough diversity to keep fans of all genres entertained. D3 Elements once again showcases its high quality of releases.
More

As the label continues to serve up mouthwatering house and hip hop, D3 Elements now dips its toes into more techno leaning territory with a series entitled Technologie. The first release comes from American D'Marc Cantu under his lesser known Rival alias and features three tracks of hypnotic and widescreen grooves. Cantu has put out plenty of EPs and LPs on labels like Creme, New York Haunted and MOS over the last decade, and also runs his own Run Out Run label. As well as working solo he has teamed up with the likes of JTC to great effect, and here he proves he cooks up unusual atmospheres and freaky sounds that really permeate the mind and body. Session 020 is first and is a woozy, spaced out number with trippy melodies and squelchy synths unfolding above a rolling and rubbery drum line. Acid prickles add texture to this serene bit of soul and pained vocals add a human feel, making it a truly intoxicating number. Session 026 is much busier, with frazzled textures, metal synths and hurried melodies making for an urgent tech cut that cannot help but make you dance. Lately, Session 006 is a gorgeous mid tempo number with smeared pads adding depth and soul, distant acid, glowing melodies and well treated vocals panning left and right. It is emotive electronic music with a real heart and heat to it, and it rounds out a classy and elegant


More

Bryan Hervieu's D3 Elements makes a welcome return to the music fold after a longish break, and who better to pick up the reins than Trinidadian Deep. Northern Li kicks things off, and from the first note and beat, you just know that Trini has brought the spiritual and percussive deepness that he is known for. This track is 6 minutes of bliss, with swirling pads and beautiful melodies running throughout. Over to the b side and it's thunder claps and the spoken word of Liza Zayas that starts off In The Beginning. Liza's voice sits perfectly alongside the Caribbean textures, and the driving drums that Trinidadian Deep is known for. Bryan's labels have long been a go to for lovers of quality and sophistication and this new one is no different.
More

On the label that got him back in the game, Brian Harden returns to D3 Elements, this time with a remix EP of Chicago To Detroit, that featured on the Black 3 EP. This EP features 3 remixes, one By Brian himself and the others by Detroit’s Patrice Scott and Atlanta’s Byron The Aquarius. First up is man of the moment, Byron The Aquarius, riding high after his releases on Sound Signature and Wild Oates, with his ethereal take on the original. With it’s cosmic sounds weaving in and out, Byron manages to infuse his soulful sound on the track to take it to a otherworldly territory. Brian is up next with his “Chicago Sur Seine Mix”, introducing a steel drum and some beautiful pads that are reminiscent of 808 State’s, Pacific 202. While still keeping with the original’s pace, this remix has more of a down tempo feel, and would fit perfectly in those late night/early morning sets. Finally Patrice Scott delivers a more beat driven Detroit take on the original, with an emphasis on the hi hats and clap that really gives the track that driven feel. While still paying respect to the original, half way through Patrice takes it to another level with his atmospheric keys that round off a great remix EP. More

D3 Elements continues to serve up delicious house music with its next EP, which this time comes from the Detroit native MoReese. He serves up three cuts of rich, musical club sounds that continue in the Motor City's fine tradition. MoReese marries the history of his hometown, and influences such as Derrick May and Kevin Sanderson, with his own taste for jazz, funk and soul and the results are always magical. He has been touring the world for more than two decades now, playing all over the radio, events like WMC and special four decks set at Movement festival. This new release is sure to introduce him to European crowds who will no doubt immediately fall in love with his fully formed hose sound. Opener Jupiter Heat marries a nice smooth groove, churning percussion and blistered bass with some simple but effective sax stabs that really elevate the track to the next level. It's the sort of roller, complete with a monologue about modern life, that will really get crowds shifting shapes. 'Linear' is a more direct and hard hitting deep house cut with solid rubber kicks, slick hi hats and lush chords, keys and frazzled synth lines all adding colour, heat and a sense of joy. Lastly, feel good bouncer The Mist is stuffed with the sort of soulful vibes Terrence Parker us famous for, and as a result immediately finds a place in your affections. This is another pure house EP that exactly hits the mark.
More

As the label continues to serve up mouthwatering house and hip hop, D3 Elements now dips its toes into more techno leaning territory with a series entitled Technologie. The first release comes from American D'Marc Cantu under his lesser known Rival alias and features three tracks of hypnotic and widescreen grooves. Cantu has put out plenty of EPs and LPs on labels like Creme, New York Haunted and MOS over the last decade, and also runs his own Run Out Run label. As well as working solo he has teamed up with the likes of JTC to great effect, and here he proves he cooks up unusual atmospheres and freaky sounds that really permeate the mind and body. Session 020 is first and is a woozy, spaced out number with trippy melodies and squelchy synths unfolding above a rolling and rubbery drum line. Acid prickles add texture to this serene bit of soul and pained vocals add a human feel, making it a truly intoxicating number. Session 026 is much busier, with frazzled textures, metal synths and hurried melodies making for an urgent tech cut that cannot help but make you dance. Lately, Session 006 is a gorgeous mid tempo number with smeared pads adding depth and soul, distant acid, glowing melodies and well treated vocals panning left and right. It is emotive electronic music with a real heart and heat to it, and it rounds out a classy and elegant
More

French label D3 Elements returns to Chicago for its next EP, this time looking to the assured house talents of Hakim Murphy for three tracks of raw, dense grooves right from the heart of the Windy City. Opener 'Boxbeat' is a curious, freaky jam with bobbing percussive hits, wonky, pixel thin synth lines and free roaming pads that wrap the whole thing in a nice sense of spaced-out serenity. 'Taste o'Rainbow' has a much more firmly planted kick drum that pounds away uninterrupted below a free flowing brew of modulate synth sounds. It's expertly reduced and masterfully reserved and is sure to send dance floors wild as a result. The flipside cut 'Freshness' has pinging drums and a big, frazzled bass line as slithering chords rain down the face. Musical yet jacking, cosmic yet propulsive, it is a perfectly contemporary Chicago house sound that rounds out a fine EP from one of the best in the game. More

After the success of last year's Various Artists Backpack EP, French house label D3 Elements is back with another fine four track affair that pulls together some key producers. Detroit soulful house star Terrence Parker is back once again, and he is joined by D-Knox, Dan Curtin and TechElectro. It is Cleveland man Dan Curtin, a veteran of labels like Peacefrog, Metamorphic and Bass Culture. His cut 'House Spirits' is a summery, feel good house roller with trilling keys and organic chords all making for a jazzy vibe. Then comes a more synthetic and abstract cut, 'Stars That Never Die', from TechElectro aka the fearsome American techno duo of Solid Gold Playaz, who also release as Dark Matrix. Full of beeps and squeaks, smooth chords and broken rhythm, their cut is a truly original concoction that is sure to standout in any set. On the flip side, D-Knox aka Groove Man, who has been producing spiritual techno since the 90s, offers 'Summer Beach Time,' a cool as you like track with breezy chords, radiant pads and wooden sounding percussion flapping along next to the drums. It's a fresh and original production that sounds like little else, and then it is to Detroit's positive force, Terrence Parker, for 'So Beautiful.' Deep and romantic, laid back and soothing, it is a sweet as you like house jam with magic chords and plenty of heart warming grooves. Once again, D3 Elements serve up proper house music with real feeling.
More

Considered French label D3 Elements continues is carefully curated run with a new EP from Berlin based Italians, Hinode. Featuring four cuts of tough deep house, this sixth EP is another high grade affair that follows on from great efforts by Strong Souls and Brian Harden. Hinode are Matteo Chisari & Mario Resta, a pair of accomplished DJs and producers that release on and run their own Science Fiction Recordings as well as 0Helena0. They have been active since 2013 and their robust sound has found favour with real heads and underground DJs alike. Opener 'State to State' is a raw, punchy house track with jazzy chords injecting some real soul into the physical beats. Rasping synths and rainy melodies have a hint of the old school about them and ensure that dance floors will be in raptures. 'Endless World' is more spacious, with a drunken acid sounding bassline roaming beneath a nicely mechanical groove. It's one to make you stomp, and so is b-side opener 'Shades of Grey' with its bombastic, kicking drums, twinkling melodies and lazy chords. Despite being a sweat inducing house banger, plenty of warmth and musicality remains. Lastly, 'Memory Alpha' hurries along with muddled voices, icy hi hats and a flurry of rubbery kicks and squelchy acid stabs. It's beautifully authentic house music that takes subtle cues from the best of Chicago and Detroit and puts a unique Hinode spin on things.
More

Next up on the Detroit & Chicago focussed D3 Elements label is the man who kicked the label off last year, Raymond "RayDilla" Funnye aka Strong Souls. In decades gone by Funnye, of course, has served up some truly sumptuous deep house on classic labels like Dance Mania as well as working with the one and only Larry Heard on Black Market International. Now back to his best and working solo, few people can make deep house that is as musical and magical as this man, as this new four tracker proves. Opener 'In The Groove' has a loose and louche late night jazz vibe to its glowing chords and jumbled beats, whilst 'Deep Sensation' is a sumptuous go slow delight with kick drums miles apart and golden chords and meandering synths draped over the top. On the flip, 'From The Pyramids To The Stars' is an insular affair that pulls you right in; drums tumble with a tiny tribal tinge, pads are long tailed and the percussion is well defined, metallic and gently caresses your ears. Closer 'Industrial Life' is the most dancefloor of the lot, with firm house kicks, a rugged bassline and beautifully designed little hooks dangling in mid air above. Its almost spiritual in its vibe and really speaks directly to your soul.
More