Tracklisting:
A1 Andy Ash - You_Me
A2 Andy Ash - You_Me (Mark E remix)
B1 Andy Ash - Momentary Days
B2 Andy Ash - Reach
B3 Andy Ash - Rico Rico!

Sales Note
Assured UK house producer Andy Ash takes care of the next EP on SAFTX while the equally esteemed Mark E steps up to remix.

For well over a decade now, Andy Ash has been turning out high-quality house music on a range of labels. Last year he served up a tasteful full-length on Quintessentials, the year before he dropped a double 12" on Still Music and he is also a regular at the likes of Delusions Of Grandeur. From deep and dusty to disco-tinged and dynamic, he has a stylish sound that is well-versed in the classics but always his own twist. He shows that again here with four fresh tunes which cannot fail to make you feel good.

Opener 'You:Me' features Faber and os brilliantly warm house groove. The drums and hi-hats are prefectly designed, the vamping chords bring a playful funk and swirling pads add diffuse late-night energy. It's timeless cut with nods to the US midwest and subtle vocal sounds.

Remixer and Merc label boss Mark E has a rich history of edits and originals on the likes of Running Back, Delusions Of Grandeur and Studio Barnhus. On this version, he lays down hazy, heavy kicks for a beatdown workout that comes alive with gorgeous synt work akin to all the best Detroit dons.

Ash's 'Momentary Days' is a slow and roomy, dubbed-out house swinger. Well-placed samples - vocal coos, guitar riffs, jazzy chords - all peel off the loose drums and can't fail to get you moving. 'Reach' is another humid house cut for cosy back rooms and basements. The Scruffy drums have frayed edges while dreamy melodies loop up top. It's a heartfelt sound that slowly turns you to deep inward reflection.

Last of all is 'Rico! Rico!', a downtempo jazz-funk jam with crisp broken beats, keys that take you to the Riviera and strings so lush you can almost feel the sun on your face.

This deep house music as it should be - raw, expressive and full of human soul. More

Andy Ash has been quietly sneaking out seriously good analogue-driven electronic music on some of the best underground labels for over a decade. The Liverpool-based producer, DJ and visual artist (the artwork for this re- lease is Andy’s own oil on canvas) has graced the likes of Chicago’s Stilove4music, NYC’s On The Prowl, Sydney’s People Must Jam and has remixed Fantastic Man for Detroit label Kolour LTD amongst many others. The bottom line is that he’s definitely one of the UK’s unsung heroes when it comes to deep, raw, Chicago and Detroit-influenced house music and we’re proud to welcome him to Delusions Of Grandeur with an amazing three tracker entitled the Bottleneck EP. The title track opens with snappy hats, flappy congas and sloppy baseline all sitting perfectly in the mix and with a looseness that is much harder to achieve that it may seem. A simple synth melody doubles up the bassline while an extra square wave lead adds that little extra hook without distracting us from the bouncing groove. With Bottleneck, less is definitely more. Flipping over we have Hump, an altogether darker affair with a twisting acid line joining distorted 808 drums and tripped-out snippets of spoken word coming in and out of focus. The low-slung bumpy groove and spacey synth parts make this a compelling warehouse track which will draw everyone into it’s seductive confines. Closing the release we have Actual Price, a shuffling, deep groover with rumbling low end and machine-like analogue synth part skipping around the crunchy beats. A cerebral yet punchy and dynamic closer to an excellent release! More

To keep people guessing, the fifth instalment from Australia's best selling People Must Jam label takes things in a house direction with Andy Ash at the controls. Andy has put through an immense EP of varying house flavours to satisfy an all tastes. The EP kicks of with the monster disco vibed 'Hurricane Fantasy' track. A beautiful summery looper that's sure to keep the floors burning hot! 'Move'is one of Andy's straight up house cuts - which he is becoming well known for, a deep sounding organ line carrying the track forward with stabs and a nice little vocal sample to boot. Mixing things up a little on the flip, our good friend - Ron Basejam has provided a sublime 'Adriatic Excursion' remix of 'Move'. Ron takes the track to a totally different place with uplifting piano lines and orchestral string stabs building to a lovely crescendo. This remix should be earmarked for Croatia 2015. Finally 'Dommah' takes the EP into almost techno territory with building pads and solid beats resulting in a monster track for when the strobelight pulses and the heads go down! 180g Vinyl - Strictly limited. More

Leeds based Fullbarr have already release 12” involving Luke Solomon, Hans Berg, Immer, Kris wadsworth, Samaan, Vince Watson, Losoul and many more Now sees the turn of Liverpool based Andy Ash. To date Ash has been much in demand on a range of labels including Quintissentials, Fly By Night Music and Dessous, offering up fresh house that ranges from deep and moody to acid laced and angst ridden. More

Continuing to go about their considered house business, Fly By Night Music turns once again to established underground head Andy Ash for its next EP. The Liverpool man, previously associated with labels like Black Key and Scenery as well as having released on this label in 2012, serves up three tracks of well-rooted, beautifully analogue sounding house that's rich with both musicality and physicality. Three more killer tracks from Andy Ash, then, that whilst paying heed to house music's long heritage also look to the future in their serene synth patterns and proud production techniques. More

Liverpool based Andy Ash hits the SAFT imprint with two excellent analog house jams. The overall sound Andy comes up with, hints to the early machine driven house sounds from the late 80s on the A1 ''In Love'' whilst transitioning into the more jammy house sound Andy has been purveying on his string of latest releases on his A2 jam called ''Black Stem''. On the B side SAFT regular ''Kastil'' provides Andy Ash's ''In Love'' with a heavy machine rework. Kastil proves he has been crafting and perfecting his production skills with some new hardware gear. This remix hold the intense feel of a 4am sweaty club session. All and all SAFT proudly present the 5th installment in their series of pure and all round house releases. SAFT05 will hit all well-known record shops in September, of course in the beloved 12'' format. More

Marcos Cabral and Jacques Renault's latest On the Prowl 12" features the return of Andy Ash, the man who dropped "Another World" with them last year (OTP007) as well as a grab of edits on OTP Party Breaks way back in 2010. As is to be expected with the talented, young producer, the EP is all groovy, bouncy, high-octane house with a hardy injection of disco glitz.
"Get Loose" is what its name implies--an elastic, fidgety whirl of dancey guitar strums; a heavy bass that pans in and out, mimicking the experience of opening the door to an underground club; and a playful keyboard melody. "Love Me Straight" is a spacier affair, with a lounge-y pulse and hypnotic synth hook that creeps in, out, and around your ears. The Deep Space Orchestra remix amps up the bass of the original, making the entire track sound like it's being played under water. And "You Show Me" is a perfect example of Ash's trademarks all coalescing into one big pile of shuffling dance floor fun--you can almost see the swirling disco ball lights through your eyelids and feel the smoke machine juice snake into your nostrils. More

Black Key return from a four year hiatus in style - with 4 sublime tracks from Australian ultra deep house don Planisphere - aka David Swatten. Following an incredibly well received LP on reissue label For Those That Knoe, Swatten returns with more expansive, smokey and utterly consuming deep house cuts, stamped with his unique sound but offering a different flavour from his Definitive Transmission LP. One which immediately stands out from the crowd. Being only his third release in 20 years, there's an understandable sense of anticipation around Swatten's output. This release undoubtedly puts Black Key firmly back on the map, picking up their deserved reputation for releasing only the very best deep house, aimed well and truly at the heads. More

Black Key return from a four year hiatus in style, with 4 sublime tracks from Australian ultra deep house don, Planisphere, aka David Swatten. Following an incredibly well received LP on reissue label, For Those That Knoe, Swatten returns here with more expansive, smokey and utterly consuming deep house cuts, stamped with his unique sound but offering a different flavour from his Definitive Transmission LP, one which immediately stands out from the crowd. Being only his third release in 20 years, there's an understandable sense of anticipation around Swatten's output. This release undoubtedly puts Black Key firmly back on the map, picking up their deserved reputation for releasing only the very best deep house, aimed well and truly at the heads. More

Brighton's boutique house label Black Key Recordskicks off 2017 with a fantastic EP from label newcomer Cinthie. Cinthie is a well established force in Berlin: as well as being a resident at key spots [IPSE] and Humboldthain Club-where she spins heady vinyl only sets-she runs three much loved labels and collectives in Beste Modus, Unison Wax and Beste Freunde. As such, she is a true leader of the underground house scene who also runs a studio complex in Berlin, and so is very much at the heart of the house conversation. Kicking things off is the excellent 'House Rhythms', a rugged, bass driven, deep house cut with flabby drums and snares and icy hi hats all sounding informed by classic deep house greats like Ron Trent. Warm, soul infused pads emanate from the core and the whole unhurried affair really sucks you in with its cosy and romantic atmosphere. The second splendid offering is 'Liberty,' a much rawerand direct cut designed for peak time sets. Again it is riddled with jazzy chords that have real soul, but the drums are exposed and banging and the whole thing barrels along at a sweat inducing pace. This is a typically classy offering from both artist and label that kicks off 2017 in real style.
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The Black Key team return for their third various artist release, compiling tracks from an array of talent. The lead track comes from the SMPL pairing of Iron Curtis & Leaves, who deliver a wonderfully subtle journey through murky pads, shuffling percussion and a sparsely used vocal sample, fitting perfectly into the overall feel of this classy number. Proof once again that these two are at the very top of their game. Sharing the A-side Laak delve into late night territory with haunting layered leads & pads rubbing shoulders seamlessly with understated sub-bass and wonderfully panned hit hats - this really is a thing a beauty. On the flip, Terrence Pearce steps up with a track which changes the mood nicely, increasing the tempo with perfectly worked strings, driving bass and lusciously simple keys, delivering a track of real quality for the floor. Finally, Leftback's own Dudley Strangeways rounds off the EP is his usual style, which cannot be described as anything less than true quality. As ever, Black Key have excelled in delivering a package which ticks all the right boxes - this is a release which will undoubtedly appeal to a diverse range of house music fans who appreciate a rather large nod to the underground. Vinyl Only.
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Brighton's Black Key Records has won many underground house fans thanks to superb releases from Iron Curtis, Tom Ellis, Ethyl & Flori and others, and is now back with another tasteful offering from Cecil. The EP is supported by a remix from Berlin's Matthew Burton and Kate Rathod. Artfuldivision's head honcho, Cecil, hails from the midlands city of Leicester, that has in recent years become less known for it's hosiery and more for it's deep house. Born Thomas Fallon, he has released on 124 Black, Slow Town Records and Moonlight and comes correct here once more. The title track 'Depths' is a liquid deep house cut that saunters along at an inviting tempo as blurred chords roll next to the groove. Lazy claps add human warmth, a fat bassline makes you want to shake your limbs and overall it's a cuddly, feel good house offering. His next cut 'Trip' is deeper, more driven by its rubbery kicks, and rawer. The keys here are pleasingly unhinged, a rasping bassline brings plenty of bite to the table and once again the result is an acid-flecked deep house number that puts most to shame. The remix comes by taste making duo Matthew Burton and Kate Rathod, who have released on Fear of Flying and Visionquest amongst others, and have recently played room 1 at the infamous Fabric nightclub. Their stripped back techno sound is showcased once again here, with elastic drums, molten chords and tripped out sound design all making for a slick, synthetic back room cut for the heads. Finally, 'Right Now' from Cecil is crunchy and expertly reduced, where a shuffling drum clap combo is embellished with jazz motifs, swirling pads and a drunken bass riff that is full of feeling. Black Key never fails to impress, and the unearthing of this latest talent and his superb deep house offering sets them off in fine stead for 2015
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Brighton's ever-cultured Black Key label pushes on with another house connoisseur for its next release, namely the venerated Scotland-based deep house producer Brad Peterson. Before now, Peterson has cropped up on seminal Detroit labels like Moods & Grooves as well as boutique vinyl only outlet Contrast Wax. His sound is deep, moody and atmospheric and comes littered with gorgeous melody and soulful synth work. Opening up the EP is 'Monsoon', a nice and propulsive house jam that journeys through deep space with infectious drum hits and radiant synths fleshing out the rubbery groove. Squelchy, subtle textures also appear in the synthy trails and the whole thing is a feel good, optimistic bit of music that will get dancefloors moving and feeling at the same time. 'Sit Back' is a more reflective and sombre cut, with wallowing, liquid chords draped over a ponderous, snaking bassline. The percussion here rattles gently, like branches in the wind, and the mood is contemplative and cerebral, which is not something your average producer can achieve from their machines. The classy, cultured work continues on closer 'Cloud Remedy' with its reverb coated hits, decisive drums and carefully spraying, ever shifting synth patterns. Classic but not overly reverential of the past, it's a beautifully musical bit of deep house with gently tumbling, starry night sky melodies to die for. As ever with this label and artist, this is a magical EP that puts most modern deep house releases to shame.
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The Black Key team step up once again, this time with the third in their limited, vinyl-only series, with Freerotation resident and established producer, Tom Ellis, delivering 4 sublime tracks of subtle and hypnotic house music, in the form of the simply titled "Limited Volume 3". Now undoubtedly an established and respected label, Brighton (UK) based Black Key Records are approaching their third year in the business, having released records from the likes of BLM, Iron Curtis, Pawas, Flori and Ugly Drums, all of which have gained attention for all the right reasons. Here, Tom Ellis delivers an excellent and intelligent EP, with all 4 tracks displaying the talent this man posses for creating a unique and instantly likeable take on deep house music... the right kind. There is no question that this limited release will appeal to the real heads among us - quality stuff. This EP is yet another statement from the Black Key camp, proving their worth in true style. Limited hand-stamped.
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The Black Key team return with the second in their limited, vinyl-only series, with Cologne based producer, Pawas, delivering a truly excellent and diverse 4 track EP, which oozes quality from start to finish. "Dubba" commences the EP in an understated but crisp fashion which uses delayed rim shots, subtle synth stabs and perfectly executed sub bass to build a flittering, shuffling groove, which has unmistakable dance floor appeal. "DA" builds from nothing into a pulsating and hypnotic houser, moulding loose hi hats, layered claps and an acid-infused bass line to supreme effect. Add in expertly-placed rising synths, plus a haunting vocal sample, subtly used, and you have a serious track on your hands. The production versatility of Pawas is demonstrated on the flip with "2047" - such a contrast from the opening 2 tracks, but delightfully so. This is guaranteed to make heads nod and feet tap, mixing together jazzy keys, fluid tom rolls and perfectly panned percussion. Then the vocal drops. Last, but certainly not least, we have "Mello" which sees Pawas partner up with Matthias Keul to great effect. A more down-tempo and musical affair, rounding off the EP is true style. Vinyl only.
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Boutique beat outlet Black Key Records return with an eighth release, welcoming the SMPL pairing of German deep house don Iron Curtis, and Leaves into the fold for the Hello Ada! EP which comes brandishing a remix from AUS and Secretsundaze talent Youandewan. "Hello Ada!" is a nicely driven jam with louche hi hats racing atop nimble beats and bass which duck and dive as they bobble along deep below the surface. Fleshing out the nicely roughed up framework are synth hooks, more smeared pads and the occasion vocal yelp as well as some cute trumpet motifs that are oh so subtly stitched into the overall arrangement. It's archetypal deep house with a kick and is sure to be one the label's biggest to date. The remix from insular soundsmith, Youandewan, is just as good but for different reasons. His version has more emphasis on the big rubbery kick drum blobs, uses the vocal more frequently, and abstractly, but glows in the same way thanks to the aqueous, shiny and reflective synths that rise up and up through the mix. It's as elastic as it is fantastic and contains possibly his finest breakdown to date.
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BRIGHTON'S BLACK KEY SIGN UP MILTON JACKSON FOR THEIR NEXT RELEASE ALONG WITH A REMIX FROM THE MIGHTY ANDY ASH. More

The excellent Black Key Records returns with its first multi artist release, the eponymously titled ‘Black Key EP’ featuring BLM, Flori & James Johnston. Brighton based Black Key Records has built a strong following for its individual take on deep, underground house music. Releases from Jonny Cade, Andy Ash & Chamboche, backed with remixes from Ethyl, Ugly Drums and BLM have given Black Key an instant kudos. Now the Black Key team look to the release of their first multi artist EP featuring three superb cuts, from three outstanding producers. More