Number 1 in this month's chart goes to Madlib. It's rare to hear decent new hip hop these days and Stones Throw's finest doesn't let us down. Check Cues 2, 3, 4 and the massive soul sampling 6. The 10" vinyl comes in a lovely package, including that all important download code.
All 3 tracks on NDATL's Special Edition 2014 EP are great - Michael Huckaby's Analog, Tapes & Things moves my head the most, Simbaz Groove by Kai Alce is a sultry deep houser, whilst Jay Daniel drops a ruff Detroit floor wrecker. Originally these 12"s were only available to those that attended the Deep Detroit event back in May 2014. The 3 track white label release is already going for double money on Discogs.
The Detroit vibes continue with scattered snares and squelchy bass from Kyle Hall aka Funkineven's Discipline which features Jay Daniel. The aptly titled Abyss on the flipside takes things darker and more soundtracky.
All Under One Roof Raving by Jamie xx is finally out and gets the award for the freshest tune of the year. Check the full review here.
Amir Alexander beefs up the drums on Hanna's Moonshine for some peak time action on the strong Allied Forces EP, whilst his remix of Martin de Brig's Stop Stop keeps it bubbling and deep.
Daze's Lips EP on an amber coloured Lobster Theremin 12" is pure Detroit. The Larkin-esque Drag Ball is my pick but Drexciya fans should also check the acid electro of the Untitled track.
Max Graef, one of my favourite producers of 2013, takes on Mr Scruff's We Are Coming and delivers some jazz laced house grooves. On the flip is a Scruff re-tweak of Feel Free. Click on the link below for this month's chart.
http://www.juno.co.uk/charts/dj/536543-Paul_Thornton_itch_Dig_Deep/1103455-Chart/
Sitting at number 8 is Roman Flugel's remix of Daniel Avery's All I Need. I have kept going back to this for a month now and have finally come to the conclusion this should take the roof off any decent house club.
Two upfront EPs from Cottam's Ruff Draft label wrestled it out for the 9th and 10th spots. Romansoff's EP won out but only just. I played Lust on the show back in August but Dog Days and Scissors are equally strong. Ruff Draft 03 comes from the tongue twister that is Louis Guilliaume. Taking Over (The Sermon) is the stand out track for me but Careless featuring Paul Randolph is a close 2nd.
Into the top 20 and Imre Kiss's Raw Energy EP has 3 tracks for me - Stellar 0102 sets the scene with some Burial-esque ambience. Spellbound is the one for the beatdown heads and Non is the one for the techno floors. The latter reminds me of Kevin Saunderson on the bassline front.
Move D's To The Disco 77 EP has had a welcome repress. Filed under Deep House because of that great remix of Got 2 Be by Endian. Those into the more Balearic end should check the title track whilst slomo lovers should be excited by the Duff Disco remix.
In 2007 Simon Baker's Plastik was smashing many a dancefloor over 2 different 12"s. This year's re-release includes a remastered original, a 2014 remix and that massive version by Todd Terje. If you didn't get this originally don't sleep on it now.
Norman Connors takes us back to 1977 with Once I've Been There. This incredible piece of soul music, reissued on a limited white marbled vinyl 12", is simply essential.
The reissue theme continues with The Deep Disco and Boogie Vol 1 12" from Kindred Spirit. Curated by Zaf, the double A side includes the long version of China Burton's You Don't Care About Our Love which was used by Social Disco Club on one of their Disco Deviance EPs. Plus there is the blissful boogie of Set It Out by Razzmataz. Check the feature on Zaf here.
The forthcoming Black Rox 3 EP features the wonderful afro vibes of Sabu Dance by Soft Rocks - all soulful and percussive like. Head straight for Broken Memory by Matin Hayes on the The Banoffee Pies debut 12".
The disco reissues continue with The Glitter Band's 1975 release Makes You Blind. A full on stormer that has the sound of The Windy City written all over it.
Nik Weston's ever reliable Afro Disco Boogie Edits series is up to volume 7. All 4 edits are strong but my preferences are the discofunk of Vengeance and the hands in the air soul of Solo With The Lights Off.
Number 20 goes to Francis Inferno Orchestra's bargain priced A New Way Of Living LP. The Ripperton vibed strings of Ellingfort Road win my vote with The More You Like and Watching The Stars also catching my ear.
Quality deep house basslines continue on Nummer's Moon To Jupiter. Disco Deviance are back with another killer 2 tracker, this time from the mighty Frank Booker. Spiral is the one for me.
On the collaboration front Felix Dickinson, Horse Meat Disco and one-time DFA man (and renowned multi-instrumentalist) Marcus Marr have teamed up to produce what could have potentially been a late summer smash. I Like It When You is P-Funk to the max with the spirit of Prince on vocals and has a guitar/bassline riff that will get stuck in your head for days - I can't make up my mind up if this is an outright anthem or a guilty pleasure.
This month's spine tingler award goes to #16 of the Ron Hardy series for introducing me to Come Fly With Me by Greg Perry. A sublime perceive of soul music that was originally released in 1977 on his Smokin' LP. The dirty ass Drum Track 1 is an added bonus and will bang any box.
A Dig Deep chart wouldn't be complete without a few classics - reissues of Raw Silk's Do It To The Music (West End), the May Day remix of Reese's Rock To The Beat (KMS) and Marshall Jeffersons' The House Music Anthem (Trax) have all been reissued this month.
Cassiano's Onda / Central Do Brazil has long been an in-demand item for Balearic DJs. Copies of the original 1977 12" regularly fetch three figures online so grabbing this sun drenched classic now is recommended.
Lastly Ned Doheny's Hard Candy LP has been reissued on 180 gram vinyl. His version of Get It Up For Love is quite different to Tata Vega's disco version and has long been considered a Balearic classic. New track to me I've Got Your Number is the other track that stands out. A lovely piece of soul for the head nodders.
