Lance DeSardi
Jazz Salad (reissue) EP

French DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist Olivier Portal sadly passed away in January, aged 65. His best work came as Playin 4 The City and this EP is one of his most sought-after on the Plastik People label. It features two tracks originally released on the 'Backshop' EP on Tropism Records 2002 and one newer sound. Opener 'Minor Track' is a brilliantly aloof deep house cut with swinging, dubby drums and cute chord stabs that do enough to keep you moving. 'Backfire' is just as breezy but a little quicker with some sleek synths and nice claps moving things on with a cosmic edge. 'Backside' rides a nice chunky, tumbling rhythm with more subtle but seductive synth work.

It's ten up for Ira James's so-far-so-superb Vessel Recordings Group label as the duo of Nonfiction and Kid Enigma step up for a fresh new single. 'Make It Look Good' is an instant house classic with all the key elements nailed: the drums are deep but driving, while the percussion adds texture and bite. And who better to add some further layers of house authenticity than the one and only Chicago don DJ Sneak. First up he goes raw and loop as you would expect, then dubs things out with his second offering. Another doozy from this imprint.

Rick Wade is one of Detroit and house music's most consistent performers. He is a master of crafting tools that never miss on the floor but also have the sort of character that means they endure across the ages and remain impervious to passing trends. Art Is The Place has his latest, and it opens with the angelic vocals of 'Level Up' over a whimsical groove, then 'Big Ha Blues' gets more deep and zoned out with pillowy pads and wet claps. 'Intrusive Emotions' has a more grinding low end but stays slow and is softened by jazz keys, then 'Bitter Sweet brings some dust and grit. Another faultless outing from Wade.

Any discerning house head must be a fan of Kai Alce's NDATL, and similarly, it'd be hard to think of a reason why the same person wouldn't also love the world of dub house don Mr G. The magical pair come together again here with the 'Black Jammies' EP, which delivers pure underground fire. 'Saved' locks you in with raw, soulful swing that has long been a G trademark, while 'So Wrong Yet So.....' pushes deeper with heavy bass and playful tension. Stripped back yet powerful, both cuts embody his uncompromising craft - soulful, gritty and timeless. Another essential NDATL drop.

Sports Records is back on the pitch for its 6th installment — a five-track heater from the legendary SkyJoose. A true veteran of the game, SkyJoose has been running the field since 1989, racking up a discography that spans Jungle, 2-step, and UKG with championship-level precision. Known for his prolific output and rare collector’s cuts, he’s still pushing the tempo with fresh, limited-run vinyl and digital drops. This release proves why his technical style leaves rivals on the sidelines — SkyJoose is still playing at the top of his league.

Marco Zampini PKA Kid Mark, music lover and vinyl defender, steps up for his first release with Body 'N Deep, taking note of the label's brief, and delivering four sublime deep house tracks perfect for the summer season. Title track Love comes with a remix from label don Jovonn.