Lee Walker – The Deep Stuff

Another TIWWD fave label here, as Savoir Faire Musique bring us this solo outing from RiffRaff's Lee Walker.

In its Original form, The Deep Stuff is typically sumptuous SFM deep house tackle, chugging along nicely at 120bpm and sporting a pleasingly understated, though insistent organ line (and at one point, what sounds like a dog barking but might not be). Deep Edition label boss Martijn gives us a remix that's similar but slightly rawer-sounding, Groove Syndicate beef up the kicks and push the tempo a notch, while Miami Ice take us even deeper with a mix that rides groovier percussion and adds lounge-y sounds on top.

All that said, the four mixes aren't hugely varied, to be honest. Good job the Original is as strong as it is, then… cos that also means you won't go far wrong with any of 'em.

Classy stuff as ever from SFM.

Out: This week

About: You can find Savoir Faire Musique on Facebook and Soundcloud.

Lee Pennington – Under Pressure EP

With a total of six mixes to choose from, there's no faulting this latest from Endemic Digital on the VFM front… which makes a nice change from all those two-track 'EPs' you get (that'd be 'extended play' as opposed to what, exactly?)

Thankfully, there's quality as well as quantity on offer. Under Pressure itself is a rolling/chugging tech-houser with the very lightest of tribal touches in its original form, and sports a female vocal intoning the title alongside some cool bass synth drops. Slightly beefier refixes come from Groove Syndicate and Farfan. The other track, Farr, also comes in three mixes: the original is heads-down and stomping, Groove Syndicate's rub is a notch slinkier while Tony S's take is the deepest cut on the whole EP.

The last two tracks that work best for me, but it's a strong EP all round.

Out: This week

About: You surely know where to find Endemic Digital by now…

Lee Pennington – Credit Rating/Smoky Bottle

Some very fine deep/tech grooves here from the ever-checkable Unrivaled Music.

First up is Credit Rating, which in its Original form is a sparse-yet-luxuriant midtempo cut that chugs along nicely without feeling the need to 'do' very much at all, and that's dominated by piano/organ (?) stabs and unassuming but nonetheless rock solid 4/4s. Groove Syndicate's remix adds slightly more involved percussion and some low-end acid bubble, while Pretty Criminals' Raw To The Floor Cut has that jazzy, rough-edged feel you associate with vintage NYC house from the early 90s.

As for Smoky Bottle, in its Original form that's a slightly more uptempo/driving deep/tech dancefloor cut, with some proggy tinges around the edges, while Groove Syndicate strip it right down to the beat and bassline to turn the track into a proper dark room throbber and no mistake guv.

With not a duff mix in sight, this is a very solid bet indeed.

Out: This week

About: Unrivaled is part of the Endemic Digital stable.