Category Archives: Let’s Dance!

Switched On – Charles Webster & The South African Connection – From The Hill (Stay True Sounds)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Charles Webster And The South African Connection’s new LP is a keenly anticipated set of work between the UK deep producer and the cream of the crop from South Africa. In a recent interview, Webster traces its roots:

“In 1997 when ‘Better Day’ by Presence came out, it was a hit on the radio in South Africa”…while “in England, it wasn’t on the radio at all”.

Webster boosted his profile in South Africa with a clutch of remixes, helping create a blueprint for a regional take on the deep, soulful house genre.

The press release documents the outcome of the project: “After the instant high of the project coming together so quickly and the collaborators all gelling effortlessly with Charles, Allan confesses that “there were moments where Charles was refining it, and I was thinking, how are we going to find this common thread between all these musical styles. Charles said don’t worry, this is what I do.”

What’s the music like?

Typically for Charles Webster, this is cool deep house music but with something extra. The Atmos Blaq collaboration Free is just that, an effortless piece of music with an airy trumpet break at its core, introducing The Artist, notable for Bokani Dyer’s vivid storytelling.

Many Blessings and the nippy A Journey channel the spirit of Matthew Herbert, while retaining Webster’s signature shuffle and liquid bass, while Film Me, From The Hill and Rain are classy downtempo numbers. The latter is especially evocative with its liquid guitar and sparkly vocal from Bokang Ramatlapeng.

Soweto Sunrise is a sultry beauty, but if anything Bakulindele is even better with its punchy organ riff and meditative vocal. Qiniseka, meanwhile, is magnificently brooding, and the rolling beats and cool keyboards of Part Two prove the ideal match.

Does it all work?

It does – the quality threshold is extremely high throughout!

Is it recommended?

Very much. Quality oozes from every pore of this record, which will up the winter temperature with its hot weather grooves and winsome, soulful vocals. Highly recommended!

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,757 – Tuesday 23 December 2025

Let’s Dance – Ten City: The Next Generation (Nervous Records)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

The Ten City name is famed in dance music circles, ever since their formation as a trio in 1989. Led by charismatic vocalist Byron Stingily, they return with an album where Stingily is joined by Chicago producer Emmaculate (Eric Welton), who produced the previous Ten City album Judgement, not to mention working as a mix engineer on Beyoncé’s Break My Soul.

The two play host to a number of guest vocalists, with the tracks delivered in club-ready 12” versions.

What’s the music like?

In a word, uplifting. There are some brilliant soulful house music cuts on here, with typically soaring vocals from the frontman but a host of complementary voices to enhance the excellent production.

Mon’Aerie impresses on her contributions, Unique and Live My Life, while My Paradise (featuring DRAMA), the distinctive Stop & Go (with D. Lylez), Feel Good (with OVEOUS) and Release (featuring Uneq’ka) are all strong productions liberally laced with soul.

Meanwhile there are gospel interactions with memorable anthems Hands To The Sky and He’s A Friend. Welton delivers strong, chunky beats and riffs aplenty, much of the material suited to peak time dancefloor action.

Does it all work?

It really does. The quality threshold is high throughout, while the gospel moments – He’s A Friend in particular – provide memorable earworms.

Is it recommended?

Without hesitation. It is so gratifying to see the longevity names like Ten City now have in music; even more so when it is backed up by an album of this quality. Your life will be enhanced by experiencing The Next Generation, for sure!

Published post no.2,673 – Tuesday 30 September 2025

Switched On – Kenny Larkin: Chasers / Loop 2

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by Ben Hogwood

It’s been a week for techno in Arcana towers – and following yesterday’s review of Carl Craig’s Landcruising, I have done a bit of a deep dive into the music of his fellow Detroit luminary Kenny Larkin. The results have been consistently inspiring, but I wanted to share two special rediscoveries, in the form of Chasers and Loop 2. Happy Friday!

Published post no.2,620 – Friday 8 August 2025

Let’s Dance – Various Artists – The Definitive Selection Vol.1 curated, edited and mixed by John Acquaviva (Definitive Recordings)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Canadian label Definitive goes back a long way in house music. Founded in 1992 by John Acquaviva, Richie Hawtin, and Karl Kowalski, it has now been looking back via a series of ‘Classics’ EPs, and a Disco House for All compilation. The Definitive Selection is another journey into the catalogue, described as “a perfectly ageless collection of floor-friendly house grooves that make a maximal impact from minimal elements”.

Acquaviva has curated the selection, with a fresh set of edits to knit together nicely.

What’s the music like?

There are some house music gems here, and Acquaviva clearly had a lot of fun pulling them together.

Right from the start, House For All by Blunted Dummies has a spring in its step in Acquaviva’s remix, while Omega Man‘s Freejack gets a really good percussive workout. Future Legend‘s The Music has a really good combination of rolling bass, cool keys and treble percussion, while Metal Detector has a lot of fun with flicks and bleeps in Eduardo Rossell‘s remix.

There are a couple of nagging riffs about, the Ring Tone remaster of Acquaviva’s own At Midnight and Chuck Phulasole‘s Manik Sax both making their mark. The latter goes off on a really satisfying freestyle tip.

Does it all work?

It does – though a couple of those nagging treble riffs are definitely better in a club than on headphones!

Is it recommended?

It is indeed – quality house music reflecting just how durable the genre has been. Well worth a visit.

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,606 – Friday 25 July 2025

Let’s Dance – Adam Beyer: Explorer Vol. 1 (Drumcode)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Artist albums from established DJs in house and techno are relatively rare these days, which is one of a few explanations for Adam Beyer’s first album in over 20 years.

Swedish DJ Beyer runs the Drumcode label, but the title Explorer Vol.1 reflects a desire to explore different approaches and styles within and beyond techno.

What’s the music like?

Right from the start it is clear that a lot of thought as gone into this, and even though Explorer is an artist album it also works as an unmixed DJ set.

Beyer works the ebb and flow of the beats and breakdowns perfectly, keeping the listener’s attention with a wide range of material but getting the feet engaged at every opportunity too.

After the introduction, Taking Back Control has a good vocal, while Alto, with Layton Giordani, uses the familiar “What were the clouds like when you were young?” sample before a sturdy beat kicks in, courtesy of his collaborator.

Elsewhere, Explorer has real attitude, while Desolate Lands, a collaboration with Chris Avantgarde, stands out with its brilliant, roughed-up bass. Tanit adds a strong breaks undercarriage, Beyer getting a fine blend between styles with one eye straying towards the Mediterranean. Meanwhile The Distance Between Us has proper bite to it, a clash of styles that is definitely the sum of its parts. Finally The Long Way Home, like Tanit a track rescued from Beyer’s pre-COVID writing, is a cracker with which to end.

Does it all work?

It does – no skipping here! The beats are brilliant, too.

Is it recommended?

Very much so. An exciting new chapter of Adam Beyer’s career, Explorer has plenty of thrills and spills from beginning to end, stimulating the mind while it does maximum damage on the dancefloor. Very encouraging to see that it’s the first volume, too, as it demands a sequel!

Listen / Buy

You can listen to clips and explore purchase options at the Beatport website – and read more about Adam Beyer and previous releases on his own Drumcode label site

Published post no.2,595 – Saturday 31 May 2025