Deep88 8 Tracks: Bargain Basement Belters

Music

Joining the dots between the classic sounds of house with an ear open to the future, Deep88 aka Alessandro Pasini has produced a distinguished discography on his 12 Records stable with his hardware house odysseys basking in depth and warmth. Whether it’s the dripping-deep majesty of his solo productions, collaborations with kindred spirit Melchior Sultana, introducing other Italian virtuosos such as Jacy and Mike Lee via his ‘House Of 12’ series or commissioning remixes from the house hierarchy such as Dream 2 Science, every Deep88 12” is buy-on-sight and can be found in every discernible DJ’s bag. His latest 12” is the remix package of ‘Believe In You’ featuring house orator Robert Owens with Jacques Renault, Abyssy and Melchior Sultana on remix duties – you can now cop at record behemoth Juno and will be touching down in all other choice record joints soon… OK so we’ll handover to Deep88 for his 8 Tracks that are all bargain basement belters… So this is my list, you can call it a “cheap porno” records list as it means these are really, really cheap records due the fact that they were quite popular “underground” successes so a lot of press and licensing all over the world. So nothing impossible to find or rare or press in 100 limited copies, but just amazing tracks, and this is what it matters!

(on parenthesis the actual lower price on discogs at end of april 2015 in £ and €)

As well as his production nous, Deep88 is also a superior selector (check out his this recent set in Amsterdam )

and will be spinnin’ in Berlin next month at Organic Grooves’ House Party so if you’re in town check him out – event details here

LISTEN

June Montana - I Need Your Love (£0.25/€0.35)

This is a clear example of an early easy going house track with an eye to pop music… Some people hate this combo but I think it’s one of the hardest things to produce, because the risk is that it can effectively go too cheesy… So the border line is perfect with this production capturing that perfectly.

June Montana - I Need Your Love (£0.25/€0.35)

This is a clear example of an early easy going house track with an eye to pop music… Some people hate this combo but I think it’s one of the hardest things to produce, because the risk is that it can effectively go too cheesy… So the border line is perfect with this production capturing that perfectly.
Izit - Stories - Paul Oakenfold Remix (£0.35/€0.50)

OK I’m obsessed with this song, it’s a downtempo jazzy groovin’ cover from the classic Chakachas original – even if I think the Izit version is the better one. There are different mixes and remixes that are all excellent for real. When you play the original at a point there is a backward cueing turntables in the break – be ready to have all the dancers and listeners looking at you at that moment so just smile and say “hello”… A particular great remix is the Paul Oakenfold one. In the middle of the song there is a point when the real sax starts after a massive loop repeat of the synth sax… Well the vibe there is something magic, literally a jump into dreamland…
Be Big - Thats When Its Gold - Farley & Heller Remix 1990 (£0.49/€0.69)

Here it’s all about the Heller and Farley remix… This is the perfect track that you need in a warm up DJ set to relax people, let them chill a bit at the bar where they tap their feet and slowly get going to the floor… You need it as it makes base for a hopefully long night, so if you need something to break the ice with this is more than perfect…
Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield - "Nothing Has Been Proved" - 12" Mix - (£0.70/€1.00)

Another downbeat song, something magic produced by the Pet Shop Boys with the great Dusty Springfield at the vocal. The extended remix is made by Marshall Jefferson, so it has a house appeal even if the song is on a downtempo tip. Perfect even at home with the lights off or on a highway driving deep into the night…
Dirty Cash(Money Talks) (£0.20/€0.28)

Mehhh this is pure banger groovy shit from the old days… Everything here is gorgeous… If u need something to shake the floor and clean the unresponsive dancers, this is it. Filed under “when house was dirty”.
Will Downing - A Love Supreme (Dub In The House Mix) (£0.25/€0.35)

Class, class and some more class. Arthur Baker on production which you can clearly hear. Filed under “when house was made with musicians”.
Joanna Law - First Time Ever (£0.25/€0.35)

Best Easy Street record… Well maybe one of the best – a sad and melancholic groove but with inner soul movement… A cover from the famous Roberta Flack song.
Sensory Elements Vol.1 - Explain It (£1.75/€2.50)

Aaaah best Azuli EP ever made in the Earth… So strange that it’s so underrated, four amazing tracks here…
The one I prefer is A1 – “Explain It”: this is a love house song, with perfect 909ish elements mixed together, pads and vocal, then comes the bass line and boooooom!