Freerange

Available: 13th July 2021

The world of dance music 25 years ago was a very different place from the one we now inhabit. Rave had transitioned through Hardcore into Drum & Bass whilst UK Garage was brewing nicely and the UK pop charts were full of underground dance records. Meanwhile, the likes of Mo Wax, Ninjatune and Compost were pushing away from the dancefloors, introducing blunted beats, jazz-fusion sonics and a whole new movement to electronic music. It was into this atmosphere that Freerange was born, a UK label that reaches its quarter-century this year. At the helm over the last 25 years has been the partnership of childhood friends Tom Roberts and Jamie ‘Jimpster’ Odell.

It’s been a long and eventful journey, from an era of 56k modems, faxed reaction reports and when DJs still bought actual records, Freerange has weathered many storms and sailed through some of the most revolutionary changes to hit the music industry. Through those 25 years, and like the proverbial comforting sound of Bob Ross’ voice, Jimpster’s own music and those artists he releases through the label remain a constantly reliable, not to mention dance floor-smashing presence through the ups and downs of the house music continuum.

This Anthology brings together some of Jimpster’s finest productions across two double pack vinyl LPs from the preceding two and a half decades, showcasing his detailed approach to production and proving why he continues to thrive in the current scene, continuing to be held in high regard by many of the founding fathers of house music and young up and coming producers alike.

In some ways, this collection is a record of developments in UK Deep House as Jimpster slowly refined his sound over the years, continually reinventing the 4/4 template, creating new sounds, fresh chord progressions and original audio ideas, all geared towards creating memorable dance floor moments. He’s perfected a UK version of the sublime anticipation that is at the heart of the very best Deep House, that sense of sitting on the very edge of ecstasy, creating tracks that wonderfully stretch out those blissful moments.

A1. Square Up

A2. Head Spin

B1 - Got A Hold On Your Soul

B2. Rollergirl

C1. A Love Like This (ft Diamondancer)

C2. Late Night Blues

D1. Burning Up

D2. The Sun Comes Up ft Jinadu

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Jimpster - Anthology Vol. 2 [2 x LP]

Freerange

£17.39 (£20.87 Inc VAT)

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Jimpster - Anthology Vol. 1 [2 x LP]

Freerange

£17.39 (£20.87 Inc VAT)

Available: 7th May 2021

Every now and then a release comes along for us which carries just that little extra bit of weight and significance and the Mind In A Daze EP from Solid Gold Playaz is one of those. The US duo have released some of my favourite house tracks dating back to the late nineties so it is a real pleasure to have them produce four amazing new tracks for us here on Freerange. Kenny Gino and Mike T have had many highly rated releases on revered labels such as DNH, Moods n Grooves, Silver Network and their own Solid Gold Records. Resolutely underground, and it’s fair to say criminally underrated, Solid Gold Playaz have stayed true to what they do by releasing the heaviest club music which connects on a far deeper level than your average new house release. I really hope you can give Mind In A Daze some time to grab you in the same way it has grabbed me.

Kicking off the EP the title track sets the mood with an SGP rolling groove, hypnotic synths and tripped-out vocal delivery from Mike himself. For me, they consistently hit this beautiful sweet spot between jacking Chicago house, Detroit techno and the more European IDM sounds of ART, Irdial and B12. Always deep and musical but with a focus on what will create a magic mood on a late night or early morning dance floor.

The Kiss gives us another expansive and immersive mood which can’t fail to draw you in. A driving house groove with punchy claps make the perfect counterpart to the blissed-out widescreen pads and glitchy mechanised synth sequence making for a very special track.

Let Me See You Jack goes straight for the jugular! Absolutely no messing about on this one, with crunching, unrelenting 808 beats laying a foundation for Mike’s twisted vocal drawing us to the dance floor. What I wouldn’t give to have heard this dropped by Ron Hardy at the Music Box!

Closing out the EP we have Optical Illusions, another SGP masterpiece for those who like it seriously deep! The long arrangement gives the track space to breathe and for that beautifully hypnotic vibe which SGP create so well, to really take hold. Serious Jackers Unite!

A1. My Mind Is In A Daze