This week's second update is up and online now at Primalrecords.com, and as promised, the year will start off with a good dose of heavy-hitting titles--including new white label music from our friends at Big Chief. The record drought has gone on long enough, so let's drink:

AARON OCHOA "Kingdom Caller" (Original & DJ Hal Mxs) Big Chief (Promo) [House, Tribal, Tech-house] Fresh from his outstanding contribution to David Duriez's Brique Rouge label, Aaron Ochoa goes domestic with this debut EP release for New York's Big Chief crew. "Kingdom Caller" is a funky tech-house floorfiller with depth and groove, underpinning a traditional warm keys arrangement with future stabs of robot funk. On the flip, Tony Thomas's Red Moon studio partner DJ Hal brands the remix in his signature tribal tech-house style, forging a big room tune with acid attack. Ochoa also hands in 2 mixes of the true-to-its-name "Latin Action," but my pick goes to "Kingdom Caller." Extremely limited quantities on this one, and as always, it's first-come first-serve.

www.syntaxrecordings.com/bigchief

LAND SHARK "Tie Me Up" Coco Machete [House, Tech-house] The up-and-coming Coco Machete label weighs in with its strongest release to date, a brilliant new EP from Lance Desardi's Land Shark alias. "Tie Me Up" finds itself in the pure Chicago house tradition, celebrating jacked-up beats with a freaked-out spoken word vocal that is sure to instigate dancefloor filth. One of Desardi's best, in my opinion--with early support in from Derrick Carter and Mazi already in, it seems I'm not the only one.

www.cocomachete.com

TERRY FRANCIS & HARIS "Long Time No See" EP Laus [House, Tech-house, Breaks] Two of the biggest names in London house music unite for a scorching 3-track collaboration. The bombtrack here is "Smiling And Smiling," a peak-time tech-houser with dubbed-up vocal cuts and a wicked drive that should stay out of the chillout rooms with little effort. Back into deep and dubby territory, the duo offer up "Wobaza"--a sweet and vintage sounding piano houser that should warm things up nicely--as well as "Electric Lullaby," which goes far left into downtempo and breaks territory. Quality tech-house from two of the genre's best.

www.lausrecords.com

JEFF BENNETT "Direction Changes" EP Morris Audio [House, Techno, Tech-house] Though he's best known for the deep dub minimal tech-house style he's brought forward on labels like Poker Flat, Jamayka, Treibstoff, and his own Kung Fu imprint, Direction Changes--the latest EP from Scandinavian producer Jeff Bennett--truly lives up to its name. The atmospheric soundscapes and thumping low-end still exist, but here, Bennett finds new faith in the dancefloor. "Fanatic" and "Burnin Wishes" are true club tracks that will translate to both house and techno audiences with ease, while "The Phone Call" and "Fruition" will satisfy deeper and techier dancefloors through Bennett's more familiar voice.

www.morrisaudio.com

KEMETIC JUST "The Evoluded" EP Soco Audio [House, Tech-house] This one's a label to watch. Atlanta's Soco Audio is back in the fold with the latest from DJ Kemit's Kemetic Just guise and we're loving it. Funky and minimal, "Wandering" leaves the most impact with its passionate vocal sample and downright rude synth-bass--think Natural Rhythm or Wally Callerio as a reference--and confirmed airplay from Halo Varga to boot. Fantastic.

www.socoaudio.com

HOLMES IVES "Eros" Shinichi [Progressive, Tech-house] Following work on Bedrock, progressive house newcomer Holmes Ives chimes in with a new EP for the Deep Dish-sanctioned Shinichi label. It's no wonder, either: The Ritual Dub could have easily found itself on either of Deep Dish's Yoshiesque comps, straddling the confines of progressive and traditional house with deep tribal undertones and a darker, ethereal flavor. When the bass line steps in about halfway though--it's like, whoa. The Divine Creation Mix showcases more of Ives' Bedrock flavor, blazing a row of quality deep and bass-heavy progressive house along the lines of Weekend World or James Holden.

www.shinichi.co.uk

Also not to be missed is the latest release from Moody B (much like their upcoming release on Leaf, it's outstanding proper funky house music), as well as the latest, umm, illicit white label release from NYC house royalty Joeski. The victims on his latest wax outing? Missy Elliot and the Steve Miller Band. Outrageous. We've also got full-release copies of the latest release from Grant Dell's Tribalation project on Big Chief; you guys scooped up the promos real quick a couple of months back, so if you missed it then, now's your chance.

Also in this week are new releases and remix work from Isolee (remixed by Freaks, Tiefschwarz, and Freeform Five!), Chris Lum, Da Sunlounge, Rhythm Plate & Chad Mitchell (remixed by Tony Senghore, Jonene, and Tasho), Tony Thomas, Chicken Lips, The Orb, and East Coast Boogiemen, among others.

New label output from Low Pressings, Loveslap, Myna, Wave Music, Roam Recordings, Camouflage, Aroma, Mighty Atom, Bosh, Kompakt, and more, is also in.

We've also given our Dub and Leftfield sections a massive update this week with new vinyl from Lee Perry, Bunny Wailer, King Tubby, Early B, Johnny Osbourne, Sly & Robbie, and the remarkable Hustle compilation, featuring reggae versions of disco classics.

Finally, we've got even more restocks back in this week, this time from Morgan Page (featuring the much in-demand Halo Varga remixes of "All I Need"), Aztech Sol's latest EP for Westbound Music, and a handful of titles from MFF.

More new Progressive House is forthcoming, as those titles begin making their ways overseas. Welcome back, everyone.

(Norman Arenas)