I've been gone for a few weeks, but I'm back. This week's snowstorm on the East Coast left many of our distributors paralyzed for a day or two, so things will be running a bit late this week. Still, we're delivering the goods with the first of this week's updates: Besides full release copies of the Nehpets EP on Brique Rouge Trax and the newest EBE record for Grayhound, which we brought you on white label months ago, we've got new promo action from our friends at Detour, and much much more. Here's the skinny:

HIPP-E "Flow / Let It Play / Dis" Detour (Promo) [House, Tech-house] As one-half of dubby house heroes H-Foundation, Hipp-E was part of a scene of producers that innovated a new wave of dance music whose effects have left indelible marks on the culture. As a solo artist, Hipp-E has been veering out of the big rooms and into a deeper, funkier space; his latest EP for Tony Hewitt's Detour imprint is probably my favorite record of his to date. Leading the charge is "Flow," a versatile and slinky funk houser with an irresistable bassline and sexy vocal sample that defines his new direction in the strongest possible way. "Let It Play" takes it deeper for a Toka/Inland Knights-inspired groove session, while "Dis" jacks it up with a deep Chicago flavor and a warm flow of keyboard-play that develops into a recurring acid line. Solid.

www.tangorecordings.com

LOOSE SCREWS, JONNY KABOOM & NO TAN LINES "Sheila The Freak" Sunny Day [House, Tech-house] A Chicago-meets-SF collaboration in the spirit of the recent Igloo Records label output, "Sheila The Freak" is another batch of illicit tech-house fun for the Sunny Day Records camp. One half of the record is an ode to some "freaky motherf#@kers" named Jonene, Justin Long, Dan X, Derrick Carter, and Lance Desardi, but it's not like they had anything to do with this record or something. (Umm...) The other half takes on Ready For The World's R&B classic "Oh Sheila" in a sweet and twisted funk fashion. This one will go out of print, so if you're even halfway interested, don't delay.

NATHAN COLES & SMITHMONGER "Untitled" (2 Tracks) Wiggle [Tech-house, House] Two of London tech-house and breakbeat's biggest faces team up for an untitled effort for the longstanding Wiggle label and it's nothing short of brilliant. If you're familiar with the players, you probably know the score: Bass heavy, dub-inflected quality tech-house with a distinct UK edge. Check the label side for my pick: a dark, but upbeat jab of funked-up beats and sub-woofer goodness.

SUB PROJECT "Space" Plastica [Progressive, Tribal] The boys at Plastic Fantastic return with another slab of Swain & Snell-produced tribal house, and here, you get a taste of both where these producers are coming from and a hint of where they might be going. The Main Mix is true to the formula--deep progressive tribal house from two of the genre's pioneers--but future-seekers will want to hear the flip. Much like Swain & Snell's "Electro Track," which appeared on Steve Lawler's incredible Lights Out mix CD, the duo's remix takes a unique electro-progressive approach to the tune that is as much Felix Da Housecat as it is John Digweed. Excellent.

www.plasticfantastic.com

Also in this week is new production and remix work from Gene Carbonell, C&M Productions, Slynus, Julien Jabre & DJ Gregory, DJ Dan, Peace Division, and much more. New label output from Honchos, Choo Choo, Vinyl Addiction, Brique Rouge, Soha, and more is also in, as is a fat restock of the current club remix of Pink Floyd's "Hey You" on white label only. (If you missed this one the first time around, now's your chance.)

More records to come in a couple of days, including full-release copies of our very own Fries & Bridges Affiliated Drums EP! Watch this space. It's good to be back.

(Norman Arenas)