Bay Area folks take note: We've got a very special Get Underground! happening this weekend. Our own Hector Moralez launches his Minority Music imprint at Club 6 with another Bay Area exclusive appearances from Parisian DJ/producer extraordinaire Phil Weeks. (Besides the millions of other things they do, their resume also includes work as Fries & Bridges.) Full details to follow.

For our global friends, we've got another update to our House, Tech-house, Progressive, Breaks, and Techno catalogs up and online now at Primalrecords.com. Here's an abbreviated look at a few of the things floating my boat:

THE BEARD feat. AMMA "Close To Me" (Original & Andy Caldwell Mxs) Inspirit Music (Promo) [House, Tech-house] British producer and in-house Inspirit knob-twiddler The Beard strikes gold on this absolutely brilliant vocal house package. If classic OM output and the Moulton Studios spirit represents in your crate, you'll wanna hear this: "Close To Me" is an impeccably produced deep house cut that understands that drums don't need to be timid to be deep. Mixed with a heartfelt vocal performance from Amma, this track does the business in an emotionally resonant way. Has the Beard become the UK's answer to Kaskade? Keeping in line with the SF flavor, Soulstice member and OM alumnus Andy Caldwell is called in for the remix. Still tough, still deep—but add a funkier pre-acid b-line and watch the song take on a new life. Extremely limited copies here; first-come, first-serve, as always.

www.inspiritmusic.com

SYNDICATED PEOPLE "Be Right!" (Tony Senghore and Le Knight Club vs. Play Paul Rmxs) Defected [House, Tech-house, Techno] Head straight for Tony Senghore's totally twisted effort here. Recalling his early collaborations with Martin Venetjoki, Senghore goes on a drug-free tweakin' binge, melding dirty synthplay with slightly Latin rhythms, cut-and-paste sampling styles more associated with early rave jams, and his signature Euro-Chicago vibe for a blast of truly forward-thinking house music. Peak-time only, folks!

www.defected.co.uk

V/A (BLADEY / JULEZ) "Gruvass / Dirty Muffin Breaks" Formerly Known As [Progressive, Tech-house, Breaks] Who knew? Better known for his work on labels like Forged and Gravitation, Bladey lends a cut to the first release for the label Formerly Known As Mechanism. (Don't ask. I don't know.) "Gruvass" steals the show with a track that transcends both the tech-house and progressive pigeonholes, somehow connecting the dots between Richie Hawtin and Anthony Pappa, and at the same time, creating something that wouldn't be out of the question for, say, Dave Mothersole to pack in his bag. Relentless drum programming is kept from becoming unruly by a hypnotic and wholly funky bass line—not something you're gonna hear on lots of progressive records these days. Julez gives up a worthwhile nu-school breaks contribution to the sampler, but Bladey is getting my pick here.

www.sumsonic.com

Also new this week is remix and production work from Lexicon Avenue, Shawn Ward, Hakan Lidbo, Alexander Kowalski, Rene Breitbarth, Bedrock, Hybrid (featuring New Order's Peter Hook and remixed by John Creamer & Stephane K!), Voyager, D. Ramirez, Phil Kieran, and more.

New label output from Skint, Regular, Fair Park, Muzique Boutique, Perlon, Boxer Sport, Dirty Blue, Plastic Fantastic, Manga, Bedrock Breaks, Hussle, Wallop, and more is also in.

And don't forget new illicit goodies from Spen & Karisma (rocking Ashanti) and Bill Hamel (taking on Prince!). Also of note: Back by popular demand, we've got those limited edition white label breakbeat mixes of Underworld's "Rez" and "Cowgirl" back in full. If you missed it last time around, now's your chance.

Until next week, be good.

(Norman Arenas)