GARI ROMALIS Vinyl & CDs

Review: Gari Romalis makes his long-awaited return to the Rawax imprint. The 'Another World' EP features four deep house cuts for the club atmosphere. 'Dance Wit Me' is perfectly suited for a DJ to level up the energy on the dancefloor. The melodic title track strides a more soulful approach while harnessing a nostalgic 90s aura. 'Down The Drain' is the most upbeat and serious one of the bunch. Certainly, a prime time groover that screams to be mixed by a house DJ. 'Iz You' rounds out things with the most epic piece on here. Showing Gari's versatility, this track is the way to end the late night perfectly. Four tracks for every point in a DJ set, you have Gari Romalis and Rawax together. Is there anything else to say?!

Review: Detroit legend Gari Romalis is as productive as ever, offering up a strain of deep house that feels classic without trading on past glories. In a year when he's collaborated with DJ Minx on Women On Wax, landed on Just Jack, Wild Circus and Secret Society, he's now rubbing shoulders with Boo Williams, Orlando Voorn, Vincent Floyd and more for breakthrough Italian label NICEPEOPLE. There's quality oozing out of every bar of this EP, but 'Black Diamondz (Africa Mix)' is especially classy, capturing a subdued but purposeful mood which rightly turns the mind to the empowered theme of the record. Don't sleep on 'Purpose Reprise (Motivate Mix)' either, in which the pointed speech samples give you food for thought atop another of Romalis' impeccable groove.

Review: Bristol party and label Just Jack welcome unsung Detroit hero in the form of Gari Romalis. He brings all the sounds you'd expect of a Motor City artist - depth, soul and warmth. 'Panic In Detroit' (Goos Life Mix) is a mid tempo jam that will warm up early evening floors. 'Final Fronteer' (Brain Block mix) is a deep and cuddly cut with hip swinging claps and splashy hi hats and last of all comes the best fo the lot, 'Hard Rain.' It has smooth drum loops that rock back and forth and draw you in beneath balmy cosmic pads and far-sighted sense of melancholy. This is tasteful, subtle dance music for the heads.

Review: Norm Talley's Detroit label Upstairs Asylum comes through with another various artists gem here: Gari Romalis kick off with the sort of smoky house depths you always expect from this imprint. 'Electronix (I'm Ya Dancer)' is dubbed out but dynamic, then G Major's 'Metro To Downtown' brings an injection of soul warmth and percussive looseness. Chuck Daniels & Hazmat Live's 'I Want You' is a darker, more heads down affair with freaky vocals and digital synth patterns over gritty, US garage styled low ends. Max Watts then cuts loose with the undulating dub techno depths of 'Velocity' to round out a varied EP.

Review: Lost City Archives was a vital label back in the 1990s and now founder and Motor City urban legend Gari Romalis has brought it back from the dead. He has been crafting fine house and techno for 30 years but lots to the future here with some new school stars. 'Dendo Mojo' is first up as Joey and Ron Head Back combine for deep and dusty drums, molten synth lines and plenty of traditional US house goodness. The Gari Romalis Special mix is more heavy and laced with subtle acid, then 'Belle Gruv' slips into a gorgeously skipping groove with leggy bass and brushed metal snares. 'Dance Worthy' closes out with another deep, cuddly, aloof groove of timeless appeal.

Review: Upstairs Asylum Recordings is one of the many seminal Detroit labels run by local legend Norm Talley. It's right in the middle of a busy run right now with no fewer superb run with three new EPs all dropping in quick succession. This one is a split EP with US duo Solid Gold Playaz taking care of the a-side. As always with this pair, their sounds are deep and dusty house with exquisite melodies tugging at the heart. On the flip, Gari Romalis steps up with the slick percussive skip of 'Detroit After Dark' then 'Panties' from Brian Neal brings jacked up analogue groves that lean into techno with a big fat bassline.