Various Artists - V/A 180 grams vinyl

Recording info

A hugely promising first release from New Jack City helped established Music Is
Love as a label synonymous with deep, underground house music. Now back with
their second installment, MIL kick off the first of their 'Lovebox VA' series, a double-
vinyl release that includes tracks from 8 artists on the label. The premise of this VA
is to preview the diverse musical talent available on the roster, laying the foundations
for what listeners can expect from each artists' subsequent EPs. It's also a serious
exhibition that delves further into the visionary perspective of imprint owners Oli and
Angus. The journey through the labels acquisitions will no doubt help illuminate the
appeal of MIL as a label focused on exploring and showcasing some of the finest
talent in the underground house scene at the moment.

The EP is formulated to span the variety of influences indicative of the label's
sound, characterized by each artist's uniquely different offering. Keep Coming is an
outstanding introduction to Liam Geddes, an incredibly tight production with a heavy
bassline containing shades of Kerri Chandler fused with deep chords and swirling
synths that build and coalesce back into a straight-up groove. Maintaining the garage
tendencies, Maxwell's Need You is all about melody, rhythm and intimacy with
skittering percussion laced together with resonating, deep piano stabs and moody
bass over an accentuating R&B vocal.

There are head-nodding grooves on all tracks, stylized by cut-up vocal flourishes,
shuffling hi-hats, groove-heavy basslines and inviting deep house/garage sounds.
This mirage of house and garage can be heard on Banjax's Give it to me, a track
that pieces tougher bass, dubbed chords and heavy bass-kicks to really compliment
the soulful vocal hook. Jackmaster K quickens the tempo slightly utilizing the classic
Happy Clapper's house sample anchored over sharp snares and a hacienda-like
bassline to create a real Balearic 90's vibe. Tracks from JMX and Mikki Funk will
capture the imagination of dance-floors all over with their uplifting, house rollers. The
former is more garage tinged, fusing a looping vocal sample over sharp, organ stabs
that build throughout while the latter embodies tight percussive elements interwoven
with piano stabs, a female vocal and deep bass to give a nice contemporary vibe.

It's no surprise that Jamie Trench's Juicy has been gaining some serious heat and
earning plaudits from the likes of Ross Yallop and Richy Ahmed. This track nods
increasingly to earlier influences with a rolling bassline that resonates with melodic
similarities to Omar S' Day, albeit in a more exuberant way. Swinging hi-hats and
percussive rhythms give it a hip hop-like feel, complete with a punchy vocal that
descends into stripped-back dance floor house at its finest. New Jack City pick up
from the success of their highly rated debut EP with yet another straight-up banger.
The key with these guys lies in their simplicity. They call on classic tracks of 90s
garage and New Jersey house and encapsulate what it means to be contemporary in
today's era, effortlessly embellished in Just Love It.

Oli and Angus have managed to collate and produce a collection of tracks that not
only echo but amplify the passion that they draw their influence from. The difference

in approach and outcome from each artist results in a highly impressive outcome,
with 8 effective tracks that serve as a seamless statement of purpose to how
contemporary house music should sound. It's not just about the musical aesthetic.
The artwork is handcrafted with a unique gatefold vinyl sleeve to accompany the
double vinyl release. The emphasis on extending quality in all aspects of the label
has helped create a refreshing dynamic to the label, and as so long as the label
owners pertain to their musical philosophy then no doubt we'll carry on witnessing
some of the most promising talent in underground house on MIL.