The Essentials

Artist: Various Artists
Title: Manchester Connection EP
Label: 1999 Recordings (UK)
Cat No: 19REC001
Style: Deep House
Release Date: 26th October 2009

The Tracks

A1. Hector Moralez – Set Trippin’
A2. Two Deep – Sax Pest
B1. Rhythm Plate feat. Nesreen – Tonight (YSE Unique Remix)

The Lowdown

A new vinyl label setting up in 2009 is a rare event, but Manchester’s 1999 Recordings is bucking all current trends and embracing the 12” format. 1999 is the brainchild of DJ and producer Louis Hughes who also runs a successful digital label ‘6th Sense’. The first release from 1999 is due at the end of October and showcases the varied underground house sound that the label will push. Hector Moralez drops a rolling Chi-town jacker, Two Deep deliver a saxophone-led deep groover and Rhythm Plate continue to impress with their own fresh take on house, aided by Nesreen on vocals.

Hector Moralez from Oakland, California, has established himself as an underground house music heavyweight over recent years. He runs two labels of his own, Minority Music and The Factory and alongside original productions for the likes of Robsoul, Detour, Vista, Brique Rouge, Doubledown, Music For Freaks and Hudd Traxx he records as one half of Fries & Bridges with Phil Weeks.

Rhythm Plate have developed into a hugely respected deep house act over recent years, yet are still widely under-rated. Their music has been signed to labels including Winding Road, DiY, Mantis, Kolour and Lost My Dog, played on Radio 1 by Groove Armada and licensed to scores of compilations, mixed by the likes of Tom Middleton, Johnny Fiasco and Hipp-E & Halo. YSE is one half of Rhythm Plate and reworks the duo’s original track here.

Completing the three track Manchester Connection EP are Two Deep, the duo of 1999 boss Louis Hughes and Rick Nicholls (aka Middleman). Individually Louis and Rick have experience in a range of areas; Louis has run a number of successful club nights in the North West of England, hosts a weekly radio show and now heads up two record labels, while Rick has experience of managing a record store, is an obsessive crate digger and produces dance music across a number of genres. Together as Two Deep, they have released music for labels including Flatpack Traxx, Gourmand and Digifunk.