Various Artists

Electronique Digital is a label that’s making some impressive moves at the moment – you only have to look at their level of output and the artists they’ve signed in recent months to see evidence of this. And their latest compilation, a sampler EP produced to coincide with the Miami Winter Music Conference (WMC), definitely bolsters their already assured place within the new generation of house music labels.

Containing 12 brand new tracks from artists who represent the ‘new guard’ within house music – much like those on Digital Delight’s ‘X’ album which I reviewed not too long ago. However, the sounds found on this Miami Sampler are a lot more varied than DD’s offering earlier this year.

Take Bubba’s sublime Nudenight for instance, which those who are more familiar with the Belfast-based producer’s bass-heavy sounds might say is a departure for the artist himself. Strolling along at a controlled pace, the track has a funky bassline and a very short snippet from an RnB track (anyone care to ID it?!) which carries it through nicely. A little breakdown around the 3-minute mark takes it into a slightly dreamier zone with airy synths surrounding the central b-line and breaks.

But from the light and airy funk of Bubba’s track we move into darker territory with Didier Morris and Fifth Avenue both taking us deep into the shadows. Miami-based Didier puts a mysterious vocal snipper over a dark bouncy bassline with eerie synths to create a moody atmostphere on Lonely Avenue – quite the opposite to his city’s usually sunny outlook. Meanwhile FIFth Avenue (AKA Newcastle brothers Adam and Adrian Fairless) takes it even grittier with I Can’t Breathe – a late-night roller. A steady build-up with a growling foundation slowly creeps along with a melancholy vocal, leading into a more energetic bassline that’s guaranteed to have fists pumping all over the shop when it drops. Not forgetting Leicester’s Rebel and his beast of a track Forever Dreaming – a deceptively cutesy vocal is carried along by a tidal wave of aggressive sounds that build and build into a huge crescendo. A vicious track that will destroy dancefloors around the world.

Probably the EP’s biggest track is Finnebassen’s anthem, If You Only Knew which is pretty much a remix of the late Aaliyah’s If Your Girl Only Knew. This is a perfect track for the Miami sunshine, you can imagine it being played poolside. A great track full of summer funk.

And for more cheery music on the EP, try Damian Uzabiaga’s Hold You, a clear nod to nineties piano house brought right up to date in his own raw style. Or Janeret’s Back To The 80s, a track that also makes a very strong nod towards house music of the past – rolling along a steady pace, with lots of uplifting sounds. Toben goes for a bit of cheese with the George Benson-sampling Feel Alright – the repetitive sample gets a little tiresome though and you do wish that he would’ve used a bit more sparingly. However, it’s still a fun track.

If that wasn’t enough there are plenty more gems on the EP including super talented Lee Webster with Cool Kids, Corey Baker with Renegade, Diego Moreno with East On Sunset and Raffa FL with the brilliant I Won’t Let You.

Electronique Digital’s Miami Sampler sets out their stall nicely, representing what the label is all about – supporting new talent while maintaining a diverse output of sounds from ‘Nu-Disco’ to more traditional House.