Zillablog

Culprit will release its first compilation next week (October 3, 2011) and the family affair is laden with the jack-inspired deep house influences for which the LA-based label is best known. Warm pads, soulful keys, and infectious percussion loops combine with deep basslines to result in a compilation that is perfect for DJs and at-home (or in-the-car) listeners alike. The release, titled Above the City, features LA's Clovis and Nikko Gibler; Marc Chambers & Soho from London; Death on the Balcony from Leeds; and Lula Circus and Nico Lahs, both from Italy. The release is anchored by the veteran experience of Lee Curtiss, Seth Troxler, and Anthony Collins.

The label's Culprit Sessions summer rooftop parties just wrapped up for the season, and Above the City aims to capture that atmosphere, particularly how each session built inertia on an hourly basis. In the same vein, the release follows an hourly flow, so track 1 aligns with the 1 PM hour of a Culprit Session, track 2 aligns with the 2 PM hour, and so on.

Standout tracks include "The Jean Seberg Special" by LA's Clovis, which slowly shuffles along via deep basslines and well-placed horns; "Lost in My Soul" by Nico Lahs, which includes a memorable Shannon hook and some infectious bass sounds; the big band-meets-jack-house style of "Inside" by Anthony Collins; and "She Loves Me" by Lula Circus, which is a stunning electro-inspired house jam perfect for a crowded dancefloor or house party.

Listen to the tracks from Above the City on SoundCloud.