There’s spaced out jazzfunkboogie from Kibbi Gibbon on Star Creature; JKriv pulls together a varied set for his own Razor N Tape; Padre & Bar.Ba synthesise some emotive machine music for Aterral; United Freedom Collective deliver a future festival favourite via Multi Culti; Toribio & sister Sharin serve up a little sonic sunshine on Juliet; UK techno pioneer Kirk Degiorgio returns to Jimpster’s Cyphon Recordings…

Super selections and wonderful words by our favourite four-to-the-floor expert, The Insider. 

KIBBI GIBBON / DREAMIN’ & DECLARATION / STAR CREATURE 

Kicking off the year with the first of 2025’s inside, Hot House tips, I urge you to take a look at Star Creature Universal Vibrations’ catalogue. It’s a little label that packs a big punch and release schedule that just won’t stop. Headed up by Chicagoan Tim Zawada, who carefully selects sublime synth jazz, cosmic funk and pristine boogie from some of the finest unknown producers on the planet. This month they bring us Kibbi Gibbon, a studio project created deep within Germany’s Black Forrest with the goal of producing spaced-out jazz-funk and synth-boogie hybrids. An album is in the wings, but this sunny little 7 drops just in time for springs first rays.

JKRIV / INTUITION / RAZOR-N-TAPE

JKriv is a name that we’re hearing more and more. Co-founder of Razor-N-Tape, original member of Tortured Soul, DJ, producer, record shop owner and all round New York scenester, it’s been two years since his last release on his own label. However, here he brings a 4-tracker that’s so varied – with different tempos for all moments. From the dubby downtempo lead track Intuition – which features girl of the hour Megatronic, to the rolling club cuts Blueprint and Zone 1, plus the super sexy Larry Heard-inspired closer Paula’s Dance. Strong vibes here from the Brooklyn don.

UNITED FREEDOM COLLECTIVE / BRIGHT PATTERNS / MULTI CULTI

Having just supported Maribou State on their European tour, Margate-based band United Freedom Collective – Robbie Redway, Mathieu Seynaeve and WaiFung Tsang – are ones to watch. Joining forces with new age-leaning electronic imprint, Multi Culti, their Bright Pattens EP draws inspiration from a wide array of psychedelic sources. Highlights include the title track – which fuses Jungle and Jamiroquai – delivering an irresistible mix of funky filtered disco-house and electroclash, topped with infectious vocal hooks; Higher Drums, which turns up the heat with a vibrant blend of trumpet, Afro-Latin percussion, and playful flute embellishments; and Moonshine, a song that is sure to close a host of summer festivals in a majestic tripped-out fashion.

PADRE & BAR.BA / ALTERITY / ATERRAL

Berlin label Aterral brings a surprising 2-tracker from techno legend Pete Lazonby, released under his current moniker, Pardre. Lazonby is best known for the electro trance classic Sacred Cycles, issued on Brainiak Records back in 1994. On Alterity he explores more subtle musical spaces. The results are hard to put into a genre, but still contain the out of this world thinking that we’ve come associate with this captivating producer. Working with Italy`s Bar.ba, Padre packs a heavy dose of emotion into both cuts. Holding Hands We’re Feeling Power celebrates the start of a love affair with drunken synths and eery atmospherics, while She Dances Like A Painting turns the lights down low and turns up the techno, with haunting piano keys pirouetting around the electronic notes. Simply sublime.

TORIBIO / DAYLIGHT FT.SHARIN / JULIET RECORDS

Brooklyn’s Toribio is a real force in the New York house scene. Heading up the rotating collective Conclave, the classically-trained jazz multi-instrumentalist is a much loved mainstay on the city’s circuit, who has built a loyal following that shares his love for classic, soulful, uplifting dance music. His fat new EP on Juliet Records features his sister Sharin on vocal duties. Daylight is a warm and inspiring jam whose skippy beats will lift you up and fill you with sunshine. There’s some remix gold from Crackazat, who brings his signature sound – adding glorious key parts that dial up the bliss factor even further – and delivering a vibe that’s had him winning over crowds across the planet.

KIRK DEGIORGIO / ELATE / CYPHON

Kirk Degiorgio has made an incredible contribution to electronic music, having crafted some of the world’s most expressive and soulful techno cuts. His early `90s work, under the aliases as As One and Elegy, for labels such as B12, R&S, and his own Applied Rhythmic Technology (A.R.T.) is regarded as one of the foundations of UK techno. Cyphon Records make no bones about the fact that Kirk has heavily influenced the imprint, and here they welcome him back for a second outing. Seven Minutes Of Funk is an entrancing, acidic, house cut, blending filtered pads and a 303 line that evokes a classic, hypnotic energy. Elate takes a euphoric turn with its piano-driven melody and synth-rich layers. Five Minutes of Dub offers a more minimal interpretation, spotlighting the drum machine rhythm and rolling bassline. Lost closes out with an atmospheric mix of deep synth textures and modular arpeggios, creating a moody late-night sound to submerge yourself in.