Review: Toronto Hustle & Sean Roman - Social Narcotics EP (Wolf Music)

Toronto Hustle (aka Mark Kufner) and Sean Roman are back to wave the Canadian house flag for Wolf Music with some 'Social Narcotics' that'll get you hooked!

The deep house shakers moved from The Symington Avenue EP (see review HERE on Wolf Music with a remix by Atlanta-based Kai Alcé) to Ascension On Wax with the 4-track EP 'The Unity' (see review HERE) with vocal house royalty Javonntte have now turned up with Wolf Music again along with their remix contact book, Byron The Aquarius, Nick Holder & Tyrone Soloman. 

Byron The Aquarius maintains his water-god like status as he strips the 'Social Narcotics' to its bare Parrish-esque deep roots with just the right amount of additional product.

The other remix sees the duo of Canadians, Nick Holder (who has been doing this for over 30 years) and Tyrone Solomon with their 'Trackheadz' dancin' shoes on and head for the social drug of the main room.

Of course, the original version builds around the spoken word rant/warning/diatribe with a loop "marijuana and all that" with a rave like beat is well into the musing of old boy-street philosophy in amongst the broken crack pipes.  And that inspires a late night dub that's even  deeper dancefloor.

Clearly, if you were into 'The Symington Avenue EP' (see review HERE - also on WOLF MUSIC), this will be a must.  

Recently been speaking with a guy who's heading out to Canada on his way to the World Cup (Football/Soccer) and suggested it'd be a good idea to get to Toronto to check it out - hopefully he'll bring some 'finds' back to the YATM office!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Social Narcotics | Toronto Hustle & Sean Roman

Artist: Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman  

Title: Social Narcotics EP
Release date: 5th June, 2025
Label : Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number: WOLFEP087
Format: 12" vinyl Pre-Order / Digital 

Review: Reagan Grey - Kenetic EP (Wolf Music Recordings)

You can't get more kenetic with this new EP by Reagan Grey on Wolf Music, it's the definition of movement; so Detroit!

A quick trip down the road from Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman (also Wolf Music, 'The Symington Avenue' EP - see review HERE) you'll find Toronto based Reagan Grey who has been deep underground for many years (including 'What You Came Here For' (Kai Alce NDATL Remix'), SLiCK Records and the international Local Talk (including 'Now That You Are Gone' featuring Christie Nelson).

I doesn't take long before you're engrossed with the vocals of Christie Nelson and the big Detroit groove of 'Not Giving Up' that's typical main room peak time.

It might come as a bit of a surprise for Finn Rees (he of 30/70, Close Counters and his album 'Dawn Is A Melody' on Mr Bongo - see review HERE) but his appearance move the track 'Your Love' down to the Balearic with swirling synths and arms in the air piano-inspired house. 

She can't possibly keep this up for the two tracks on reverse?  Oh yes she can with 'Starlight' which is mad for late nights and the title track 'Kenetic' is packed full on kenetic energy groove.

This is her debut release on Wolf Music and it's not likely to be the last.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/reagan-grey-kinetic-ep-vinyl/1138167-01/

Artist: Reagan Grey 

Title: Kenetic EP
Release date: 13th March, 2026
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP084
Format: 12" VINYL / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Frits Wentink - Remixed (Wolf Music Recordings)

This 12" is all about you and the dancefloor: and whilst I say it's about you, there's 3 of you in this relationship; with remixes by Ian Pooley, Prince Palmer and Dominic Oswald.

This new Remixed EP leads with the track 'About You' that was previously featured on Frits' own 'Together EP' (see review HERE).

Having a "bonfide legend" with over 1,000 credits on albums/singles/EPs that is, Mr. Ian Pooley on the remix (noting that, at the time of writting, Mr. Pooley is outside Tower Records in Tokyo!) with a DJ friendly beats and the full remix, itself, WOLF music knows it's on a winner.

On the B-side, there's more 'Intentions' than Frits' remix of Max Sinàl & KingCrowney track (see review HERE) as the original version of this 'Intentions', that appeared on 'Remember That Feeling' (WOLFEP70), gets a main room remix by Prince Palmer - thus returning the favour of Frits remixing Palmer's track 'Airlift' that came out in the summer (Ed. sounds like a lot of back scratchin' goin' on here).  

Rounding the set off, another Frits favourite, 'Club Land' (original on the Club Land Special - WOLFEP73); so now you have to take your pick from the original, alternative mixes and now the Dominic Oswald remix.  The alternative mix is a bit faster and a little quirky so Oswald has kinda split the difference with jazzier keys added and I can see why this is added to the set.

This is the fourth in recent FRITS X WOLF series of 12” showcasing Frits, the label and, in this case, the remixers - Note: some recent releases from this guys are all fetching big bucks on the resale site so get in quick. 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER  Remixed | Frits Wentink

Artist: Frits Wentink 
Title: Remixed
Release date: 12th December, 2025
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP082
Format: 12" VINYL / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Frits Wentink - Heartbeat FM EP (Wolf Music)

Here's the new Heartbeat FM, not a radio station but a  four track release to tune-into when you're on the dancefloor.

Following on from Frits' own 'Together EP' (see review HERE) and this previous EP, 'Remember That Feeling', this new 12", 'Heartbeat FM' is not so much a move from the dancefloor as a move back to the dancefloor with more soulful paise.

The lead track 'Rhythm And Blaze' is Mr Wentink's exclusive 'Birthday Present' for the label for it's 15th year so justifiably it's in turn with hands in the air gospel deep house funk.

But the dancefloor doesn't get any less busy with 'Lost In The Moment' which has similar vibe but more 80s in the synths and vocals to fuel your inner Millie Jackson, 'Turbo Passion' ups the bounce of sweat soul aerobics; "ohhh yeah .... like you used to do.

So this is a more than good EP but those of you that enjoy a bit of the dark side in something of the night in your house,  'Nocturnal' is gloriously down low in the organ department and Mama ain't going to help you out.

What with the recent release of 'The Symington Avenue EP' from Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman (see review HERE), this is a busy time for Wolf fans but how do we love it.

BUY LINK https://www.phonicarecords.com/product/frits-wentink-heartbeat-fm-wolf-music/200705

Artist: Frits Wentink 
Title: Heartbeat FM 
Release date: 24th January, 2025
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP078
Format: 12" VINYL / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman - The Symington Avenue EP (Wolf Music Recordings)

You won't be surprised to find out the Toronto Hustle (aka Mark Kufner) and Sean Roman are Canadians and after hearing 'The Symington Avenue EP', they might be visiting Atlanta soon?

You've got to be good to follow the last release by label favourite Frits Wentink and his 'Together EP' (see review HERE) but when it could be as good as, 'Not Now, Not Ever', a post UKG/Gospel deep house boogie, that fits the bill.

On the remix is NYC/Detroit/Atlanta-based Kai Alcé is another 'go-to' name who has remix credits in the hundreds as he follows Theo Parrish and Moodyman to match current taste makers musclecars. Watch out for anything with NDATL (geddit?) on it.

This remix of 'Not Now, Not Ever' with its jazzy keys addition is going to go alongside Kai's best and just to pick a couple at random that we really like, the Jazzanova cover of jazzdance classic 'Saturday Night Special (as original done by he Lyman Woodard Organization), Elbert Phillips & Andre Espeut's 'Sunlight') and, one more, Colombia's Filipe Gordon 'For Martha'.  Kai has also collaborated with Stefan Ringer this year (Stefan having released 'Soulflow' last month) so expect to here much more of this along with toucan sounds, Rocksteady Disco, Razor-N-Tape et al.

To close out the EP we've got the equally good 'Could This Be' with a re-edit.  And if you ask, what's 'An Abacus Re-Edit' like? We'll as Abacus is a Canadian producer, it's like an upbeat disco dub a la Kai Alcé! 

Clearly, you can tell that all involved in 'The Symington Avenue EP' are all fans of the ATL Sh*t (in a good way) as we've got two stunning tracks with two stunning (re)mixes that are coming out at the best time of the year.

Symington Avenue, Toronto, ON M6N 2W2 - is that near a Pool Hall Bar & Club?

Phonica Records

Artist: Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman

Title: The Symington Avenue EP
Release date: 22nd November, 2024
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP077
Format: 12" vinyl Pre-Order at PHONICA RECORDS / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Frits Wentink - Together EP (Wolf Music)

If you're a fan of the label Wolf Music, you know that they are more than together when it comes to the best in disco / boogie / house and so when, Frits Wentink comes on strong, "It's all about you" and getting down.

When you hear 'About You', you'll know exactly why Stu Clark and Matt Neale (they being Wolf Music) were spot on going back to the Frits for their next big release as it's been a while since Wentink went all glitchy with 'Frogs, Toads & Newts'.

Fair to say, that raised eyebrows in 2019 (having been originally produced in 2014!) but you'll find tracks on the 'Together' EP more mainstream, even if 'Idle Dancer' is anything but idle; more of a heavy percussive manic race whilst 'Ambassador' take a more soulful dubby space synth vibe. 

Talking of which, any label that starts with remixes of Atmosfear's classic, 'Dancing In Outer Space' (The Revenge and Greymatter reworks) know their history and dancefloor.  And whilst they been equally adventurous with the Medlar 'Cub Dubs' release (yeah, the Medlar that works with Wah Wah 45s' Dele Sosimi - see review HERE), the simple "steal" of a 80s classic bassline with some soulful vocals and a repetitive "we do", "ha" and "together" with a bit of a sax break has got Frits top of the pile on 'I Want It All'.

If you were lucky enough to hear Frits plays these track at the Paorama Bar in April, you won't be able to contain youself six months on to get this, put your orders in now.

 

Artist: Frits Wentink 
Title: Together EP 
Release date: 17th October, 2024
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP076
Format: Digital / Bandcamp