The enigmatic Jasper James returns to one of our favourite labels Chiwax this May with the ‘House It Up’ EP.
There’s something special about the kind of house music that oozes history while still sounding like it was beamed in from the future. Jasper James, the ever-evolving Glaswegian groove architect, has been honing that very balance since his breakout release on Optimo Trax over a decade ago. Now, with House It Up, his debut on the venerable Chiwax imprint, James delivers a four-track EP that feels like both a deep-dive into his personal archive of club memories and a confident stride forward in his sonic journey.
Opening cut No Metronome sets the tone immediately. It’s a heads-down, dust-caked slammer that throbs with the grit of vintage deep house. Drum machines pop and hiss beneath moody, analog synths and a fat, Kerri Chandler-esque bassline that pushes hard through the mix. The groove is loose yet commanding, raw but refined — a true warehouse weapon designed for dancers who know how to lock in and ride.
The title track House It Up is pure Chicago homage, filtered through Jasper’s modern lens. There’s a cheeky retro-futurist bounce to the 303-tinged bassline, jackin’ drum programming, and chopped-up vocal stabs that recall the golden era of Relief Records. But it’s not pure pastiche — James injects a sense of swagger and dynamism that makes the track feel alive, urgent, and tailor-made for sweaty, strobe-lit moments at 4 a.m.
Flipping over to the B-side, Mission 770 takes things into more hypnotic, dubbed-out territory. It’s deep house for the heads — all gently delayed pads, thick low-end pressure, and that classic sense of build that makes you feel like you’re being slowly pulled into the center of the dancefloor. The subtle, shuffling rhythm recalls peak-time Prescription Records, but with a UK edge that gives it just the right amount of swing.
Closing track Do You Play House is where James really lets loose. Think French Kiss on steroids — a slow-burning, sensual chugger that suddenly erupts into a peak-time frenzy. The DNA of Lil Louis is all over this one, but it’s spliced with the kind of euphoric chaos you’d expect from a 90s Sound Factory set by Danny Tenaglia or Junior Vasquez. It’s sweaty, it’s steamy, it’s unapologetically house, and it hits all the right buttons.
With House It Up, Jasper James doesn’t just add another label to his résumé — he makes a bold statement. This is a love letter to house music in all its forms: deep, jacking, dubby, and sexual. It’s a record that doesn’t just pay homage to the genre’s foundations — it builds confidently on top of them.
Essential listening for late-night clubbers, deep house heads, and anyone who’s ever found themselves lost in the groove. Released 23rd May, 2025, pre order here.
