K. Alexi Shelby – Chicago / Ring Da Alarm

DJ Weapons 001 · 7" 45rpm · Limited to 100 copies

Some records arrive with a reputation before they've been pressed, and this is one of them. Sonic Wax opens its new DJ Weapons imprint with a 7-inch from K. Alexi Shelby, one of the true originals of Chicago house. It's a fitting choice: a record built for DJs by someone who has spent decades knowing exactly what moves a floor.

A-side: Chicago The title says it all. This is Alexi paying tribute to the city that made him, and it's pure disco heat: a driving groove, sweeping disco energy and the kind of build that makes a room lift as one. It has been doing the rounds in DJ bags around the world, but its moment came when Joe Claussell dropped it at a boat party in the States and the clip spread across Facebook. When a selector of Claussell's standing reaches for a track, people take notice, and this is a peak-time weapon in every sense.

B-side: Ring Da Alarm Flip it over and Alexi shows another side of his sound. Ring Da Alarm is a jazzy vocal groover: smoother and more soulful, with a warmth that suits the early hours or the long, slow build of a set. It's far from filler. Plenty of DJs will end up playing this side just as much.

The verdict Two strong, different cuts from a house legend, on a format made for quick mixing and serious collecting. With only 100 copies pressed, this will be gone fast, and DJ Weapons couldn't have asked for a better first release.