Chicago royalty DJ Pierre lands on Riva Starr’s Snatch! Records with four groove-led cuts that nod heavily to the foundations of House music.
Acid House pioneer. Phuture member. Photon Inc. collaborator. The list goes on when talking about DJ Pierre, real name Nathaniel Pierre Jones. From his early visits to Ron Hardy’s Muzik Box to making records like Acid Tracks, or releasing crossover tracks like ‘The Horn Song’ on Strictly Rhythm, Pierre has seen it, done it and still doing it.
This new EP on Snatch! feels like a natural fit. Riva Starr’s label has always leaned towards records with character and groove, often picking up slightly left-of-centre cuts that other labels might overlook.
Opening track Feel The Spirit Moving! rides a thumping 4/4 groove layered with church organ stabs, gospel vocal snippets and a soaring diva-style lead. It is pure peak-time material with enough looseness to avoid feeling overworked.
Like Ron Hardy 1985 appears in two versions across the EP. The Disco Fix Mix is the more stripped-back of the pair, driven by a rolling bassline, flashes of funk guitar and spoken references to Hardy and his influence on Chicago club culture.
Dreaming reimagines Loleatta Holloway’s Dreamin’, with Dawn Tallman delivering a vocal that sits perfectly over the track’s pumping organ-driven groove. It feels classic without becoming overly nostalgic.
Closing things out, the Beat The Trax Mix of Like Ron Hardy 1985 leans further into tougher territory. Acid-tinged basslines and shimmering synth work give it a darker edge aimed squarely at later dancefloors.
Overall, this is a strong release from one of House music’s true originators. Rooted in Chicago, but delivered with enough freshness to avoid feeling like a retrospective exercise.
Out now on Snatch! Records. Get it here.
