Bushwacka! drops House Sounds Vol. 2 on Nu Groove, blending raw house energy with deep London grooves. Four cuts built for late nights, big systems and true house heads.
Matthew “Bushwacka!” Benjamin has been a defining figure in the UK underground for more than three decades. Beginning as a percussionist with the London School Symphony Orchestra, he soon fell under the spell of acid house, becoming a resident DJ in his teens and touring internationally in the early 1990s. His partnership with Layo Paskin as Layo & Bushwacka! produced acclaimed albums like Low Life and Night Works, celebrated for blending electro, tech house, breakbeat, dub and downtempo into a sound that was as adventurous as it was dance floor focused. That same spirit of innovation carried through in later years, as Bush released on their own label Olmeto Records alongside appearances on Crosstown Rebels and Rekids right up to his latest work.
Bushwacka! continues his exploration of Nu Groove’s storied lineage with House Sounds Vol. 2, a four track statement that balances respect for house history with a distinctly modern touch. Where last year’s Volume 1 set the tone, this follow up deepens the dialogue, pushing the label’s New York legacy into new territory while keeping its essence intact.
The record opens with Jack The Groove, a driving cut built around a rolling bassline and a vocal refrain that nods to house’s golden era. Its sharp percussion and uptempo energy carry a raw after hours feel, the kind of cut that thrives on dark, sweat soaked floors. Middle Channel shifts the tone, layering hypnotic polyrhythms with jazzy accents and subtle trumpet flourishes. The track flows with an understated swing, proof of Bushwacka!’s ability to fuse vintage sensibilities with his own forward looking touch.
On the flip side, House Muzik is the most direct homage here. Soulful stabs and a deep rolling groove create a track that feels like a time capsule, echoing the raw essence of New York’s formative years while still landing with weight in a contemporary set. Closing track Two Times leans into heavier percussion and deeper synth work, its hypnotic rhythm pushing toward the tech driven end of the spectrum without losing its soulful undertow.
What makes House Sounds Vol. 2 compelling is its dual nature. It is both nostalgic and progressive, a release that crate diggers will cherish for its echoes of Nu Groove’s heyday and one that selectors will reach for when they need functional, groove rich tools. With decades of experience behind him, Bushwacka! proves once again that his craft lies not just in technical production but in capturing the spirit of house music and reimagining it for new generations.
House Sounds Vol. 2 is another standout entry in Nu Groove’s revived catalogue and a reminder of why Bushwacka! remains one of the UK’s most respected underground figures. Essential listening for anyone who understands that house is as much about heritage as it is about evolution.
Bushwacka!’s ‘House Sound Volume 2’ is out now on Nu Groove Records here.
