Victorious – Liquid Squid (STFM007)

Yet again digging deep into the forgotten corners of dance music history, Sex Tapes From Mars is back with an essential reissue of 1997’s “Liquid Squid” by Victorious – a long-lost gem from the hazy heyday of mid-90s US house. Originally pressed in small quantities, the EP quickly became a cult favourite among vinyl purists and house music heads, with original copies going for hefty sums on Discogs, and as little as 50 members listing it in their collection. Now, after years of obscurity, “Liquid Squid” returns, bringing unfiltered, raw energy, and bolstered by a killer remix from Canadian duo Boomtang Boys, adding a respectful rework that breathes new life into the original track without overshadowing its original spirit.

Deep, driving, and dripping with analogue warmth, with chunky, rolling basslines that sit under warm, sweeping pads. The productions are stripped-back but loaded with texture, featuring subtly layered percussion that builds with precision, creating a spacious, immersive sound. Throughout the record, what’s consistent is low-swung, rolling rhythms, and rough-and-ready keys. It’s dance floor-centric, but there’s a level of emotional depth in this singular to its era, and one you don’t find in contemporary sonic palettes.

Victorious provides a deep stroke into the realm of dubby, atmospheric house, revolving around hypnotic, evolving grooves, with spaced-out chords, lustrous vocals, and key tinkerings, perfect for more introspective sets. It’s a direct nod to the grit of Detroit along with clear remnants of early Chicago house glimmers – dreamy but yet still functional.

Sex Tapes From Mars has always been a label with a nose for the weird, slick, and the rare, and this reissue is no exception, crafting tantalising soundscapes that pull you into its orbit. “Liquid Squid” offers a snapshot of a time when the lines between genres were still fluid – it’s rich, warm, and dripping with sultry swagger – a piece of history that’s been given a second life, ready to work its magic on dance floors once again.