Chicago dance label Still Music, founded by Groove Distribution employee and club DJ Jerome Derradji, has announced a new division called Past Due, which will explore the roots of underground dance music. The imprint will feature singles and remixes that cover the gambit of early house, deep boogie, underground disco, modern soul, jazzy funk, dancefloor R & B, and even psychedelic rock.

Derradji revealed the label’s first release, by Mobile, Alabama artist Visions Of Tomorrow. “’Galaxy’ is a wicked disco sci-fi tune that gets re-edited by top-notch producers Charles Webster and Francois A,” he explains. The release has received early acclaim from the likes of Fabrice Lig, SUMO, Franck Roger, and Chris Duckenfield.

Each Past Due release comes in an eye-catching sleeve, reminiscent of England’s Blood & Fire, with old photos and graphic elements used to mimic the look of a well-worn record from the crate. Forthcoming releases include DIT “Let’s Start Dancin’,” with reworks by Alex From Tokyo and Rondenion, and a classic by Greyship Davis, “Get Up And Let Your Body Pop,” with German heavyweights Jazzanova and Henrik Schwarz providing additional mixes.

Meanwhile, parent label Still shows no sign of slowing either, with singles and mixes from international dance acts Attias, Carl Craig, Paul Randolph, and Markus Enochson on tap. Such growth and direction from Still echoes another great Chicago label, Guidance. Until recent financial troubles sidetracked it, the latter charted new territory for underground house, with a great ear for melodic and complex songs. Guidance has reemerged as a digital imprint with distribution from iTunes and others, and looks to be back on track.

Tomas Palermo