When people think of the early, gritty beginnings of house music they often picture a sweaty, dark warehouse in Chicago. But London had its own sweaty warehouses, and a new compilation, out July 10 on Strut Records, reveals them. This Ain’t Chicago: The Sound of Underground UK House and Acid 1987-1991 highlights the UK producers who were quick to catch on to the Chicago house sound, and it’s sweet revelation: two disks of dark, minimal vintage house, just the way anyone with taste likes it.

Assembled by veteran DJ/producer Richard Sen, the songs on this release amount to a camera flash, a snapshot briefly illuminating a groovy but forgotten corner of electronic music history. Take a peek here: