Review: Although little known in the UK, Sicilian singer Mario Biondi has sold huge amounts of records in his native Italy. It's not surprising, really, given the quality of his Barry White-esque deep and soulful vocal style. Here he pops up on Schema, offering up the seductive, slow dance-friendly silkiness of "Never Stop Dreaming" and the warm and groovy Philly Soul revivalism "Stay With Me". That track is given the once over by fellow Italian LTJ Xperience. Interestingly, his full vocal remix is faster, warmer and looser than his normal metronomic productions, while retaining his usual DJ-friendly grooves. His soulful house style instrumental Dub is pretty darn tasty, too.
Review: Nicola Conte and Gianluca Petrella follow up last year's beautiful "African Spirits / New World Shuffle" with two more lavish instrumentals. "Sun Song" lives up to its name with wave after wave of heated musicianship from the belting harmonies to the light-touch keys. "Nigeria" taps deep into the source too as it drives us through the heart of Lagos with full horns and sweeping keys. Spiritual, sun-splashed and vital.
Nigeria (Tall Black Guy Boogie Love remix - feat Broken Keys) (4:05)
Nigeria (Tall Black Guy Boogie Love remix - instrumental version) (4:05)
African Spirits (Andres extended remix) (5:33)
Review: Nicola Conte is one of the central figures in the Schema story, and his nu jazz and broken beat partnership with Gianluca Petrella has yielded some golden music in recent years. Nigeria originally came out in 2018, and then last year popped up on the duo's People Need People LP, but now it's getting a proper remix treatment which sees Tall Black Guy twisting the track out as a heady disco house roller for sundown moments when you need a little jazzy flair in the proceedings. That version comes in vocal and instrumental versions, and then the mighty Andres steps up for one of his simmering groove escapades as he delivers an extended remix of 'African Spirits'.
Review: In this offering, the Italian project led by Stefano Trione, pairs the lush 80s-inspired groove of 'In The Sand' with the unreleased gem 'Tudo Pra Ela,' a sultry disco track that embodies the warmth and richness of Tirone's signature style. 'In The Sand' pays homage to the rare groove classic from iLevel, its tropical rhythm and sunny vibe transported through Julia St. Louis's breezy vocals and Marco Brioschi's trumpet melodies, creating an almost cinematic dancefloor experience. On the flip, 'Tudo Pra Ela' delves into a sophisticated disco sound, where Toco's delicate vocals intertwine with sensual backing from Priscila Ribas and a bassline from Edu Hebling that carries the track effortlessly into the early 80s. The perfect synthesis of Stefano's love for vintage sounds and contemporary finesse.
Universal Language (Revisited - instrumental) (5:33)
Universal Message (4:39)
Review: After reuniting the Cosmic Renaissance project, and following up the release of the album Universal Language in 2022, Gianluca Petrella returns with a new five-track EP, 'Universal Message', again on Schema. Recontextualizing the vision of the album, this follow-up extends its impressive jazzdance and hip-house vision, with Petrella ever-revolving his style towards new Afro-jazz-futurist vortices, abandoning the band concept towards an electronic aesthetic with a profound spiritual concept to boot.
Review: Since his debut with Schema Records in 2001, Gerardo Frisina has poured his soul into modernising styles such as Latin jazz, funk, and soul. In Sight Vol. 1 now introduces a fresh batch of such cosmo-futuristic moodsetters, continuing a trend that was first set in motion with his debut Moving Ahead (2020). Now the new album, preluded by singles 'Mindoro' and 'Desejar', hears seven tracks, including a cinematic bossa supernova 'O SoNho' as well as an exclusive cut from a rare and revered 10" deep cut from 2009. Frisina's attention to detail ensures the standout vibe of each composition, bringing a one-of-a-kind club-orientation to a rich atmospheric mantle.
In The Name Of Love (feat Laura Fedele - extended remix) (3:53)
Blow My Mind (feat Afra Kane - remix) (3:23)
Flying Away (feat Afra Kane - remix) (3:48)
Rosa Da Ribeira (feat Toco - extended remix) (5:40)
(Got To) Move On (feat Afra Kane - remix) (3:31)
No Meio Do Samba (feat Toco - remix) (3:24)
Odoya (feat Toco - The Invisible Session remix) (4:46)
Midnight Sun (remix) (3:16)
Review: Stefano Tirone is one of Schema Records's main men and here he remixes his own last album Moby and Soul. He reworks it into a more dance floor friendly disco sound with bright nu-disco melodies and slinky drums. It is an homage to the original sounds of the 70s and 80s and American DJ Larry Levan and Italian Baldelli. Opener 'Body & Soul' kicks off with nice fresh and upbeat vibes and then there are summery Balearic sounds like the gorgeous 'Flying Away' and the groovy 'In The Name Of Love' (feat Laura Fedele - extended remix). 'No Meio Do Samba' then sinks into hip swinging house territory.
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