Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Lovin', freedom, passion... just three key ingredients make up the bare necessities of wellbeing, which must be secured before we venture into the endless subjectivities of human happiness. Crack this emotional code, and you're in for a good time, so say the Bordello A Parigi resident players Also Playable Mono (Rafal Lachmirowicz) and Fred Ventura. Teaming up for the first time for a blistering take on nu-glossy Italo disco - informed by the former's nascently needly version of the sound, and the latter's contrastingly classic post-punk come club education of the same - this insanely glittered plumper features Ventura feature on vocals through alternating takes on the present global condition, the A-sider marking a stark contrast to the A2 side's suddenly socially charged statement, 'System Breakdown On Wikileaks'. The B-side ventures veer vocoded, flipping the script onto two further, emphatic pleas for change.

Review: Red Laser Records continue their stellar form with another knockout release, blending Manctalo fire from old hands and fresh faces alike. Frank Butters opens the EP with The Call Of The Wild, a dazzling blast of crystalline synths, thunderous bass, and cosmic effects that showcase his forward-thinking production skills. Bob Swans delivers 'Bodyform4U', a dreamy arpeggiated groove that builds an uplifting, futuristic atmosphere, perfect for igniting the dancefloor. Lone Saxon switches things up with 'Hypersleep' a breakbeat-infused piano gem that oozes nostalgic charm, before Franz Scala and Il Bosco finish strong with Webo, a late-night, tension-filled Manctalo banger.

Review: A modern lunar take on jazz and disco, Jazz On The Moon hears Italian producer Paolo Fedreghini moonwalk backwards through live horns, bass, synth and guitar for a crisply produced six-track EP. Opening with original NASA-issue intercom vocals from the 1968 moon landing, 'Interstellar' crafts a moonscape of Harmon-muted trumpet and avant-garde growls, while expansive electro-funk opens out on the title track and 'Distant Planet', by which point a tonal shift is underway. The vibe is increasingly P-funky, erring desolate on the interluding 'Outer Space', before we wind up purblinded by the light side of the mood on closers 'Groove Odyssey' and 'Cosmic Funk'.

Review: International Feel kicks off what is presumably a new series given its title, Mediterranean Dreams - Part 1. For it, they turn to Perugia synth obsessive, underground mainstay and fine producer Feel Fly for four tracks of breezy and sunny disco-house chuggers. 'Onironauta' brings retro Italo chords and nice chunky drums, 'Grace In Space' is a leggy cosmic wonder with far-sighted chords and muted acid magic, then 'Mediterranean Dreams' is pure 80s dream house bliss. 'Becalmed' is the most rough edged and analogue house jack track of the lot.

Review: Razor-N-Tape is a bastion of deep house brilliance as once again perfectly exemplified by this vibrant new package from Flamingo Pier. New Zealand collective Flamingo Pier have dropped several well received 12"s on the Soundway Records label and then came good with 2021's self titled full length. They are still all about bringing happy, sunny vibes to a tropical disco template here with the likes of the synth lead 'How 2 Feel' then funky vocal pumper 'Remedy'. There are cosmic rays lighting up the big chords and aloof vocals of 'Beneath The Neon' then a couple of remixes on the flip bring more dubby disco-house sounds.

Review: One of Italy's premier deep house labels, MoBlack is back with their ninth volume of their gold series. This edition features four different producers that each take their turn pushing boundaries within the sound of their culture. Rancido & AfroTura & Bun Xapa's 'Kibe' has a driving beat to it with a strong vocal performance by Aziz. This track sets the tone for the album. Frankie Lluc's 'Burlan' is deep and tribal, riding an organic free flowing tech house to great success. For the second side, Klement Bonelli presents 'Pesna', a unique euro house sound rooted in early Italian disco. We can't help but think it reminds us of 'Rhythm is Dancer' by Snap. Fahlberg's 'The Light' ends things on an uplifting note with a dreamy piano builder that delivers. We think this is a great example of different regional producers making house music.

Review: KC

Review: Fatima Yamaha is one of several aliases used by Dutch musician and producer Bas Bron, who is best known for the anthemic 'What's Girl To Do'. but who has so much more in his locker. This album proves that. It was recorded over a five year period after his 2015 album Imaginary Lines and draws together electro, p-funk, Detroit techno, Chicago house and plenty of in between styles. 'Drops In The Ocean' is a fantastic opener with potential to become another huge hit while the mix of hooky vocals and melodies with underground beats pervade tracks like 'Day We Met' amongst other highlights.

Review: If anything, the hugely prolific Motor City mainstay that is Omar S seems to be getting even more prolific as time goes on. His vast catalogue grows once more here with Fun House, which finds Alister Fawnwoda exploring a wide range of dance music styles alongside guests such as FXHE regular John F.M., plus Mitchell Yoshida, Super Cool Wired, Troi Alexis, Tyesha Blount and more, with all the production, lyrics and mixing taken care of by Omar S himself. The tracks range from seductive deep house to edgy mechanical techno, dubbed out downbeat joints and smooth electronic Detroit soul. It is yet another crucial chapter in the FXHE and Omar S story.

Review: Although Peoples Potential Unlimited mostly deals in super sweet little 7"s, it also does a fine job of putting out some top notch albums. Italian musician Alex Fernet is next up to keep that going with his Lucidanotte. It's a feel good record couched mostly in disco but with heavy elements of funk and Italo, soul and electro. There is an 80s vibe to the tools used and the sounds that result, with poolside funkers like '"Medusa Smith' sitting next to sunset dancefloor gems like 'Phantom Of The Club'. His own vocals appear in many tunes to back up the boogie baselines and as well as being great in isolation, the tracks all add up to a fine and coherent longer player.

Review: Franc Moody is a UK band whose new album Into The Ether is steeped in deep funk and served up with a healthy dose of optimism, which sure is something we could also use plenty of right now. All the tunes find the band searching for a utopia, a better place for us all as summery comes to an end. It is a flawless and coherent work with rich orchestral layers and grooves to spare as warm, cosmic new disco is explored from a skilful instrumental angle with alluring vocals carefully draped over the top. Some cuts go deeper like the opener, some bring dancefloor joy like 'Raining In LA.'

Review: The reissue of Fratelli Malibu's "Ciro Miami" brings a refreshed take on Andrea De Fazio and Paolo Petrella's imaginative project. Known for their work with the "Nu Guinea" live band, De Fazio and Petrella infuse "Ciro Miami" with a nostalgic yet futuristic soundscape, highlighting their deep love for synthesisers and drum machines. The album's music vividly portrays the escapades of Ciro, a Neapolitan emigre chasing the American Dream. Through a blend of bright synths and punchy drum patterns, it captures the allure of neon-lit nights, opulent car culture, and the dizzying highs and lows of excess. The tracks evoke the excitement of cocktail bars and gambling dens, as well as the pulsating rhythms of video games and space fantasies. The reissue offers a chance to rediscover the album's dynamic energy and creative ingenuity. The sound palette, characterised by its retro-futuristic vibe and vibrant melodies, not only celebrates the original release but also enhances its appeal to a new generation of listeners. The album's journey from euphoria to disillusionment, all conveyed through its infectious beats and shimmering textures, remains as captivating as ever.

Review: After their debut collab on this label back in 2020, Afro-Cosmic pioneer Daniele Baldelli and sometime FPI Project member Marco Fratty are back once again with a new album, Graffito that taps into all their many years of experience at the forefront of this sound as producers and influential DJs. It's a record packed with cosmic arps and dazzling synth lines that reach for the stars over heavy, churning drums that lock you in. The track titles give more than subtle hints as to the vibes of these pieces, all of which are utterly timeless and could be long-lost 70s classics or future gems.