Review: Esuoh Limited's third outing takes the form of another various artists offering, and it explores an on-point mix of garage, house and tech. Ale Castro gets things underway with the bubbly bass motifs and retro stabs of 'IDWTAD' with a vocal refrain repeating the line 'I don't want to talk about drugs'. Hurlee's 'Spectral Echoes' is a super breezy house cruiser with sugar chords and more widescreen smears adding the oil to the drums while a simple, effective vocal hook brings the soul. There is a darker, more heads down energy to Housewife's 'Jus A Lil Bit' then Midas Field's 'Groover' brings class, jazzy magic and plenty of fist pumping fun.
Music Makes The World Go 'Round (instrumental) (3:23)
Review: Numero's Hottest Sounds Around series has excelled at unveiling a treasure trove of late-70s Caribbean grooves. Now they look to Trinidad where Stan Chaman's Semp label originally presented the Hamilton Brothers' calypso-disco hit 'Music Makes The World Go 'Round' back in 1978. It is a vibrant sound with multi-layered grooves, plenty of inescapable summer vibes and a tropical edge that cannot fail to bring the good times to any session. On the flip is an instrumental that pairs things back to the bubbly rhythms. What's more, it comes on lovely pink vinyl.
Review: Mysticisms continues its global search for amazing music, hitting gold again with an EP of four previously unreleased house meets IDM with a dreamy edges by Romania's HAN aka Dan Handrabur, culled from early studio recordings between 1991-95. After getting into record store culture he began building a studio and eventually gave up studying in favour of production, relocated to Vancouver, Canada, where his debut release (as X Drone with Adham Shaikh in 1993) began to establish Handrabur's role as an integral part its electronic scene. Appearances with Harthouse, Exist Dance, Eye Q Records and many more followed, plus collaborations with the legendary Phil Western. The four tracks here haven't aged at all, with nimble beats, action-packed arrangements and dreamy atmospheres, 'Give In & Resist' coming on like Rising High-era Mixmaster Morris crossed with the playfulness of Air Liquide, and 'Phantasme' revelling in the same cross-rhythmic fun that informed The Black Dog's classics.
Review: People of Earth proudly presents Warren Harris aka . Blessing us with a 4 track EP titled "From the Dark Sky". Delivering his signature bass licks and providing us with a vocal track on top of it all in "Last Forever". Hints of jazz, gospel and straight deep house throughout the record, all beautiful, uplifting and full of purpose.
Review: Mr Bongo are enacting a thorough revisiting of some of the very best soul, funk, MPB and boogie gems to stud their catalogue over the years; at this rate, the tagline "back by popular demand" has become a motto. This careful pairing of mutually constitutive Hanna and Almir Ricardi tunes made up the label's 54th release. 'Daixa Radar' comes first as the initial "rediscovery" of DJ Koco, whose Brazil 45's mix was the functional tipoff. Ricardi's 'To Parado Na Tua' is a similar midtempo boogie cut, produced by the legendary duo of Lincoln Olivetti and Robson Jorge, whose singularly timbral slap-drums are to die for.
Review: There have now been almost 100 hundred entries on Mr Bongo's Brazil 45 series and as far as we can tell not one of them has been a dud. This time they opt for a big and airy soul sound from The Harmony Cats. They were an all female vocal quintet that hailed from Sao Paulo and banded together in 1976. Most prolific in the disco days, the b-side here is their best known tune outside of Brazil. It's got a cosmic breakbeat and light vocals that soar to the skies. A-side 'Seja Como Nos (De Pe No Chao)' is a just as sweet sound that transports you to Latin America in an instant.
Review: The Brazil45 series has always been pure gold and now come a pair f beauties from Harmony Cats, a vocal quintet-turned-trio from Sao Paulo known for their disco-era hits. Harmony Cats' 'Theme' from 1976 is their most recognised track outside Brazil and is inspired by Rhythm Heritage's Barretta's Theme with its spacey breakbeats, lush vocals and percussive flair, all of which have made it a true crossover classic. On the B-side, 'Seja Como Nos (De Pe No Chao)' delivers an exuberant Brazilian twist on The Jacksons' 'Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)'- it's a guaranteed floor-filler with radiant disco energy and Harmony Cats' signature vocal style.
Review: We Must Protect This House continues to stake a claim as to why house is worth saving with a second essential EP. It comes almost a year to the day after the debut from the same artist, HDSN, who is well known in underground circles for his work, mostly on the likes of NBAST. His silky sounds immediately get you grooving with 'Cancel The Noise' which has balmy pads, razor sharp hi hats and smooth rolling drums that offer a West Coast sound. 'Resurrection' builds a similar vibe with a little more percussive energy and the flip then sinks into deep and dubby sounds on 'A Fad To Die For' and shimmering synth colours on 'Hypercolour.'
Review: Earlier this year, London's long-serving Heavy Disco crew re-ignited their re-edit series after seven years away via a fine 12" containing tasty reworks of killer boogie-soul and disco-not-disco cuts from Tavares and the Police. On this similarly essential follow-up, they return to their string-drenched disco roots. A-side 'Disco Amnesia' is simply superb, with the scalpel-wielding cockneys successfully extending a sweet, string-laden disco gem and successfully taking it to soulful new heights. Over on side B, 'Let's Be Free' is a tidy rearrangement of an electric piano solo-heavy disco-meets-jazz-funk jam, while closing cut 'Unconditional Love' is the kind of mid-tempo disco-soul sing-along that's destined to feature as the 'end of night tune' at many a forthcoming party.
Review: Remarkably, almost a decade has passed since the first missive from re-edit crew Heavy Disco (AKA Ashley Beedle, Dave Jarvis and Darren House) landed in stores. Here the London collective returns for the first time in four years with two more tried-and-tested dancefloor rubs. "Run Down World" is particularly delicious, delivering a groovy revision of what sounds like one of the Police's hazier and more groove-based moments (IE there's less reggae influence and more of an AOR disco flex - think great grooves and flanged, spaced-out guitars). On side B it's all about "Times Are Bad", a fine extended revision of Tavares' deep disco/Steely Dan-goes-jazz-funk rub "Bad Times" that seems eerily fitting for the situation the world is in.
Help Me Find My Way (feat Seta - Pontchartrain remix) (5:47)
Elevate (The Carry Nation remix) (5:06)
Review: Heidy P is a long time associate of the Rocksteady Disco crew and now she treats them to her first ever solo release in the form of Elevate. It is, as you'd expect of her, a house record through and through, but one packed with plenty of her own charm and personality. Opener 'Elevate' is a classy and jazz-tinged, Latin-styled groove that will electrify any floor. Next is the hugely emotive, soulful and gospel drenched 'Help Me Find My Way' with uplifting vocals from Seta. Pontchartrain then steps up to remix 'Help Me Find My Way' into something deeper and Carry Nation close out with a more freaked out sound.
Review: Italian producer Heinrich Dressel has made a name for himself in a very focused pursuit of 70s and 80s synth wave soundtracks. Relishing in the horror and keeping one hand on the schlocky funk, he's graced the likes of Cyberdance, Strange Life and Mannequin with his Giallo-rooted sound, and now he's returning to Slow Motion with an exquisite EP of brooding, creepy crawlies that kick down low and keep it chilly up top. Paying tribute to iconic synth chips on 'CEM 8220' and exploring sweeter tones on the cascading 'Arpeggio Jawa', this is Dressel at his best.
Review: After a decade-long break, Herbert returns with 'Part 9', a continuation of his influential Parts series that has been a cornerstone of leftfield house music since Part One debuted nearly 30 years ago. This release marks the beginning of a renewed focus on Herbert's innovative sound, with 'Part 10' scheduled for later this year and a new album expected early next year. Part 9 introduces collaborations with Momoko Gill, known for her work with artists like Tirzah and Coby Sey. The EP kicks off with 'Fallen,' where Gill's vocals meld with Herbert's minimalist, 90s-inspired production, creating a track that's both haunting and deeply rhythmic. 'Find Me' strips things down with an instrumental that showcases Herbert's skill in blending subtle grooves with engaging beats. The release closes with 'Curt,' a track that feels like a nod to Herbert's roots, fusing minimal elements with house vibes that are both nostalgic and forward-thinking.
Review: Fresh from delivering a solid three-tracker on Drum Chums, Hidden Spheres returns to Rhythm Section International with what could be his most expansive and hard-to-pigeonhole EP to date. The Manchester producer excels on the A-side with 'Tanzen', a pleasingly nostalgic, warehouse-ready affair available in two distinctive forms: the breezy piano-sporting, summery, analogue-rich deep house gem that is the spine-tingling club mix, and the sweat-soaked, sub-heavy jack-track that is the 'Mate mix'. Elsewhere, he opts for weighty sub-bass, looped stabs and vintage turn-of-the-90s deep house vibes on 'Mind Over Mate' and reaches for sparse electro-not-electro beats on the late '80s early morning brilliance of 'Not Of This World'. To round off the EP, Paula Tape opts for hands-raised acid house nostalgia on her fine revision of 'Tanzen'.
Review: It's been a weird summer for sure in 2020, but you can improve yours by a guaranteed 100% with the addition of this hard to fine and often expensive 1980 great. High Frequency was a disco offshoot of Aleem, a boogie-funk, r&b and dance music trio formed in New York City. "Summertime" is the sort of bristling and infectious disco cut even the stony hearted can enjoy. The funky bassline, the feel good vocals, the lush chords - it's a real pearl of a track. The instrumental is just as feel good and uplifting. What a 7" this is.
Review: Legendary Harlem label Queen Constance brought the world the most raw and authentic disco direct from the source. Years later, collectors and dancers alike still fawn over plenty of its output and now two of its more notorious tracks get on-point edits by contemporary stars Kon and Moplen. With Kon at the buttons, High Voltage's "Rock Spank Freak" is tweaked and coerced, with extended funk breakdowns and heavier bottom ends. Moplen then adds some extra colour and pumps up the trumpet lines to make for an unabashedly glorious disco stomper. This is a 100% legit reissue with fresh remastering, so do not sleep.
Review: The enigmatic Hill returns to Hardrock Striker's Skylax imprint with an energetic five-tracker packed full of disco house goodness. Riviera Meets Detroit features the infectiously loopy French Touch vibes of 'Land Of Funk', the sexy and lo-slung Balearic bliss of 'Summer Holidays In Rimini' and over on the flip there's the pure deepness of 'Away' featuring the one-and-only Javonntte. Featured are two versions; the wonderfully evocative Spacey Groove mix followed by the more upbeat Classic mix.
Are You Lonely? (Greg Wilson & Che Wilson mix) (5:57)
Are You Lonely? (The Revenge Redub) (7:04)
Are You Lonely? (Yam Who? re-edit) (6:13)
Review: Classic boogie-down antics for those that know on this wonderful old school production by short lived outfit Hipnotic. Alongside the wondrous rarity that is "Are You Lonely?", it also comes with four new interpretations of the much loved and sought-after funk fuelled gem. First up, Stockholm legend Peter Major aka Opolopo delivers his usual style of magic featuring an amazing bassline and slick neon-lit production style. Legend Greg Wilson is joined by Che Wilson to deliver smooth and lo-slung rework, while Scottish disco hero The Revenge does his usual slo-mo thang, before Midnight affiliated Yam Who? goes back to the program with his respectful edit.
Review: The third and final EP from the ten year anniversary series by French label D3 Elements is another one that offers a wide range of excellent grooves. To kick off, Jason Hogans takes us into woozy late night territory with muffled leads and lazy breaks, then Zopelar heads for the cosmos on his radiant synth laced house offering 'Resolution.' Malik Hendricks keeps it low key and slow with his intimate basement sounds on 'Green Mango' then Meftah rebuilds on a dusty Theo Parrish tip with 'Maha Shatki.' Damar Davis offers pure cosmic deep house lushness on closer 'Kiss In The Dark.'
Review: Homebase's latest release 'Everlasting Love' is a joyous celebration of love that transcends time and musical boundaries. The captivating original track is a romantic minimal lullaby with feel-good melodies full of innocence that do a fine job of conveying the moments that make hearts race and memories that last forever. Whether dancing or reflecting, this track connects deeply with the soul. Then comes remixes by renowned artists Phonique, Marc Spieler, and Richard de Clark, each adding their unique touch with some perfect for dreamy after-hours and some a little more ready for the club.
Review: On his first release of any sort since dropping his debut album, 'The Serve of the Abnormal', last year, Denis Horvat makes his bow on Afterlife with an EP that drags tech-house and minimal house in dark, trippy new directions. For proof, check opener 'Cha Cha', a menacing, EBM-influenced affair that peppers a chugging, early morning groove with rising and falling lead lines, creepy counter melodies and rasping, trance style stabs. The EP's inherent sense of clandestine atmosphere comes to the fore once more on shuffling, moody vocal number 'Precious Unica', before the Copenhagen-based producer opts for a more forthright darkwave meets-peak-time-tech-house flex on 'Momentum of the Arapaima'. Closing cut 'Majstor', meanwhile, is an incredibly trippy, K-hole trance number underpinned by a wonky triple-time beat.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Track 1 (6:58)
Track 2 (7:16)
Track 3 (7:20)
Track 4 (7:43)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Hostom is both an artistic moniker and a record label, controlled by producer and mastering engineer Varhat Veliere, acting under the aegis of their very own distribution company, based in France. Veliere has kept the Hostom arm of their craft since 2015, dropping myriad creative works centring on weirdo atmospheric house. This latest, seventh edition to the imprint hears just four new untitled ones hit the worthy shelves and all of them are unusually serene, off-guard-catching forays into unseen psychedelic worlds, whether evoked simply by the weird, wondrous and bubbly sounds heard throughout; or literally narrated by pop-psychedelic guru Terence McKenna (Track 3).
Review: This more than handy 7" single brings together two classic disco-era cuts from soul legend Willie Hutch. A-side "Easy Does It", which was originally featured on 1978's In Tune album, features Hutch in full-on Curtis Mayfield mode, singing passionately over a jaunty, jazz-funk influenced backing track laden with swirling strings, choral backing vocals (think Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" album) and Dexter Wansel style synthesizer solos. It's undoubtedly one of Hutch's finest moments and deserves to be in any serious soul head's collection. Flip for 1979's "Kelly Green", a sumptuous soul slow jam in which Hutch pines over a lost lover.
Review: Chad Jackson and Hallmighty deliver a fresh take on classic sounds with Jazz Be Good To Me on Battle Weapons France. This hip hop/R&B release features two creative tracks. Side-1 showcases Chad Jackson's 'Jazz Be Good To Me,' a lively hip hop groove that echoes the late 80s and 90s, when dance music was a key component of the genre. Jackson updates the early 80s classic by the S O S Band with a vibrant, contemporary twist, making it a perfect fusion of old and new. On Side-2, Hallmighty presents 'What Is Stormy Love,' a masterful mash-up of Haddaway and Diana Ross & The Supremes. This track is produced so seamlessly that it feels like an original song from the late 60s, blending vintage soul with modern production techniques.
Review: Mole Music branches out for the first time to vinyl here and shows it has a great wealth of talent to call on with a various artists' EP that is presumably the start of a new series. Holy Guacamole Vol 1 kicks off with JHNS keeping it deep and lively with 'Nevermind' while Steve End and Colau hook up for 'Back Spin' and lay down some magnificent drum loops that are silky and infectious. El Funkador's 'Shame' brings some 90s New York vibes with lovely snare sounds and warm bursts of chords. On the flipside, Alben & Laje & Errat, Hot DLVRY and Craftsmanship all cook up more fresh fusions of old and new school house.
JR From Dallas & Justnique - "Detroit Drums" (4:27)
Review: The Lisztogrooves series is back and we're glad about it. The first one was essential and this follow-up from Igor Gonya's label features a blend of heavy hitters next to some cool emerging talents. Opening with Manuel Sahagun's smooth deep house track 'Get Yourself' things move on to a taste of US house from Human By Nature, who serves up a rich atmosphere and nostalgic 90s piano riffs. The A-side finishes strong with Gramophonedzie's high-energy jackin' filter workout then on the B-side, French producer Naux creates a deep groove built around chord stabs. Stogov follows with the soulful 'Walking Wide' while JR From Dallas and Justnique wrap up the EP with a seductive deep house finale.
Review: As head of the Diskokaine imprint, Wolfram Eckert has graced the public with the delightful sounds of Sally Shapiro as well as maintaining a wonderfully infuriating website - you need to check this out! In a production career that has seen the Swede trade under a surfeit of aliases for labels such as Creme, Gomma and IDJ Gigolos, Eckert has focused on the Wolfram name to deliver a stellar album forthcoming on Permanent Vacation. Entitled Marflow, the album features a stellar cast of guests including Legowelt, Shapiro, House of House, disco legend Paul Parker and mid nineties one hit wonder Haddaway. Permanent Vacation indulge in some appetite whetting here with another collaborative effort between Wolfram and Andy and Kim Ann of Hercules and Love Affair, notable for some fine remixes from fellow Swedish icons Tiedye and Axel Boman, with the former's balearic rock cover version most ingenious.
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