DONNA ALLEN Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Donna Allen's 1988 cover of Maze classic - a glossy, synth-sporting, decidedly loved-up 80s soul affair - is perhaps not one of her most celebrated singles, but it's still a genuine gem - and a fine alternative interpretation of a much-loved song. As you'd expect, this remixed edition looks firmly towards 21st century dancefloors, with popular re-editor-turned-remixer Dr Packer upping the tempo and reaching for disco-flecked house beats in a bid for peak-time plays. The Aussie producer's A-side vocal version is tasteful and undeniably club ready, making use of most of the original instrumentation while (we think) re-playing the bassline. That bassline comes to the fore more on the stripped-back (but similarly loved up) B-side 'dubstrumental' mix.

Review: Donna Allen's 'Serious' is a stone-cold boogie classic whose acapella subsequently appeared in all manner of dance tracks from the early '90s onwards (most famously Strike's brilliantly OTT house classic 'U Sure Do'). Here 'remix-a-classic' specialists High Fashion get to work dragging the track into 2023, which will no doubt infuriate purists but delight those who have always longed for slightly faster and heavier mixes (the original rolls at around 110 BPM). Label regular Michael Gray steps up first with a tasteful, string-laden disco-house re-make that's actually quite radically different, whilst including enough of Allen's vocal and original version to make it familiar. Wayne Soul Avengerz and Odyssey Inc take a different approach, retaining most of the original instrumentation whilst upping the tempo and beefing up the beats.