PEGGY GOU Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Given her runaway success in recent years, it was almost inevitable that Peggy Gou would launch her own record label sooner or later. Wisely, she's chosen to kickstart said imprint - the freshly minted Gudu Records - with her first EP of fresh material for over 12 months. A-side "Starry Night" is an unashamedly positive and life-affirming affair, with Gou placing bouncy piano riffs, sultry South Korean and English vocals and Boyd Jarvis/Paul Simpson style synth-bass atop a snappy, late '80s style house rhythm. There's a similarly retro-futurist feel to the equally loved-up "Han Pan", where Gou's attractive vocals once again catch the ear alongside heavy analogue bass, chiming synth lines and Kwaito influenced drums.

Review: Released last year, 'I Go' saw Peggy Gou in Italo-disco-influenced synth-pop mode, with psychedelic acid lines, sweet South Korean vocals and attractive melodies rising above a Bobby Orlando-esque bassline. Here the track is given a new lease of life by a trio of high-profile producers. Belgian behemoths Soulwax do a terrific job re-inventing the track as a retro-futurist, warehouse-ready house epic - all muscular sequenced bass, bustling drums, rave-igniting stabs and hands-in-the-air intent. DJ Koze does a lovely job of re-framing 'I Go' as a bubbly, bright and breezy nu-disco number, while Maurice Fulton delivers one of those killer re-rubs based around his funky, cut-up bass guitar lines, Nile Rodgers guitar licks and sparse-but-snappy percussion.

Review: House sensation Peggy Gou had a huge hit last year with the original of 'I Go.' It makes sense that it is now revisited by a hefty team of remixes who add their own spin to the catchy original. Acclaimed Belgian live pair and brotherly duo Soulwax open up with a typically tough version fill with stiff bass stabs and slapping hits. It is a brilliantly retro future gem. Pampa boss DJ Koze layers in some freewheeling and signature naive melodies for his version and Maurice Fulton then brings a much more laid back and deep version with the lush vocals paired with finger clicks and languid guitar funk.

Review: Global dance music superstar Peggy Gou comes back with a second super summer single that is widely infused with her own distinctive influences. Chiefly, that is a love of 90's dance anthems, which was rekindled in her during downtime during the pandemic. Released via her own Gudu Records, 'I Go' is a catchy, singable bit of throwback dance-pop with her own vocals front and centre. The old school beats and bass will get any party pumped, with the synth work looks to the cosmos and explores a very different vibe to her previous single. An instrumental and acappella are also included on this lovely 12".

Review: Following up last year's production with Baltimore techno legend Maurice Fulton on 'Jigoo', the next release on Gudu is the first of two songs by label boss Peggy Gou that she will release over the coming months. Her first single in over two years, it translates to 'Butterfly' and is another collaboration. This time with fellow Korean sensation OHHYUK who is the lead singer and guitarist in the band Hyukoh. 'Nabi' is a downtempo, pop-inflected number said to be inspired by '80s synth classics and '90s Korean songs that Gou's mother used to play at home during her childhood.