QWESTLIFE Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Given their association with the label over the last few years, it seems fitting that the first artist album on Glitterbox should come from Qwestlife, a disco, boogie and jazz-funk loving duo made up on Andy "Yam Who?" Williams and pal Tom Laroye. "Prophecy" was made with a gaggle of guest musicians and vocalists (think Andre Espeut, Jacqui George, Lady Z and Bobby Saint) and features a slick, retro-futurist blend of original tracks and covers of well-loved but largely overlooked disco classics. The result is a brilliant played and produced set that joyously flits between revivalist disco-soul, synth-heavy boogie, slick nu-disco and jazz-funk. Perhaps the most extraordinary cut is "Fever", a superb chunk of disco-rap featuring none other than Sugarhill Gang and Furious Five members Melle Mel and Scorpio.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corners of outer sleeve, product unopened & in excellent condition***


Given their association with the label over the last few years, it seems fitting that the first artist album on Glitterbox should come from Qwestlife, a disco, boogie and jazz-funk loving duo made up on Andy "Yam Who?" Williams and pal Tom Laroye. "Prophecy" was made with a gaggle of guest musicians and vocalists (think Andre Espeut, Jacqui George, Lady Z and Bobby Saint) and features a slick, retro-futurist blend of original tracks and covers of well-loved but largely overlooked disco classics. The result is a brilliant played and produced set that joyously flits between revivalist disco-soul, synth-heavy boogie, slick nu-disco and jazz-funk. Perhaps the most extraordinary cut is "Fever", a superb chunk of disco-rap featuring none other than Sugarhill Gang and Furious Five members Melle Mel and Scorpio.

Review: This surprise single from boogie band Qwestlife has a lot going for it. For starters, it's a fabulously catchy song, with the kind of chorus that you'll find yourself singing in the shower for days to come. Coupled with the boogie-era authenticity of the instrumentation (think D'Train synth squiggles, cowbells, heavy synth bass, and so on) and production, it's an almost perfect chunk of electrofunk revivalism that steers clear of "hollow tribute" territory. Happily, the alternative mixes - particularly the "Dubbed Out Version" - are also in keeping with the band's early '80s New York inspirations. In fact, both that mix and the tidy "Bonus Beats" versions sound like they could have been the work of original boogie-dub maestros Paul Simpson (Serious Intention) and Winston Jones (Pushe); we can't think of much higher praise than that.

Review: Defected offshoot Glitterbox is a label that embodies the old school spirit of early house and disco - polysexual, positive and hugely expressive. The latest single is another testament to that with majestic producer Qwestlife serving up a perfect fusion of disco lushness, house groove and funk bass on "Fever". Add in hip swinging claps, Grammy winner Siedah Garrett's vocals, a sprinkling of Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Melle Mel and you have a real bobby dazzler. Deep digging disco don Kon serves up a joyous remix as well as a beatless reprise for DJ trickery.