DJs: Most Charted - Disco - Most Charted October 2012

Review: Given that Todd Terje's first original material in some five years resulted in one of last year's highlights with the Running Back released Ragysh, it's natural he would want to leave some space before following up. The first of a series of EPs crafted from using one bit of vintage gear in particular, It's The Arps sees Terje dabble with the intricacies of the Arp 2600 analogue synthesizer as well as pay homage to his favourite Monty Python sketch. This is just as nerdy as you'd expect from a man who recently launched a website with the specific intention of exploring the obsessive studio nature of his contemporaries. The aforementioned "Inspector Norse" is an obvious highlight here, slowly unfurling gorgeous layers of playful synthesis that grapple the simplistic drums with flirtatious delight. Naturally for someone who spends most weekends of the year in a nightclub, Terje demonstrates a real prowess for building up the track, teasing your senses once before unleashing the mid point monstrous moment. It makes for another signature track from Terje which is likely to engender a rapturous reception for many years to come. Alongside it, "Myggsommer" provides a brief, twee interlude into oddball sci fi soundscapes which again prove to highlight the Arp 2600's capacity for inventive and idiosyncratic sounds. From here Terje unveils a two part skywards saunter through "Swing Star" showcasing a more dextrous manipulation of the Arp 2600's melodies across the markedly more rhythmic upbeat first part and expansive luxurious cosmic subsequent endeavour. Whilst "Inspector Norse" is guaranteed to be the one track from this release you will hear in the international discotheques, the remainder of It's The Arps serves as a excellent reminder of Terje's ever growing talent as a producer.

Review: In an interesting meeting of minds, the burgeoning The Backwoods moniker from DJ Kent sees two relatively fresh talents getting put on remix detail with two very different results. The Stallions comes from the wider remit of Rvng Intl. and the like, and drop a smacked-out version of "Cloud Nine" that pumps away on a solid kick pattern but floats up in a cloud of arpeggios like the earliest strains of trance. On the flip it's left to Japanese duo Cos/Mes to reach for a more lilting, pastoral version of "Awakening" that bubbles with organic percussion and a psychedelic hop to the rhythm.

Review: Faze Action have never been comfortable with the nu disco tag, and in an age where it's dominated by digitally designed and somewhat pedestrian in its tempo the Lee brothers return with a dynamic live sound that sets them apart. "Freak for Your Love" is the lead track from their forthcoming album Information Overload and straddles a sick dubbed out punk funk groove that brings to mind the sort of incessantly sweat inducing music DFA was releasing in the label's first few years. A pleasant new direction for Faze Action is explored further on the accompanying "New Wave Disco Dub Mix" that delves further into the realm of echo and delay over that strident groove. The mysterious ST holds court on the flip with two rerubs that switch the emphasis up towards a throwback bumping 90s house flex without loosing the original's charm.

Review: Judging by the DJ reactions, "Open Your Mind" could be Al Kent's strongest edit to date - and that's saying something. Free of contemporary frills, it deliciously extends a warm, inviting and occasionally sweaty disco-funk groove to ten glorious minutes. Throughout, it gently ebbs and flows, moving from a shuffling instrumental number to an inspirational vocal cut midway through. "Like The Way", meanwhile, offers a deeper, more soulful vibe, playing around with a formidably obscure cut dripping with lazy guitars and hushed, almost casual vocals. While not as impressive as the epic A, it's still pretty darn tasty.

Review: The Sccucci Manucci label has done a fine job of handpicking artists on the rise for their releases to date, collaring the likes of Casino Times, Francis Inferno Orchestra and Toomydisco as well as the odd established name like Jacques Renault. The label's fourth release Forza Quattro is still grounded in the disco/house sensibility that has served them so well, though the presence of Waze & Oddysey demonstrates the Sccucci A & R team are willing to deviate. The elusive US pair are in the midst of a hot patch right now with releases already burning on Body Work and Southern Fried and plenty more due over the coming months, so their presence here is a real coup. "I Can't Hear You" sounds vaguely like a extra bouncy cover of the classic "RIP Groove" and definitely ranks alongside their output to date. Alongside this the white vinyl EP has tempo traversing contributions from Fil Lavin, Sellouts and Deadly Sins, with the latter's slow and chuggy "Don't You Know" a particular highlight.

Review: The esteemed Les Edits Du Golem imprint resurfaces in style after an absence of several years with four refined oddities from the excellent I:Cube. Following swiftly from the veteran producer's stunning Lucifer En Discotheque 12" for Versatile, it's clear I:Cube has begun the New Year with panache. Proceedings open with the vaguely sinister slo-mo house of "HNT", all dramatic synth infractions and Cocker style hushed vocals over a strident rhythmic bump, which is complemented by the equally laidback sleaze that is "A Bicyclette". Those seeking more uptempo thrills will be satisfied with the infectious 90s Italian house stylings of "Piano In Paradise", which takes a pleasantly dark twist mid way through. "You Dance So Well" is reminiscent of the kind of oddball track you might find on those excellent A Few Things From Ivan Smagghe CDs and will delight those who prefer their music to be on the weird side.

Review: A second standard pressing of Kon's masterful Cerrone edit arrives following the the initial 'blink and you'll have to pay a hefty price on Discogs' gold edition and subsequent repress. Originally released back in 1981, "Hooked On You" featured an early guest spot from one of THE voices of disco in Jocelyn Brown, and Kon's edit of the track under his Sir Own name has been burning a hole in the internet via Soundcloud and YouTube since late 2010. The label calls it "one of the most talked about and sought after reworks in recent times" for a good reason! If you like this check Kon's new LP for BBE too!

Review: DJ Harvey's Locussolus return to International Feel with a two track twelve dominated by the storming ode to Berghain, coincidentally arriving at a time when the Berlin club's future is very much in the air. Sounding every bit as good as the best parts of last year's Locussolus album for the label from the Punta Del Este, "Berghain (Darkroom Mix)" offers a chugging, K-hole friendly alternative to the all too prevalent pedestrian nu-disco sound that should appeal to the afterhours heads. "Telephone (Mediterranean Mix)", meanwhile, is a prime slice of Balearic disco-pop in his own inimitable style. Oozing fun, it should get an airing at plenty of festivals this summer.

Review: Big things were rightfully expected of Chamboche when he was granted the honour of the debut release on Jiscomusic's shiny new label Under The Shade back in 2009, but this new EP for the same label is the producer's first in two years. The period out of the spotlight hasn't affected his production poise, with "Smoke Screen" every bit as infectious as his previous output, twisting a hefty vocal sample around a stripped back groove that morphs brilliantly into full scale colour. Under The Shade continue their rep for well chosen remixes, securing a beast from Bicep which tweaks the vocal to fit perfectly atop a constantly elevating procession of machine made emotion. Not to be outdone, Wolf Music acolyte KRL also excels with a dubbier rendition that toys with the vocal even more amid a more expansive pattern of sounds. Proceedings close with another Chamboche original in the form of "Mind Your Mind" which unfurls with signature mind bending glee.

Review: The moustached disco avengers at Sccucci Manucci drop their latest missive, featuring more transmissions from the disco underground. Argentinean based Toomy Disco provides "What Goes Around", a tightly produced disco-house number with horn snippets woven around low-slung grooves, whilst The Glue deliver "Without You" a hazy slo-mo looper with vocal teases and hypnotic guitar licks. On the flip, South West Seven lock themselves into a fast moving groove with "What Have I Got To Do", a track that contrasts its fast rhythmic pulse with vocals and guitars that slowly emerge from the filtered ether. Aeromaschine close proceedings with "Deep Champagne"; combining a deep and melodic bassline with improvisational touches and glitchy vocal stutters, it successfully forges its own sound whilst keeping in line with his disco counterparts.

Review: Golf Channel engages in London Bus tactics once more with no less than two killer plates from Dr Dunks and The Rhythm Odyssey arriving this week. Whilst the accompanying Instrumental Fantasy 12" is on a bonkers Chi town jack and industrial disco tip, this Circles 12" finds our transatlantic pairing in a more horizontal midtempo mood. Each of the four tracks are ostensibly stylistic variations on a musical theme, with the title track a wondrously hypnotic delight described all too accurately by Golf Channel as a long lost remake of "E2-E4". Stripping away the drums, the Long Drive Home take on "Circles" tugs at your emotions even more, while on the flip "Glow" takes the same musical ingredients but channels them through early 80s disco dub with equally worthy results.

Review: Killer South African disco inclusion from the International Feel label backed with a remix from Todd 'will his golden patch ever end ?' Terje! The story behind the label's latest deviation from people's expectations goes that Bepu N'Gali's glorious afro disco posse cut "I Travel To You" was passed on during a vinyl shopping expedition in Buenos Aires by a fellow British digger who'd been handed a tape from N'Gali himself on a previous pitstop in Botswana. As with all International Feel releases the music matches the story that precedes it with N'Gali and some 12 musicians combining to deliver the finest example of South African musicianship since the Shangaan Electro comp. Terje brings his inimitable dubbed out disco magic to proceedings on the flip and there's an accompanying twelve due with further dub versions due in the near future too!

Review: Given the production reputations of Eric Duncan and Dean Meredith across the myriad of solo and collaborative projects they've been involved in over the years, the prospect of some joint releases on Phil South's Golf Channel label is one to savour! Some months after the trickling of white label promos, the first of two Dr Dunks and The Rhythm Odyssey 12"s arrives in glorious finished sleeves and the four tracks Instrumental Fantasy are equal to expectations. Meredith's much documented mastery of analogues really comes to the fore on the title track in the shape of a bonkers bassline that leads you on a merry dance all over the place. A shorter 303 laden and heavily jacking revision follows in the shape of "Acid Fantasy" though it's the opening gambit on the B Side that really caught our ear. "La Chiave" is an immense slab of psychedelically infused industrial disco with all manner of tripped out, echo laden FX occurring in the depths of the channels - we could totally see Ron Hardy's eyes lighting up with joy at this gem were he still alive and well today.