Review: Many Hands is a fresh label helmed by Jona Jefferies and Kava that here kicks out an eclectic EP with four tracks from various members of its musical family. Dan Aikido opens with '0800 TXT4 Herb,' a smooth fusion piece that builds a laid-back groove, blending fretless bass, jazzy keys and soulful vocals all reminiscent of Rare Silk's 'Storm.' Ernie Ruso's 'Stroke It' offers slow, sensual r&b infused with P-funky wah-wah effects while DJ Nomad's 'African Boy' brings upbeat pop house next to funky organ and a female reggae MC.Jefferies' closer 'A Change Will Come' samples Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with a rave-inspired beat and soulful piano. Cracking stuff.
Kidz (Elena Colombi's Are The Kids Alright remix) (6:14)
Review: This is the debut EP from DJ, producer and multidisciplinary artist Sol Leon under the moniker aka-Sol. It marks years of creative evolution and finds him blending vibrant energy with raw emotion across three tracks. aka-Sol channels a psychedelic edge into the punk roots of electronic music here by using modular synths and analogue textures to challenge modern club norms and genre boundaries. It results in a fearless offering that is equal parts love letter and provocation and invites headbanging and liberation on the dancefloor. A remix by Osare! Editions' Elena Colombi completes the EP, with experimental, post-punk and club intersections.
Review: Army of God's 'Salvation'' back in 2012 soon became a cult coldwave cut. It was the one and only release by the pair of Aroy Dee and Miss Jagroe... until now. More than ten years on they are back with 'Endless Skies' which is a new EP full of analogue warmth, signature synth designs and aching strings. Of course, Jagroe's unique voice features and brings extra allure to the beats. Aroy Dee steps up with an edit of the title cut and lays in some more form drums and pairs back the vocals to make things even darker. On the flip you'll find the throbbing bass and off-kilter keys of 'Fear the Night' with a dark version going even more into the shady unknown.
Review: After the roaring success of his last outing here, the '3 Woman EP,' Art Of Tones is back on GAMM with a 12" that brings male ovals to the fore. They are all very different in style but all highly effective. 'International Truth' opens with strident and funky disco drums and noodling guitar lines with soulful tones lighting up the beats. 'Don's Expensive Afro' is a rework of a rare Afro-disco track with more expressive vocals instructing the floor to move. Last of all is a stunning reimagining of an overlooked Stevie Wonder gem, 'Stevland's Run', which is off-balance and unusual funk madness laden with psyched-out guitar work.
Review: This Vincent Arthur album is a tribute to his daughter Vivian and was crafted by talented musicians from Africa, the Caribbean and Germany. Once obscure for 30 years, its standout track, 'Travel With The Music' became an anthem after making a high-profile appearance in a Dekmantel set where its euphoric afro-disco sound really made a lasting mark. Online sleuths uncovered its origin which has reignited interest in this hidden gem, which has been remastered by Frank at The Carvery. It revives three key tracks in 'Travel With The Music' which shines with afro, disco, and gospel-like euphoria. 'Afro Disco' brings playful energy while 'Jubilation' closes the night with deep, celebratory vibes.
Review: Both of these funk gems are taken from a cult compilation Trans Groove Express, which explored the sounds of Express Records and was assembled by MURO. Fourth Wave now serve them up on a superb 7", starting with Maki Asakawa. 'Hohi Hitotsu' is a delightfully gentle and subtle dub with funky guitars adding movement while the sultry vocal soars. Yasuhiro Abe's 'Night Fish' is a brighter and more retro 80s soul and boogie sound with glowing chords and snappy hits. The Japanese language vocal is emotive enough to mean plenty without understanding the meaning of the words.
Review: This third volume of instrumentals continues the faultless Isle of Jura label's deep dive into dub versions and beyond. Side one takes in references from UK street soul and reggae and features two late-'80s tracks by Howard Hill with machine-led rhythms, rudeboy reggae skank and soulful pads. Protek's 'I Love to Dance With You' is a proto-house gem featured in a Jura Soundsystem mix and here it gets a loving re-edit by The Nightlark. Side B includes an instrumental-driven track with spacey FX from The Cool Notes' and Ilija Rudman's 'Dub 4 Love' which is a knowing nod to acid house's golden era.
Review: Hamburg's always had a vibrant music scene - and is in fact home to one of deep house's finest crews in Smallville - but if you like your beats more on a boogie and funky tip then this one is for you. Automart's new 7" on Born To Shine Records features two such electrifying tracks that are going to appeal to anyone who enjoys the work of labels like PPU or Star Creature. Automart's fresh take on classic boogie and modern funk comes with a contemporary twist that's perfect for any setting and is one of many releases this year which promise to make this label vital.
Review: Sundries' Disco Goodies series, which rounds up the best of the label's digital releases and presents them on multi-artist EPs, reaches its fourth instalment. It hits home hard from the start, where Berobreo's 'Soul Driven Dynamics' provides an attractive mix of 1970s orchestral soul samples and rubbery deep house beats. Experienced re-editor Oldchap brings the goods with a lightly tooled-up and beefed-up rework of an orchestra-sporting disco gem ('Coloridos'), before X Gets The Crest delivers a percussive, hot-stepping and filter-smothered re-wire of a much-loved Cymande classic ('Still Come Home'). Over on side B, Alexny's heavy disco-funk re-edit ('People Says') is joined by a hazy and horn-heavy revision courtesy of Sould Out ('City Gal') and the pitched-up disco loop-funk of 'Since You Came' by Workerz.
Review: After the first in this new Mellow Bangers series got us nice and twisted we're delighted to have the follow-up from Italo Moderni. Cryk kicks off with an eerie blend of Italo arps and dark wave drums with electro overtones on 'Double Crash' then the moodiness continues with the depraved bass warbles and crashing hits of Fragedis and his 'Disco Nicotina.' Antoni Maiovvi brings a lightness of touch to his delicate arps and celestial harmonies on 'Stopping Power' and Adrian Marth layers plenty of sugar and pixelated synths into his loopy 'Modernism.'
Kool & The Gang - "Give It Up" (DJ Soopasoul edit) (4:02)
Aretha Franklin - "Rock Steady" (DJ Soopasoul edit) (3:30)
Review: Jalapeno jive maestro Soupasoul had another standout year, in 2024 and only heightened his reputation for crafting exceptional edits that bring new life into funk standards and hidden gems. With a sharp focus on the groove-rich breaks, he is back once again with another instalment that will ignite dance floors everywhere. This time his scorching rework of 'Give It Up' spotlights dynamic horn interplay and soulful jazzy choruses and 'Rock Steady' celebrates Aretha's powerful vocals paired with a killer breakbeat. These finely tuned edits honour the originals while adding fresh energy.
Review: Maledetta Discoteca closes out its year with this special blue vinyl featuring a mix of brilliant Italo disco artists. They all hail from Italy and Argentina and are editing originals that span disco, electro, proto-house and more. Hararis' 'Si No Pagan' is the first under the scalpel and is a funky cut with raw drums. Lance's 'Yo Quiero A Lucy' is a more slowed down and seductive sound with 80s synths, Marta Paradise's 'Calling' (edit) is a direct and sugar synth laced house stomper and Alan Strani's 'Tension Salsable' brings things to a closer with a nice stomping disco grove with mysterious synths and lush percussion.
Review: The latest missive from modern funk maestros The Sleeperz Records is a red seven-inch double header that pairs Canadian neo-boogie queen Maya Killtron (a label regular) with two similarly minded producers. She joins forces with Andrew Napoleon on A-side 'Body Fly', a glossy slab of mid-80s synth-funk/synth-pop fusion rich in squelchy P-funk bass, bright lead lines and colourful chords. Estonia-based Latvian Artis Boris sits in the producer's chair on side two, underpinning a typically expressive and soulful Killtron vocal with sinewy strings, modern boogie grooves and nods aplenty to early 1980s disco. Naturally, the sound is nostalgic, but both cuts sound undeniably fresh.
Review: Vancouver's Maya Killtron is an artist on a mission. A talented songwriter and vocalist with a deep-rooted love of synth-funk and 80s boogie, her slim catalogue to date is full of quality collaborations with talented, like-minded producers. She's at it again on her latest missive for Spanish "modern funk" stable The Sleeperz Records. On side A, she works with producer Andrew Napoleon on the brilliant 'Body Fly', a glossy slab of mid-80s synth-funk/synth-pop fusion rich in squelchy P-funk bass, bright lead lines and colourful chords. Estonia-based Latvian Artis Boris tales over on side two, underpinning a typically expressive and soulful Killtron vocal with sinewy strings, modern boogie grooves and nods aplenty to early 1980s disco. Naturally, the sound is nostalgic, but both cuts sound undeniably fresh.
Review: North of Loreto is a side project of Bassi Maestro and Alex Fernet, who are both prominent figures in the Italian nu-boogie scene, and this is their first collaboration. 'Disco/Diavolo Blu' are two tracks that allow you a peak into the distinct musical styles of both artists. It finds them blending their talents to create a cool and complementary sound with artwork from Riccardo Michelazzo. 'Disco' is a lovely laid back vibe with bokken, steely beats and retro chords and vocals and 'Diavolo Blu' has more direct drum energy and a killer bassline.
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (Ron Trent remix) (4:14)
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (Ron Trent dub) (4:09)
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (ASHRR Soundsystem instrumental) (5:06)
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (ASHRR Soundsystem remix) (6:23)
Review: LA-based band ASHRR picked up plenty of new fans with their recent Sunshine Low album and now they're back with the sixth single from it and it comes with some seriously heavyweight names on the remix. Chicago house pioneer Ron Trent does his thing to 'Please Don't Stop The Rain' by going super deep, spine tingling and heady with some lush arps and distant guitar twangs adding a Balearic feel. Dub treatments come from the Prescription boss himself, while ASHRR's alter ego, ASHRR Soundsystem, offer up an instrumental and a remix that lay down dubby house drums and lush chord work. This one keeps the summer vibes going well into winter.
Review: With summer gone, this album is the perfect soundtrack to remind you of the warmer season. It's a lush blend of tropical disco grooves, deep house, Balearic vibes, smooth jazz and Mediterranean cool for sipping cocktails and dreaming of a blissful escape. Each track features dreamy textures, fresh rhythms, shimmering chords and rich melodies enhanced by delightful percussive details. It's a majestic work by A Vision Of Panorama with a carefree atmosphere.
Review: Campania-based combo Asakaira has delivered a genuinely brilliant debut album here. Rooted in improvisation and the collective's combined love of jazz, Afrobeat, jazz-funk, hip-hop and the Afro-cosmic sounds that have long been a staple of Italy's underground music culture, the album's six original tracks (the seventh is an alternate 'Night' take on the jaunty, energetic and percussive 'Skijii') bristle with imagination and inventiveness. For proof, check the tropical disco delights of 'Night Tales', the head-nodding hip-hop-jazz of 'Chatting With You' and the dubby jazz-not-jazz shuffle of 'Moon Phases', a track that just intensifies and gets bigger as it progresses.
How I Feel (Inkswel Broken Soul instrumental mix) (6:40)
How I Feel (Leonard Charles Ponsonby Funk mix) (4:43)
How I Feel (Leonard Charles Ponsonby Funk instrumental mix) (4:49)
How I Feel (beats) (6:34)
Review: Before he passed away earlier this year, Detroit legend Amp Fiddler completed a number of recordings. This, a collaboration with Australian DJ/producer and all-round 21st century dancefloor soul don Inkswel, is one of the first to land in stores. Inkswel places his own 'Broken Soul' mixes on the A-side, with the full vocal version - featuring Fiddler in full flight as well as the legend's mazy electric piano, organ and Clavinet licks to the fore - being our pick of the pair. This is organic dancefloor soul with a ubbery 'broken house' groove and plenty of quality organic instrumentation. The newcomer Leonard Charles Ponsonby provides vocal and instrumental 'funk' mixes on the flip, both of which retain Inskwel's warm, organic-sounding groove while adding colourful electrofunk and P-funk style synths.
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