Back in stock: Balearic/Downtempo

Review: In the late summer of 2019, DJ Rocca and Chris Coco spent time together at the intimate La Casella festival in Umbria, Italy, where they chatted about Italo disco, the Rimini/Riccione riviera in the 90s and classic Italian clubs. Inspired by their conversations and imagined memories of scenes they weren't part of, they set out to make the music which over time, evolved into CocoRocca DiscoTeca, an imaginary retro-futuristic club blending past influences with future possibilities. It draws on dub, house and disco and is now resented on this wonderfully escapist full length which starts slow and dreamy, raises the pulse then slows down to a nice emotive finish. A fine reimagine of some classic sounds.

Review: Route 77, the third album from Mirror System, Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy's chillout project, offers a serene sonic journey through spacious, dreamy soundscapes. A mellower counterpart to their work as System 7, Mirror System's music blends soft tech-house rhythms with lush electronics and Hillage's signature guitar. With a travel theme inspired by the vast American Southwest, Route 77 is rich in atmospheric grooves. The album features contributions from The Orb's Alex Paterson, Dan Donovan and Marv Brookes, adding to its laidback yet intricate vibe. Standout moments include reimaginings of Manuel Gottsching's 'Sunrain' and Ry Cooder's 'Paris, Texas', which fit seamlessly into the album's flowing textures. The closing track, 'Sonora Desert Edge (The Abyss)', incorporates a poem by Allen Ginsberg, creating a vivid, immersive auditory experience. Route 77 is an engaging blend of ambient trance and chillout music, perfect for deep relaxation or reflective listening.

Review: The late great Muslimgauze is a cult figure when it comes to experimental electronic music. He made several revered records that have been reissued since his death and helped to reassert his status. Maroon is a work that like much of his output brings space, colour, depth, and illusion to sound. It is densely layered and textured and finds Bryn Jones, the Mancunian behind Muslimgauze, assaulting all the senses. From the rusty sounds and smeared voices of 'Thimble Cups Of Urdu' to the dense collage of drones, tin pot hits and obscured mutterings of 'Harem Of Dogs' this is a brilliantly idiosyncratic work.

Review: Luca Trentini's third release on Blessyou delves deeper into his disco sample-based dancefloor enhancers. This expertly crafted club-oriented toolkit, created by a seasoned DJ, reveals Luca's secret weapons. Side-1 bursts forth at an uptempo energy with driving momentum and acid touches, perfect for peak-time main room sets. 'So High!' slows down just a touch, offering a more playful sampling approach. Side-2 presentes a downtempo chugger with jungle vibes, featuring a chorus of Kookaburra, big cat and other animal noises. A release with something for almost every DJ's arsenal.

Review: We'd already had lunch and dinner sorted, but breakfast was still left wanting - that is, until now. We break our fast now to chow down on a delicious smorgasbord cooked up by DJ, radio host and all-round musical encyclopedia Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy, who here tops up the now-established Balearic Breakfast series with its third volume. Less to do with any particular sound and more to do with the sound of 'Balearic' in its original melting-pot days crossing over everything from downtempo to post-punk to funk, this is a copacetic selection, sure to get balls rolling, discs circumvolving and feet moving.