Back catalogue: Funky/Club House

Review: Volume 4 of the Make Up series is another doozy and this one brings together accomplished house heads Camille, Chez Damier, and Nico Lahs in a celebration of underground disco classic "through the lens of 60's and 70's underground comix." Similar to these rebellious reads, the tracks on this release carved their niche with purists seeking distinct and thrilling sounds. Across the double album, Camille's contributions include Mystic Pleasure's 'Back Door (Getting Down)' and Cold Fire's 'Badder Than Bad' which both bring soulful melodies and infectious rhythms, Chez Damier adds Fascination's 'Shine My Love' and Bileo's 'You Can Win' with shimmering vocals and funky basslines and together, they make for an exhilarating mix of disco brilliance.

Review: Turkish-Italian DJ and producer Carla Frayman aka Carlita's debut album Sentimental comes on Ninja Tune and the lead single, 'The Moment,' features English producer SG Lewis. Sentimental reflects Carlita's musical evolution in recent times and offers a new dimension beyond her club-focused tracks. The album includes collaborations with DJ Tennis, Sicilian artist Orofino and peers like Mascolo, Elderbrook, Julietta and Cleo Simone. Carlita describes the creative process as both challenging and rewarding and aim to surprise listeners with her diverse musical expression. The track 'Time' has already become a crowd favourite and the rest of the album likely will too.

Review: Whereas the first volume of Italian house pioneer Don Carlos's retrospective of Italian house, Echoes of Italy, largely stuck to the picturesque but chunky and organ-rich "Italo-house" template, this second volume expressly focuses on "paradise house" - what Young Marco and Christiaan MacDonald dubbed "dream house" on their superb Welcome To Paradise series. As you'd expect given his association with the sound, Carlos's selections are notably different (and arguably less well known) than theirs, even if some of the same artists feature. It's cultured, tactile and loved-up dancefloor dreaminess all the way, with highlights including the slow-build wonder of Onrico's saucer-eyed 'Echo Gimini', the low-slung groove of Alex Neri's 'The Wizard (Hot Funky Version)', the piano-laden, breakbeat-driven shuffle of Moto Grosso's 'Titanic', and Carlos's own gorgeous, organ-heavy 'Boy'.

Review: Italo house has enjoyed quite a resurgence in the last few years, with plenty of new releases popping up that sound convincingly authentic in their production and aesthetic. It's always nice to savour the real deal, though, and it doesn't get much more real than the one and only Don Carlos when it comes to direct-from-the-source dreamy 90s peninsula house. Here, the Don compiles a comprehensive selection of classics from the genre. With shimmering pads, soulful vocals and synth-flute leads aplenty, this bygone LP is steeped in both nostalgia and not-so-subtle reminders that not too many of the more recent pretenders have added a great deal to the form. Highlights permeate the comp, from Montego Bay's 'Everything' to Kwanzaa Posse's 'Wicked Funk'. The unabashed positivity of Golem's 'Music Sensations' makes for a welcome addition, as does the driving synth energy of Eagle Parade's 'I Believe'. In truth, the LP doesn't put a foot wrong, transporting listeners to the balmy hedonism of golden-age Rimini. Though it's never good to generalise, the old adage 'Italians do it better' certainly seems apt here.

Review: Cascada's Evacuate The Dancefloor, now on limited edition purple vinyl, is a burst of high-energy dancefloor anthems and heartfelt ballads. Side 1 opens with the unforgettable title track, a global hit with infectious hooks and pulsing beats, followed by the anthemic 'Hold On' and the emotional 'Everytime I Hear Your Name.' The energy keeps climbing with 'Ready or Not' and the club-driven 'Fever.' Flip to Side 2 for the sultry 'Breathless,' the electrifying 'Dangerous,' and the introspective closer 'Draw The Line' in a delicate Yanou Candlelight mix, rounding out this essential dance-pop collection.

Review: French house duo Cassius are undersung stars of the genre. Their cuspate millennial smash 'Cassius 1999' marked out well the fervour of the time, fizzing against our ears with its liminal "don't" vox, creep-in bass, brushup rides and stinger Morricone chords, which all build to a laggard but crucial French house wahher. A full-length album followed, exploring the same themes: and now the duo share a new "tool" version of the record, which pares the each of said debut LP's tracks to their barest bones. An "homage to our early experiments with endless loops", 1999 DJ Tool celebrates the long-form, live set cutup approach necessitated by their many European tour dates during the early noughts.

Review: Best of 1996-2019 is the first-ever Best Of album by Cassius, legendary pioneers of the French touch movement. Housed in a black gatefold sleeve, it includes liner notes by Hubert "Boombass" Blanc-Francard who does a great job of reflecting on the duo's journey and the late Philippe "Zdar" Cerboneschi, who passed away five years ago. The compilation features iconic tracks spanning their career, including hits like 'Cassius 1999,' 'I <3 U So,' 'Feeling For You,' 'Toop Toop,' 'Go Up,' 'The Sound of Violence' and 'Don't Let Me Be.' It is a joyous celebration of Cassius' enduring influence on electronic music.

Review: The Chems, as they are affectionately known by fans, are breakbeat maestros that have been out in a field of one for many decades. Now they continue to serve up the most blistering big room beats, techno and electro fusions each time they play one of their famously spellbinding sets, as well as on this latest record which is presented here across six sides of vinyl. They are revealing all about their accomplished and decorated career in a new biography that arrives the same time as this new album, For The Beautiful Feeling. It's a high-octane sound full of maximal grooves and a mad guest spot from none other than Beck.

Review: Confidence Man's third studio album, 3AM (LA LA LA), reimagines 90s UK rave sounds with a pop twist. Inspired by their recent move to London, encounters with KLF and immersion in the queer club scene, the duo captures the essence of hedonism and ecstasy in a euphoric soundscape. The album traverses the electronic spectrum with breakbeat, trance and Underworld-sized techno infused with the punk energy of legacy acts like The Prodigy. Following their successful second album Tilt, which included the festival favourite 'Holiday, 3AM (LA LA LA) is a bold and exhilarating escape into Confidence Man's vibrant world

Review: Confidence Man's relocation from Australia to London has ignited a new era with their upcoming third studio album, 3am (La La La). Embracing their signature audacity, the duo - Janet Planet and Sugar Bones - have crafted an album that dives deeper into the realms of hedonism and euphoria, fueled by their nocturnal creative sessions. Describing the album as "darker, sexier, and more surreal," Confidence Man blend 90s and 00s UK rave influences with a contemporary edge, with tracks like 'I Can't Lose You' and 'Real Move Touch' (featuring Sweetie) Irie exuding an infectious energy that spans breakbeat, trance, and techno, echoing the punk spirit of legends like The Prodigy. Inspired by encounters with idols like KLF and immersion in London's queer club scene, 3am (La La La) promises to be a sensory trip through pulsating beats and unbridled creativity. It follows their acclaimed sophomore release TILT and collaborations that have expanded their sonic palette. This album introduces their wild, irrepressible spirit to a wider audience, offering an exhilarating escape from the mundane into their eccentric and exhilarating universe.

Review: Cyril's debut album offers a compelling fusion of house and UK garage, underscored by his distinctive Australian flair. Collaborations with artists like Kita Alexander on 'True' and Dean Lewis on 'Fall At Your Feet' infuse the tracks with emotive vocals, enhancing the rhythmic foundations. The inclusion of extended versions of 'Stumblin' In' and 'The Sound of Silence' showcases Cyril's adeptness at reimagining classics, breathing new life into them. Cyril's versatility is remarkable here, solidifying his position in the contemporary electronic music scene.

Review: The glorious Dobro label gets to double figures in fine style here with a new album that finds Iner both going solo and collaborating with Oiuna on four new cuts which then get remixed. The originals are summery, airy, organic worlds of gentle deep house rhythms, feathery synth melodies and gentle hooks that have a subtle future feel. The remixes rework the tunes for more direct vibes in the club with Frank Music label head Johannes Albert going first and then Crowd Control also stepping up. Great artwork, too.