Banoffee Pies Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Like many labels at this time of year, Banoffee Pies has decided to get into the Record Store Day spirit, delivering a limited edition, hand-stamped 10" featuring a trio of Afro-inspired cuts from their growing roster of artists. There's naturally much to admire, not least the deliciously bass-heavy "Simigwado (Eidt)" by Az, a heavy Afrobeat rework that gets the right balance between the restless throb of house music and the vibrancy of the producer's source material. Walter Ego impresses, too, with the cowbell-laden Highlife shuffle of "Eme Nenyo", while Philou Louzolo steals the show with the Clavinet-heavy Afro-disco goodness of his superb "Royal Booty Funk".

Review: Banoffee Pies Records launches its first white label to date, and it's a three-pronged collaboration by new and exciting faces in the scene. First up is Philou Louzolo and his excellent "Afrofuturism Dance", a solid house jerker with lively tribal influences, folloed siftly by Wendel Sield and his moodier, jazzier piece entitled "History Of Black People". On the flip, Huntleys & Palmers MMT proceeds to drop some Gipsy King house in the form of "Ton A Ton", backed by the more funky disco shades of "Pangae Flute". Nice and diverse for ya!

Review: Forgotten house hero Mark Nicholas steps out of the shadows and back into your 1210's with Sacred Space, a collection of previously unreleased gems recorded sometime between the late 90's and now. His own Ringrose Recordings saw many of his releases back in the past, but Banoffee Pies didn't want a reissue, they were after new tunes. After realising just how much material Nicholas had amassed, they decided to put as much material out as possible. This LP isn't straight house or club bangers, but rather a collection of experimentations, clearly audible through daring pieces such as "This Jazz" or the soulful "Old Sole". It's a work of many layers and influences, and one which must not be slept on. Tip!

Review: If you're going to launch a label, it helps to make your first release a bit of a killer. That's certainly the case with this varied collection of floor-friendly burners that constitutes the debut of Bristol-based outfit Banoffee Pies. There's a range of edits and original material, with Amsterdam's Mr Mendel arguably stealing the show with "Freakin" - a tough chunk of booty-shakin' P-funk. That said, Ruf Dug's "Cosmic Feelings" - a heady trip into sweaty, analogue Detroit house territory with darting synths and bubbling electronics aplenty - is also incredibly impressive. Elsewhere, Martin Hayes goes deep, slow and sensual on the lovingly crafted "Broken Memory", while Philou Louzolo drops a sinewy chunk of laidback disco-house in the shape of trumpet-boasting chugger "Woman 2 Woman".