Hippie Dance Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Since first popping up in 2009, Rebolledo and Aksel Schuaffer's Pachanga Boys project has attracted a lot of attention. Given the curious contents of this in turns zany, inspired and downright odd debut album, it's easy to see why. Split between silly skits featuring tongue-in-cheek female spoken word vocals and fully formed tracks, it's like a stripped back South American/German take on the formidably over the top musings of Mungolian Jetset. By and large, the rhythms are sparse but heavy, featuring fuzzy basslines, distorted drum machine grooves and curious electronic pulses. It's good fun, sitting somewhere between bonkers electronica, wonky house and camp leftfield silliness. Throughout, it's bursting with weird and wonderful ideas.

Review: Rebolledo's brilliant 2016 album Mondo Alterado gets the remix treatment, with an impressive selection of production talents taking it in turns to tweak the Mexican's work. There's much to admire throughout, with highlights including a thrusting, low-slung and trippy revision by Maceo Plex, a deliciously woozy and loved-up interpretation from Superpitcher (think Balearic-meets-post-punk-meets-Teutonic tech-house), a thrillingly percussive take on "Pow Wow Wow" by occasional Optimo Music sorts The Fantastic Twins, and a pair of next-level rubs from Mike Simonetti, whose acid-flecked "Discotico Simonettico En Panico" version could well be the best of the bunch. Throw in a smattering of typically heavy and eccentric Rebolledo originals, and you have an essential, floor-friendly selection.

Review: Mexico's Rebolledo has played an important part in Comeme's development over the years, and his nutty strain of electronic dance music fit perfectly in line with the label's tone of voice. Never straight enough to be categorised as house but always too structured to be labelled simply as ambient, Rebolledo is one of the few artist's truly making 'outsider' music these days. This latest album, Mondo Alterado, is perfect for anyone wanting something deep and mystical but that still carries enough weight and shape to be played to other human beings. In fact, a big part of the tunes on this LP verge onto the 'dance' side of things, but the producer has a distinct knack for making that sound constantly surprising, a sort of perennial sonic morphing that steers clear of any concrete genres. TIP!

Review: It has been interesting to observe the progression throughout 2017 with Aksel Schaufler's Golden Ravedays series of releases. They have arrived every month of the year thus far, giving us some amazing and eclectic perspectives from this German electronic music hero. It's quite an exemplary feat! This one is definitely one of the more heady and out there editions in the series thus far, alongside parts 6 & 8. We admit that we loved it! On the A side we, have the gothic slo-mo disco of "Hiding": slow burning away to the rattle of vintage drum machines and shimmering Italo style synths. On the flip, the 16 minute long ambient epic "Flying" is a real drifter. Let its layers of celestial pads allow you to levitate into the cosmos while its psychedelic guitar solos add to that travelling without moving kinda vibe.

Review: 2017 was all about Superpitcher's The Golden Ravedays EPs. These releases were coming out on a weekly basis, filling up our shelves with a gust of refreshing house and disco experiments, and flying out as soon as we'd had a chance to make sense of their quality. Luckily, though, the producer has decided to put out an extended collection of these beauties, out through the unstoppable Hippie Dance. If you're looking for straight up tool-house then you've come to the wrong place; what you get here is a wild and ambivalent blend of designer sonics, cold-hearted no-wave, brittle house and techno constructions, and something utterly undefinable. We love it that way. Yes, Superpitcher!

Review: Aksel Schaufler aka Superpitcher is not to be confused with some newcomer into the house and techno game; the artist has been active and operating at full steam since the 90s, and has been closely associated to the Cologne-based Kompakt sound of the 2000s. Nevertheless, the artist has continuously striven to reinvent himself at every turn, and this Golden Ravedays series is full proof of his wide-reaching talents behind the mixing desk. This being the fourth chapter of the series, Schaufler has opted for something a little moodier and more introspective, namely two absolutely spectacular slices of raw cold waves. "Blood & Berry" is any digger's dream, bridging together all the best elements of technoid post-punk and lo-fi balearica, while "Howl" offers a bumpy little jazz groove held in place by the man's natural tendency to step into the minimalistic zone. Excellent.

Review: Hippie Dance proudly present a collection of songs which you will undoubtedly warm to from the get-go. Superpitcher, usually primed for the more tech-sided strain of house, has managed to construct an incredible releasee from an unknown South African band, the Tanda Tula Choir. Their discovery is a result of his latest trip over there and, as soon as he heard them, he was lovestruck. Their self-titled debut LP contains their music and their music only, which is a supremely angelic blend of exotic gospel and Afro soul - the sort of dreamy chanting that gives the continent an edge over others on a constant basis. Organic drumming, improvisational voices, and an altogether DIY feel make the Tanda Tula Choir an exciting addition to this rapidly changing catalogue. Recommended!