Miss You Germany Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Miss You's latest missive takes us back to 1979 and the sole single from Italian singer Angela - a previously 7" only affair that made limited impact outside of Italy on its initial release. Lead cut 'Teneremante' is a typically colourful and camp Italian translation of disco, whose over-the-top excellence and bold lead vocal from Angela have an endearing 'easy listening era singer does disco' vibe. Musically, it soars, with the addition of lo-fi but spacey synth sounds (alongside classic disco orchestration) making it sound a bit more eccentric than it actually is. Original flip side 'Angela E Cosi' is a more suspenseful, low-slung affair built around a slower and headier groove, AOR disco instrumentation and another soaring vocal from Angela.

Review: Do you know the Barefoot Man? It's the name of a German musician, George Now, who ended up in the Cayman Islands in 1971. He produced this record for Phillip Bodden and it is ripe with the nuances of West Caribbean island life from the slow-paced disco sounds to the naturalistic melodies. To suit this 12" an extended edit has been done for longer enjoyment of the original while the flip side has some bonus Calypso beats. The whole EP has been restored and remastered for extra listening pleasure.

Review: The enigmatic release from Nilton Castro offers a fantastic journey into Afro-Brazilian rhythms and expressive musical landscapes. Recorded possibly in the 70s and released in the early 90s, its origins remain shrouded in mystery, adding to its allure. Originally crafted to accompany contemporary dance classes, the album showcases Castro's percussion expertise, enhanced by moments of choir, flute, and keys/metallophone. The standout track, 'Ondes (Les Vagues),' has intrigued collectors for years with its harmonious crescendos and subtle percussion, creating an immersive sonic experience. Remastered and reissued with its original artwork, the album embodies unadulterated musical expression, reflecting Castro's artistic vision and timeless charm. Listening to this release is akin to embarking on a journey of blissful discovery, where each track unveils layers of intricate rhythms and ethereal beauty.

Review: If you like sensuous and slow motion grooves with hints of dub, reggae and disco all packaged up in super bawdy soul then look no further - this new 12" features a pair of singles that were first put out on 7" by Risco Connection's Otis Gayle. Up first is the glorious 'Sexy Eyes' which was a worldwide charting success and Dr Hook now brings new reggae vibes to his cover version, then on the flip is Domenic Troiano's 'We All Need Love', again with a mix of dubby disco and reggae stylings that have been draw out into extended format to make for a more lasting impact on the dancefloor.

Review: Sound Metaphors offshoot Miss You has been particularly astute at licensing and reissuing long-forgotten European disco gems. They've found another unknown classic here in the shape of two gorgeously string-laden 1977 disco covers of Andalucian folk songs by singing sisters Las Dablas, both of which originally appeared on the same Spanish seven-inch. 'Zorongo' is authentic-sounding, faintly threatening disco rich in heady Clavinet motifs, soaring orchestration, low-slung 'walking bass' and sprightly piano stabs, while 'Solo Y Sin Problemas' is a slightly funkier and sweeter slab of mid-tempo disco. Best of all, though, is the new 'No End Extension' - a breathlessly brilliant, dub disco-flecked revision that teases out the instrumental sections before finally dropping the sibling duo's lead vocals.

Review: Regarded as "one of reggae's quietest superstars", Jackie Mittoo aka. "The Keyboard King" carved a remarkable path in reggae music. A protege of Sly Stone, he began his career as part of Studio One's in-house recording band, and later went on to work with artists such as Bob Marley, UB40, Barry White, Peter Tosh and Oscar Peterson. This album was the result of a rare occasion of being on tour in Africa and establishing musical connections with musicians from Ghana; it was recorded in Accra and mixed in London. Predominantly instrumental, In Africa is essential to any dub-conscientious record collection, as it culminates the career of a reggae legend under new influences in West Africa, resulting in an unmistakably characteristic modern dub sound. Reissued on vinyl with remixes previously only availably on CD format.

Review: Earlier in the year, Miss You offered up a first ever 12-inch pressing of Patrizia Pellegrino obscurity 'Il Mondo Da Una Nuvola', an obscure Italo-disco B-side that they backed with their own tastefully executed extended mix. Here they repeat the trick with one of the Italian singer and actress's earlier B-sides, 1982 gem 'Musica Spaziale'. In its original form (track one), the song is a throbbing, heavily electronic chunk of infectious Italo-disco excellence topped off with a decidedly cosmic lead vocal from Pellegrino. It comes backed with a suitably moody, chugging and even more musically expansive 'Extended Mix', and a fine TB-303-laden Italo-meets-acid revision courtesy of the cheekily monikered 'DJ Asshole'. Space disco for the win!

Review: Who doesn't love a massive Italo disco classic? This one features none other than big-screen celebrity Patrizia Pellegrino and is a hugely sought-after tune by deep diggers who know it all. This version has been remastered and comes with an extended edit to bring even more unknown pleasures to the dancefloor. 'Il Mondo Da Una Nuvola' has it all from the glossy arps to the diva vocal and the lovely retro-future 80s drum sounds that make us go all weak at the knees.

Review: Way back in 1983, American musician Chris McCaa assembled a band and recorded one single as the Redhots - a dewy-eyed, AOR-leading Balearic ballad called 'If I Had To Say Goodbye'. At the time, McCaa slapped it on a 7", alongside the Brazilian-influenced jazz-funk sunshine of 'Bahama Rama' (another gorgeous, largely unknown gem), and released it himself. Mercifiully, it has been saved from obscurity (and eye-watering second-hand prices) by MISS YOU, who have decided to issue it on 12" for the first time. We get freshly remastered versions of both original tracks, alongside a gorgeous extended edit - created specifically with this release in mind - which ups the Balearic factor considerably. The resultant light-touch revision sounds like Chris Rea's Balearic classic 'Josephine', only miles better.

Review: One online reviewer described Shakeena's sole album, 1987's 'Dance Music', as a 'lover's rock jewel'. We tend to agree. Now available again on wax for the first time since the 80s (when it was pressed and released by a tiny label and sunk without trace), the album offers an enticing mix of echo-laden drum machine beats, dub-wise reggae basslines, cheery 'FM' synth-sounds, soulful vocals and nods towards freestyle, boogie and '80s soul. Highlights are plentiful throughout, with our picks of a very strong bunch including the club-ready title track, the glossy 'Your Love' (where Shakeena raps as well as sings), the classical lovers rock of 'Reggae Music' and the sweet and tender 'We Are The Mothers of the World'.

Review: Sound Metaphors' collaboration with Constantino Paolini once again means the Italian classics vaults are thrown wide open as two more Italian dancefloor classics get revisited. This time Spray Orchestra's 'Transilvania' is a fine instrumental version of Patrizia Pellegrino's 'Il Mondo Da Una Nuovola'. After that comes a perfectly slowed-down acid remix of it by DJ Asshole. The flip has Max Manuel's 'Energy,' an abstract instrumental version of Patrizia Pellegrino's 'Automaticamore'. These are all hugely revered tunes in digger circles so grab this fine 12" while you can and impress anyone prepared to listen.