Suchergebnisse: Dance Music

Review: Ghetts is undoubtedly amongst the top tier of British MCs - a grime legend famed for being a genuinely dextrous lyricist. As On Purpose, With Purpose proves, he's also an artist whose output has evolved considerably since he emerged in the late 2000s. While his raps and rhymes are as sharp as ever, the beats he's working with are far more diverse, polished and - whisper it quietly - deeper than many may expect. For proof, check the r&b and hip-hop-soul influenced of 'Double Standards (featuring Sampha)', the sub-heavy punchiness of 'Laps (featuring Moonchild Sanelly), and the jazzy, head-nodding hip-hop warmth of 'Twin Sisters (featuring Skrapz)'. Throw in nods to Afrobeats and Amapiano, and you've got a set that will surely feature in many 'best of 2024' lists later in the year.

Review: Mogwai's Rock Action label welcomes Bdrmm for a superb new 7" that mixes up heavy arrangements and introspective lyrics. It was written during recent album sessions at The Nave Studios in Leeds and finds them expanding on their signature dynamics and expansive sounds with reverb heavy vocals and plenty of atmospheric arrangements. On the flip side is an unlikely remixer in the shape of Fila Brazillia, the cult Hull downtempo and chill out kings that have worked with everyone from Radiohead to Harold Budd, adding their own spin to recent album track 'Be Careful.'

Review: Second time around for Jean-Michel Jarre's 2022 album Oxymore, a loving tribute to French composer and 'music concrete' pioneer Pierre Henry. As the title suggests, this version features new remixes of album tracks (all of which feature sounds originally created by Henry) by a disparate group of musical talents. That makes for an interesting mix of interpretations, with armin Van Buuren's sizable trance translation of 'Epica' rubbing shoulders with a trippy, off-kilter electro take on 'Sex In The Machine' by Nina Kraviz, a moody Martin Gore interpretation of 'Brutalism', Irene Dresel's raw techno revision of 'Zeitgeist Botanica', and ambient pioneer Brian Eno putting his spin on 'Epica'.

Review: February is the month of love and so it is fitting that a new 7" drops from our much loved Washington DC label Peoples Potential Unlimited US. Every bit of lo-fi funk and disco this label deals in comes with a healthy dose of romance and this one from Marshall Titus is another case in point. 'Take A Chance' is full of steamy promise and retro-future 80s synth work over crunchy drums. The vocal is alluring and sensuous and the bassline further pulls you in. On the flip is a more raw and affected alternate version.

Review: US dub crew Park Heights has got a real gem on their hands here with this latest 7". It is a killer jam from the mid-1980s that was made at Aquarius Studio. The 'live digital' tune has never before been released which is a wrong that is rightly corrected here and is even more special as it has Errol Dunkley on the rhythm even though it is not his usual style. It is a heavy stepper with loopy drums and hits that echo off to infinity as he drops his loved-up vocals over the. It of course comes with a superb dub on the flip.

Review: Six Minute Mile has rightly got plenty of attention for its first few outings and their early good work connotes with this eight 7". It's from Ohio's Wesley Bright who has joined forces with The Means of Production and New York's Ben Pirani, and is a lovely mid-tempo roller that reminds of balmy summer nights. The tune comes in two parts and opens with lovely Rhodes chords that are a great foundation for the tenor vocals of Wesley. Then come plenty of irresistible hooks and the rousing vocals sing of love and devotion like all good soul sounds should.

Review: NX12X is the first in a new series of experimental records from this label and the artists given the keys for the inaugural release are Goldsmiths student and modular synth maestro Sam Hostettler and electronic innovator La Leif who tackle a pair of tracks each. Hostettler's sounds are the moody, heavy ambient atmospheres of 'Pointalims' and the more light and airy li-fi soundscapes of 'Opalescence.' La Leif offers broken beats with a skeletal feel and a burial-style synth aesthetic on 'Kyoto' and then crunchy breaks and fizzing, distorted synth malfunctions of 'Kimochi.'

Review: This is one of those disco holy grails that doesn't even need to convince you of its worth, and its no surprise original copies have been so coveted for so long. Chicago's Magic Touch label was a low key affair, but jams like this ensure its impact remains strong to this day as LaJohn and Sheela lay down the feeling in no uncertain terms. 'Too Far Gone' is a smouldering, bittersweet track which deserves to reach as many soulful heads as possible, so this tasty remaster courtesy of Numero couldn't come soon enough.

Review: Experience two of Joy Division's iconic post-punk tracks like never before with exclusive 7" vinyl from Numero Group. Codeine's 1994 rendition of 'Atmosphere' captures the essence of solitude with a melancholic yet melodic twist that marked the iconic Manchester band's poignant farewell. Meanwhile, Bedhead from Dallas offers a fresh perspective on 'Disorder' and transforms it into vibrant indie rock. Encased in a sleek black and silver sleeve adorned with embossed braille lettering, these twin readings pay homage to Joy Division's enduring legacy while inviting listeners to explore new interpretations of their timeless classics.

Review: Martin James Ziggy Norman Riley deiced that he would be known as Jimmy Riley when in recording more. The Jamaican singer worked solo but also as part of the Sensations. Here he worked with producer Freddie McGregor on a contemporary lovers rock jam that was originally released back in 1993. 'Badda Than Them' has great patois vocals over fresh production that has clean digital synths over clipped beats and plenty of swaggering and original dub style bass weight. On the flip you get two different versions that tweak and tease out different elements from the original.

Review: Pale Jay's latest album, Bewilderment, is once again picked apart for this new single package on Karma Chief. It features two cuts from a record which again showcased his ability to craft rich sonic tapestries that are a mix of pure bliss and deep introspection. If you haven't heard it, you should, and you will want to after hearing these two singles. The A-side is a slow disco gem for extroverts and the flip has a lovely falsetto vocal over some nice and dusty rhythms. It's got pulsing bass but laid back groove and is a perfect soul sound for those who like to dream.

Review: Pale Jay's latest LP Bewilderment spawns two more treasure here on this new and essential 7" from Karma Chief Records. Up first is an Afro-beat tinged cut, 'In Your Corner' with a subtly uplifting rhythm although listen deeper and you'll get locked in to the lyrics which detail an internal struggle for self-acceptance. On the flip is the album title cut which showcase Jay's signature sounds - silky falsetto over soulful harmonies and dusty hip-hop beats. This one also tell a story, this time about the breakdown of a family and the journey into self that ensues.

Review: Kilometre Club lands on the Indianapolis label Healing Sound Propagandist with a collection of sounds made using only one piece of gear, the Squier Bass VI, with the assistance of guitar pedals. Each one is a pure and cathartic meditation on minimalist drones that are deft and wispy. The compositions are smartly layered up and slowly ascend to the heavens with subtle spaces between notes and long tails making their mark on your heat. Says the artist, "this is an album for floating away while calling out vowels in reverse alphabetical order" - and we love it.

Review: The Fabulous Courettes' 'Shake!' unleashes a whirlwind of retro-inspired rock 'n' roll energy in a compact package. This Danish-Brazilian duo ignites the airwaves with their electrifying blend of garage rock and 1960s girl-group aesthetics. 'Shake!' is a sonic explosion of fuzzy guitar riffs, infectious drumbeats and irresistible vocal harmonies that compel listeners to move. With its raw, unbridled energy and infectious hooks, this track embodies the essence of rebellion and liberation and makes for a sonic adrenaline rush that transports listeners to the heyday of rock 'n' roll, leaving them craving more of its infectious charm.

Review: Baltimore-born US songwriter Aaron Frazer's 'Bring You A Ring' has the sort of timeless quality to it that so much of the soul dropped on this label comes with. It is a superbly velvety sound that is both easy to listen to yet hugely emotive. Vocally it celebrates love and connection and is a real heart melter. On the flip side you get something just as groovy in 'You Don't Wanna Be My Baby.' This one has harmonies that float high in the sky and plenty of nice strings to add further richness.

Review: Colemine Records very much transports us back to another time with this latest lovely offering. It is a deep dive into the work of sophisticated lounge-pop as might be played during dinner at a trendy society ball back in the 60s. It comes from Durand Jones and The Indications and one track off they third album Too Many Tears. It's is one of heartbreak and is lit up by the gorgeous falsetto of Aaron Frazrs on the A-side, who tells s tale of betrayal. On the flip is a sweet soul sound soaked up by new school fans with an alternative indie an experimental sound from Y La Bomba led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Luz Elena Mendoza.

Review: Big Crown does it again here with another magical 7" this time from Dave Guy, who has contributed to plenty of this label but only now makes his solo debut. It finds him working with label regulars Homer Steinweiss & Nick Movshon, who take care of production and play on the recordings. 'Footwork' is a vibrant fusion of soul, funk, and jazz that, as a trumpeter for the renowned band The Dap-Kings, brings his distinctive style to the forefront and infuses each track with infectious energy and groove. Dynamic horn arrangements, tight rhythms, and soulful melodies all make this one special and show just how skilled a musician Guy is, and apparently, there is plenty more to come.

Review: .There's plenty to talk about with The Who's historic show at Fete De L'Humanite, a huge open-air event hosted by L'Humanite, the main newspaper of the French Communist Party. For starters, on the day - Saturday 9th September, 1972 - an estimated 400,000 people were in attendance, a crowd size that dwarves pretty much anything we can think of today, and remains the band's largest ever gig. Taking to the stage as evening set in, they set to with a typically ferocious set, and four of the most standout pieces for the show are immortalised here on record. Unsurprisingly, that timeless anthem of misspent youth, love, rebellion, and hope for change, 'Baba O'Riley', is a dominant factor, although epic finale 'Relay' is perhaps where the might of their rock 'n' roll juggernaut is most felt here.