Review: Rush Hour did us plenty of favours this year but by far our most cherished was the reissue of James Mason's timeless, proto-house excursions on the infamous "Nightgruv" EP. There's really not much to be said about these peerless productions, the original mix is a stunning voyage through glimmering synths backed by a chugging beat groove, but the unreleased longer edit is the one - voyaging through those gorgeous drums and piano keys like there's no tomorrow! "I Want Your Love" is another masterpiece - slo-mo hip-hop beats mixed in with those killer funk bass lines and the infamous vocals taking you to another dimension.
Review: It would be fair to say that Studio K7 has pulled off something of a coup in getting Kenny Dixon Jr. to agree to compile and mix the latest installment in the long-running DJ Kicks series. It is, somewhat remarkably, the legendary Detroiter's first commercially available mix set. This triple-vinyl edition features a whopping 19 cuts - all in unmixed form - from the 30 track mix. Musically, it's a blazed, jazzy, soulful and groovy as you'd expect, and contains a mixture of downtempo beats, nu-jazz and hazy house cuts from the likes of Flying Lotus, Dopehead, Peter Digital Orchestra, Nightmares On Wax, Soulful Session and Lady Alma.
Review: Berlin-based musician, producer, and DJ Alex Kassian is well known for his solo works but also his work as Opal Sunn. Here he leaves behind the gritty and sweaty dance floor and heads out into the sun. 'Leave Your Life (Lonely Hearts Mix)' pairs live sounding drums and nice Balearic riffs with care-free feels that lift your spirits. The dance mix is more weight and propulsive and then 'Spirit Of Eden' again sets off through a clear blue sky, with twinkling chords and soft, pillowy drums. The Bill Laswell dub layers in the reverb and slows things down to a nice lazy tempo.
Review: Alison Limerick's 'Where Love Lives' is the sound of a generation, a reminder of one of the most vital cultural movements of the last 100 years. It is a perma-hit that unites all ages, colours and creeds, even now, 30 years after it first got hands in the air and tears in the eyes on dance floors of cult clubs around the world. To mark the occasion it gets a special remaster treatment and 12" release for Record Store Day. The Classic Mix - which is still the best - kicks off, followed by a big piano version from Mo Knuckles and a darker, more stripped back Cut To The Bone mix.
Confess To U (The Three Stooges Of Hamtramck mix) (5:30)
Review: Alex "Omar" Smith has something he wants to get off his chest. The much-lauded Detroit producer has teamed up with re-born Italians Do It Better sorts Nite Jewel for "Confess To You", which comes in two distinctive variations. The A-side "Mix" revolves around a tactile, boogie-era synth bassline, late night AM radio synthesizer chords, drifting sax solos and a crunchy, deep house-influenced rhythm track. Arguably even better is the flipside vocal version, which naturally sees Smith, Romana Gonzalez and company deliver a near perfect chunk of '80s soul/deep house fusion. It sounds like a softly spun summer anthem in waiting. Don't take our word for it, though; check out the clips and revel in the track's breezy brilliance.
Review: A special summer-tuned dedication to two of Africa's most creative contributors who both passed away at the birth of the New Year. First up, South Africa's Shaluza Max's 2002 classic gets the revisitation it deserves; big accordions, honeyed Zulu vocals and a chugging groove that could plough into any dancefloor under the sun, it struts with a timeless sense of universal groove science. Flip for a rewind to the mid 80s as Soundway pays tribute to the hugely prolific Tabu Lay Rochereau. Complete with smooth, soothing synths, show-stopping harmonies and slinky bassline that won't quit, it's as heart-rending now as it was 30 years ago.
Review: Few vocal deep house records are quite as timeless as Cece Rogers' "Someday", a Marshall Jefferson produced anthem that has continued to be constantly played by discerning DJs ever since its original 1987 release. As most will tell you, it was also the major sample source for Liquid's rave anthem "Sweet Harmony". This South Street reissue replicates the track listing of that initial Atlantic release, albeit it in re-mastered form to sound a little meatier on modern club soundsystems. On the A-side you'll find the essential Club Mix, where Rogers' impeccable vocal and Jefferson's meandering piano solos naturally dominate. These piano solos take more prominence on the "Some Dub" version, which in true '87 style still includes key vocal passages drenched in dub delay, while the Accainstrumental is - ironically - a little more like a contemporary house Dub.
Review: In recent times, Krystal Klear's EPs have wholeheartedly paid tribute to a variety of (mostly New York-based) historic clubs, artists and dance music sub-genres. While he's officially broken the spell with The Division EP - his first outing on Running Back - for the most part it's still a heart-warming, retro-futurist treat. He kicks things off with the cheery, Italo-disco revivalism of "Neutron Dance", where throbbing synthesizer arpeggio lines and mid-80s melodies are underpinned by a bustling mid-tempo house groove, before slowing things down via the Balearic synth-pop shuffle of "Division Ave". Turn to the flipside and you'll find more muscular, freestyle-meets-acid house fun (wild and mind-altering peak-time highlight "Shockzoid") as well as the baggy, glassy-eyed Balearic house rush of closer "Moonshake Mike".
Review: If you've ever got a few hours to spare, check out Legowelt's discography - the Dutch analogue fetishist is astonishingly productive (and, of course Legowelt is simply one of Danny Wolfers' many pseudonyms). Here, he adds another label to the growing list with a surprise appearance on Andrew Morgan's Washington D.C-based Peoples Potential Unlimited imprint. Unsurprisingly, Wolfers explores many of his favourite themes on Puzzles in Life, merrily skipping between melodic, bubbling deep house (the excellent title track), slo-mo Detroit futurism ("Video Phone To Space"), super-slo stargazing boogie (the superb "Cruise Till The Sun Shines") and woozy, intergalactic ambience ("Los Alamos Motel"). In many ways, this is an unusual turn from PPU, but it's a calculated gamble that's more than paid off.
Review: The latest 12" from long-running Sahko offshoot Keys Of Life is the first of two split 'Balearic' releases from Sex Tags man DJ Sotofett and SUED co-founder SVN.. Sotofett's "Current 82" is a thing of rare beauty; an ambient house inspired chunk of lucid, mid-tempo dreaminess full of fluid chords, subtle, loved-up melodies and early Italian deep house bottom end. SVN continue the deep theme whilst doffing a cap to techno on flipside "Dark Plan 5". Their chords and pads are every bit as life-affirming as Sotofett's - even if they are a touch on the bittersweet side - but the accompanying up-tempo rhythm has a more ready-made dancefloor feel. Either way, both tracks are superb.
Review: Originally released in 1989, Nami Shimada's "Sunshower" was the most unlikely of deep house hits, getting spun and remixed by Larry Heard and subsequently licensed by The Hague-based label in 2004 replete with one of Danny Wolfer's darkest remixes. With the record long out of print and being offered for some overly imaginative prices on Discogs, Creme decision to reissue the record should be met with vociferous applause by late adoptees to the label.
If There Is No Question (Soul Clap Wild But Not Crazy mix) (7:19)
Pelota (cut A Rug mix) (5:05)
Time (You & I) (Put A Smile On A DJ Face mix) (9:15)
Shida (Bella's Suite) (8:35)
So We Won't Forget (Mang Dynasty version) (6:29)
One To Remember (Forget Me Nots dub) (5:10)
Review: RECOMMENDED
The remix album is probably pretty hard to crack in terms of putting it together. On the one hand, you want a broad selection of producers to take the work and make it new again. But there's also a very real risk of winding up with a bunch of random tracks with no real coherent thread to ensure the LP is actually going to get enough people buying to warrant engineering, mastering, and pressing costs.
Khruangbin have certainly cracked it with these takes on tracks from their most recent and perhaps most lush long form outing to date. We have sophisticated micro house, percussive slo-mo disco, slick-to-the-touch downbeat grooves and surrealist pop, all of which work both individually and together, the result being a record that not only knows its own mind, it can easily convince others, too.
Review: The deep house maestro that is Ron Trent has been tapped up for some of his remix expertise by the good folk at Leng. He is charged with tackling Harks & Mudd's 'Susta' and turns out two versions. His opening remix is all grown up Balearic sounds. Gentle percussion is scattered over the leggy house drums, noodling Rhodes chords bring colour and a breathy female vocal layers in the sun kissed soul. It's an immediate classic. On the flip comes his dub, which is more fleshy and elastic, but with just as much soul and warmth.
Cyndi Lauper - "Change Of Heart" (12" extended club remix) (7:52)
Pet Shop Boys - "West End Girls" (The Shep Pettibone Mastermix) (8:23)
Alisha - "Baby Talk" (extended dance mix) (6:43)
The B-52's - "Summer Of Love" (Summer party mix) (6:07)
Huey Lewis & The News - "Hip To Be Square" (dance mix) (6:00)
New Order - "Bizarre Love Triangle" (Shep Pettibone 12" remix) (6:43)
Depeche Mode - "Behind The Wheel" (Shep Pettibone mix) (5:56)
Erasure - "Chains Of Love" (Unfettered mix 2009 Remaster) (8:25)
Elton John - "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" (The Shep Pettibone mix) (7:20)
Review: Arthur Baker is the perfect host for this new series from Demon Music which focuses on the famous extended remixes of the 80s. Each series will be a multi-disc, various artist collection that is united by one remixer, and there can be few better to kick it off than the legend that is Shep Pettibone. He was a hugely in demand studio hand who reworked multiple genres and everyone from Pet Shop Boys to Duran Duran, New Order to Level 42, George Michael to Erasure. This ambitious, widescreen collection takes in all manner of golden remixes from the world of soul, pop, synth and more.
Review: This glorious package of remixes of the BaianaSystem band draws together contemporary Brazilian sounds with plenty of modern dance floor flourishes. A?gua is the standout track from their 2018 LP and is a poem to the bands native Bahia people with the legendary Antonio Carlos & Jocafi. It is perfect material to rework for different settings and deep house don Jimpster does that with his fat bottomed, tropical remix then stripped back dub. Brazilian producer Diogo Strausz joins forces with RNT boss JKriv on the flip for a more drawn out and cosmic exploration that pumps up and down on weight bass and that lovely loose jumble of percussion.
Review: Given their shared musical heritage - both are members of the extended Firecracker Recordings crew - it's perhaps something of a surprise to find that Face The Facts marks the first serious collaboration between Linkwood and Gav 'Fudge Fingaz' Sutherland AKA Other Lands. It's less surprising that the album is really, really good. Touching on warming synth-boogie, head-nodding downtempo jams, mutant beatdown, Balearic beats, sunset-ready soundscapes and warming analogue deep house, the 13-track set is notable for the pair's extensive use of dusty old drum machines, tactile instrumentation (think smooth Rhodes solos, languid guitar solos and blissed-out synths) and Sutherland's hazy, sometimes seductive singing voice.
The True Underground Sound Of Rome - "Secret Doctrine" (feat Stefano Di Carlo) (6:08)
High Tide - "Time Unlimited" (5:32)
Keytronics - "A Little Piano In My House" (5:01)
The Montego Bay Experience - "Music All Night" (5:28)
Review: Rebirth serves up the first in a mini-series uncovering hidden gems from Italian house music's recent past, after the popular Ciao Italia Generazioni Underground compilation they recently presented. Bonus EP Uno features the deeply emotive 'Secret Doctrine' by The True Underground Sound Of Rome Ft Stefano Di Carlo with its Marc Kinchen style vibe, which was the A side highlight. Over on the flip, you've got Francesco Montefiori's Keytronics Project with the low slung mood music of 'A Little Piano In My House' followed by the mesmerising, kalimba-led island dream of 'Music All Night' by The Montego Bay Experience - aka Carlo Troya & Stefano Tirone.
Review: This second Yellow Jackets double A sider feautures Chicago's royalty Ron Trent and the extra talented multi instrumentalist Other Lands. Again one track per side and full powerful cutting to maximize the sound impact in pure YJ philosophy. Ron Trent 'The Medi' was actully constructed while riding trains and in hotel rooms through Italy, used as a secret weapon in special occasions...and we can hear why: a mind expanding suite that keeps evolving and going in places and spaces while constantly beating you hard! On the Flipside Other Lands brings things down to more abstract realms with the floating almost Kraut inspired jam 'Matter'.A very special release and a hint of what Yellow Jackets has in store for us in the near future...
Sly & Lovechild - "The World According To Sly & Lovechild" (Andrew Weatherall Soul Of Europe mix) (8:25)
Deniro - "Epirus" (6:34)
Psyche - "Crackdown" (5:59)
Hiver - "Paert" (7:04)
Aphex Twin - "Vordhosbn" (4:46)
Review: South Korean star Peggy Gou continues her seemingly unstoppable rise by serving up her first ever DJ mix CD. It's a contribution to one of the longest running series in the business, DJ Kicks, and she's used the opportunity to showcase the depth and variety of the music in her crates. Beginning with the classic early '90s ambient of Spacetime Continuum, Gou flits between humid, mid-tempo Balearic house (her own "Hungboo"), acid-fired downtempo electronica, throbbing 1990 peak-time anthems (Weatherall's ace but largely forgotten remix of Sly & Lovechild), hypnotic techno minimalism, main room throb-jobs (Hiver), pulsating electro, classic breakbeat hardcore, post-dubstep, dark tribal drum jams and sunrise ready Motor City brilliance (Deniro).
Jose Finagandara, Juan Diego Lllescas & Ground - "Something Sign" (5:39)
Akira Arasawa With KUN & FRANKY-CH - "Yunnan" (8:18)
Review: Especial Specials has joined forces with Osaka-based imprint Chillmountain Recordings to offer up another Enjoy Your Self EP. This one once again showcases the talents on its roster with label head Ground kicking off with a beatdown meets trance sound on "Utau Narukoyuri'. After that slow burner come tribal percussive sounds from 'Arauma' (Kobato Dub), sunny cumbia on 'Something Sign' and a meandering Balearic journey from Akira Arasawa With KUN & FRANKY-CH that is brought to life with new age flute sounds, bird calls, jungle drips and folkloric strings. A fantastic EP, then.
Review: Glenn Davis' first outing on F*CLR Music, 2018's "Body & Soul EP", was something of a slept-on gem: a four-track collection of warm, groovy and musically intricate deep house capable of warming the cockles of even the stoniest of hearts. If anything, this belated follow-up is even better. "Namida (Tears Of Happiness)" is both superb and sublime: a spacey chunk of jazz-flecked futurist deep house rich in Latin-tinged drums, Detroit style sci-fi synths and chords that are so positive and life-affirming that you might want to marry them. Ashley Beedle and Darren Morris don the Afrikanz On Marz alias to deliver two top-drawer remixes: a decidedly cosmic, intergalactic "real" disco remake (the "remix") and an even more spacey, stripped-back "Dub". The latter is almost as inspired as Davis' original, which is saying something.
Review: Ronen Sabo is Obas Nenor, a DJ and producer from Tel-Aviv, Israel who heads up Nenorion Music, as well as being part of the RaBo & SnoB duo. He returns to Razor N Tape Reserve to follow up 2020's On That Day EP with another four hot edits on this one. On side A, you've got the hypnotic electronic disco scorcher "How Can I Be Free" followed by the sunset balearica of "Do You Remember" which heads totally poolside. Turn over and you're treated to the deep, down and dirty late night vibe of "Work That".
Paolino & Gianni Bini - "Love" (Classic mix) (6:33)
Sasha - "Key To Heaven" (6:14)
Paramour & Adrian Morrison - "Transmutation" (7:51)
Open Spaces - "The Far Side Of The Mood" (5:46)
Review: Rebirth's fresh new 12" is a various artists affair that looks back while striding forwards. It is full of the sort of bliss out, dreamy, soft-edge deep house that is perfect for the warmer months and outdoor dances. Paolino & Gianni Bini lead the way with the effortlessly hazy and lush feeling 'Love' (Classic mix) while Sasha's 'Key To Heaven' is a perfect prog house tune that harks back to the heyday of Renaissance. Paramour & Adrian Morrison then link for the more dark and driving 'Transmutation' which has train track drums and suspensory chords always building but never bubbling over. Open Spaces run out with the widescreen and chunky dub house of 'The Far Side Of The Mood.'
The Soundstealers - "Steal It An' Deal It" (Sahara dance mix) (5:35)
The Soundstealers - "Steal It An' Deal It" (Sahara dub mix) (4:59)
Amazonia - "Amazonia" (dance version) (5:52)
Amazonia - "Amazonia" (Good Block remix) (7:10)
Review: After a debut release that got plenty of people talking, Heels & Souls now serve up a reissue 12". It explores the work of Frankfurt's under the radar production trio Manfred Holz, Michael Buchner and Jurgen Blomke who work under two different names here. The EP is a real treasure trove of gold for deep diggers, with obscure synth and electro disco flavours on the 80s tinged ''Steal It An Deal It'.' It comes as two different versions and both are hugely characterful. 'Amazonia' that draws on dreamy Italo house and Balearic bliss bout beats for a new age trip that is first class.
Review: Neapolis is a brand new label that kick off with some brilliantly seductive Balearic sounds for the warmer days and nights that are fast approaching. The accompanying notes tell us that 'the intoxicating songs of the Sirens found in the bay of Napoli are irresistible to all' and these tunes are no different. 'Boulevard' kicks off with icy drums but balmy synths all rolling smoothly onward to some distant imagined horizon. Delicate vocals add the key hooks while a dubbed out version on the flip is more fleshy and heady.
Review: Greek DJ/producer Lex has been part of the scene in his home city of Athens since the dawn of the millennium, though it's only in the last few years that he's focused more on making music. The results of his efforts, which were previously showcased on 12" singles for Leng and Samosa Records, amongst others, have been quietly impressive. His debut album, Waving, continues in the same vein, utilising a pool of musician friends to craft cuts that blur the boundaries between sun-kissed, sofa-friendly Balearic warmth and subtly funk-fuelled, dub disco-framed dancefloor shufflers. The plentiful highlights include the stunning, tropical-tinged opener, 'Punta Allen', the organ-sporting vocal squelch-along 'Window Spells', acid-flecked nu-disco-meets-cosmic disco workout 'Silver Peace' and high-octane number 'Down My Soul'.
Sly & Lovechild - "The World According To Sly & Lovechild" (Soul Of Europe mix)
Mark Lanegan Band - "Beehive" (dub)
Flowered Up - "Weekender" (Audrey Is A Little Bit More partial mix)
Gwenno - "Chwyldro"
Saint Etienne - "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix Of Two Halves)"
Confidence Man - "Bubblegum"
Espiritu - "Conquistador" (Sabres Of Paradise No3 mix)
The Orielles - "Sugar Tastes Like Salt" (Andrew Weatherall Tastes Like dub mix part1 - live Bass)
Audiobooks - "Dance Your Life Away"
Saint Etienne - "Heart Failed (In The Back Of A Taxi)" (Two Lone Swordsmen dub)
Doves - "Compulsion"
TOY - "Dead & Gone"
Confidence Man - "Out The Window"
LCMDF - "Gandhi" (Andy Weatherall remix II)
Espiritu - "Bonita Manana" (Sabres Of Paradise remix)
Unloved - "Devils Angels"
Review: The latest in Heavenly's colossal milking of the late Andrew Weatherall's extensive remix career comes in the form of a CD bundle of the first two collectible vinyl compilations, the Weatherall Remixes Volumes 1 and 2. The man occasionally known as Lord Sabre provided plenty of reworks for the London-based imprint over a 30-year period, and you'll find most of his greatest here, including the legendary two-part dub of St Etienne's 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart', his peerless, 15-minute peak-time 1992 take on Flowered Up's 'Weekender', a delightfully dubbed-out, Asphodells-style rework of Gwenno from 2015, and a stunningly spaced-out dancefloor dub of Mark Lanegan's Band.
Review: First released way back in 1992, Stefano Curti, Mauro Tamino and Stefano De Carlo's first 12" as Minimal Vision (they'd previously released numerous as The True Underground Sound of Rome) remains one of the classiest and most ear-pleasing Italian deep house records of all time. For proof, check 'Magic Staircase', where picturesque synthesizer melodies rise and fall atop skittish beats, 'Pacific' style chords and a chunky Korg M1 bassline, and the bleep-sporting Chicago deep house tribute 'Prelude'. Those searching for something a little more energetic should take a listen to the warm and beautiful 'Milky Way' and 'Night of Love', whose programmed percussion, fizzing synth solos and jaunty bassline doff a cap to Detroit tech-jazz.
Review: Residentes Balearicos is a new project founded by Luca Averna and Ale Doretto, both resident DJs in Ibiza hailing from Venice, Italy. Following up some great releases by the likes of Okinawa Delays and Max Essa, Archipelago present the pair's latest expression in sensual and sun kissed euphoria in the form of 'La Musica' which comes with two remixes that are equally worthy of your attention. The welcome return of Rudy's Midnight Machine (aka Simon Lee of Faze Action) taking things into perfectly low slung territory for beach side chilling, while London's Chris Coco hands in a rendition that sounds like a neon-lit night drive down the coast, on a balmy summer evening.
Review: If you have been dancing recently you might well have already been enamoured by the charms of some of the tunes on this new one from the superb Razor N Tape label by Magic Words, a new project from NY-based producers Eli Cohen and Peter Hargarten. Centred on an emotive and dreamy loop, the title tune epitomises Balearica with its Spanish guitar and melancholic harmonies. Toronto's Jex Opolis delivers a massive remix that retains the original's delicate texture, overlaying it with a pulsing, club-ready drum foundation that is sure to make it a real summer staple.
Review: There is no producer named Manuel Darquart; in fact, it's a long-distance collaboration between two up-and-coming studio buffs, Louis Anderson-Rich and Sean Whittaker. Their latest EP, a first, high-profile outing on Wolf Music, is simply superb. It sees the pair offer-up a trio of loved-up, saucer-eyed cuts that draw heavily on the sunrise-ready colour of early Italian dream house, the ricocheting machine drums of proto-house and the tactile dreaminess of late 80s New Jersey deep house. Our pick is Don Carlos-esque opener 'Keep It Dxy', though the more Balearic 'Miranda' and bubbly 'Parkour' are not far behind. The EP also boasts a fine bonus in the shape of Medlar's extra-percussive 'Timbales Dub Mix' of 'Parkour', a more intense but no less huggable interpretation tailor-made for peak-time dancefloors.
Heading For The Night (Heading For Maddness) (4:24)
Heading For The Night (Classic club mix) (6:40)
Heading For The Night (Pianopella) (4:28)
Review: A full three decades after they were first recorded, the unreleased Frankie Knuckles remixes of Electribe 101a€™s super deep 'Heading for The Night' but now finally land on wax. 'Heading For The Night' (Night Over Europe) is a balmy late night roller with super impassioned and soulful vocals over a leggy drum beat. The Heading For Maddness version layer sin some extra echo and delay to make for a more spaced out sound, the Classic Club Mxi slows things to a nice deep house crawl and a useful Pianopella rounds out this vital 12".
Review: International Feel kicks off what is presumably a new series given its title, Mediterranean Dreams - Part 1. For it, they turn to Perugia synth obsessive, underground mainstay and fine producer Feel Fly for four tracks of breezy and sunny disco-house chuggers. 'Onironauta' brings retro Italo chords and nice chunky drums, 'Grace In Space' is a leggy cosmic wonder with far-sighted chords and muted acid magic, then 'Mediterranean Dreams' is pure 80s dream house bliss. 'Becalmed' is the most rough edged and analogue house jack track of the lot.
Review: Milan duo Eternal Love made their debut last year on local imprint Polifonic's Itria Vol. 2 compilation and follow up here on Sydney's Planet Trip. Comprising of four tracks, the Altar EP features some Balearic rave inspired by the late '80s Ibiza sounds as heard on 'Flotamos', while the following cut 'Terra Trance' is as much a zeitgeist of that magical era with its loved-up vibe. Over on the flip, we really enjoyed the celestial and new-agey groove business of 'Geo Geo'.
Review: If Electribal Soul sounds deliciously vintage, there's a good reason for that. An exemplary exploration of glassy-eyed synth-pop and electro, deep house and street soul marked out by tactile electronic motifs, warm basslines and Billie Ray Martin's superb vocals, the album was mostly recorded in 1991 and '92 at a time when relationships in the group were beginning to fray. Now tidied up and released by Martin three decades after it was shelved, Electribal Soul has the feel of a genuine lost classic - a set that would have received rave reviews at the time had it appeared in late 1992 as originally intended. A genuine triumph that's as loved-up and saucer-eyed as a sweaty hug at sunrise on an Ibizan beach.
Review: It's 10 up for Semi Delicious, a leading tech house outlet that calls together a selection of various artists for this cool new EP. Manami's 'Lizard Den' opens up with a high speed mix of funky bass and squelchy synths that ride on chunky drums. Demi Riquisimo's 'Tutukaka' is defined by a nice Balearic guitar line and sunset chords to melt the heart and Inner Zone's 'Lunar Trick' bangs the box a bit more with a turbocharged space-house sound. Manuel Darquart closes down with 'Track A' which is a more stripped back and cool viber.
JKriv - "Better Than Her" (feat Saucy Lady & Tortured Soul) (4:39)
Kim Anh - "In The Stars" (5:06)
Cody Currie - "Ghost" (4:48)
Review: Razor-N-Tape's Family Affair series makes a welcome return here with a third great instalment. This series is something of an annual end-of-year tradition by now (OK, it's arriving a touch late) and this one hits as hard as any with five tracks taken from the full and standout compilation. It is two great remixes of classic RNT material that gets things underway with Ezel offering a dub of Cor.ece and Bruce Leroys sublime deep hose mix of Guinu, then JKriv's 'Better Than Her' is a fat bottomed bit of deep cut electro funk and elsewhere Kim Anh gets raw and cosmic, and Cody Currie's 'Ghost' is broken beat perfection.
Review: While based in Barcelona, the music made by Pau Roca is far more influenced by turn-of-the-90s Italian dream house than Spanish dance music of that period. For proof, check out the gorgeous 'Euphoria', an immersive, tactile and sunrise-ready slab of dream house revivalism that fixes the fluid piano motifs of Keys & Tronics Ensemble and the dreamy chords of Don Carlos, to a tactile bassline, vintage sounding machine drums and occasional blasts of breakbeats. Roca's original version comes backed with a simply superb remix by Pal Joey that's every bit as alluring as his celebrated early '90s work, plus two bonus cuts: dreamy and colourful breakbeat roller 'Marble Arch' and the immersive Balearic boogie flex of leisurely downtempo cut 'Hope'.
Review: Life & Death's next ambitious undertaking is courtesy of label chief DJ Tennis who teams up with Israeli indie-dance duo Red Axes. They were first introduced to each other by Superpitcher & Rebolledo (The Pachanga Boys) at a festival in Corsica - and the rest is history. Recorded on top of a decadent old shopping mall in the middle of Tel Aviv, the trio are said to have combined their "love of psy and Mediterranean influences" over a scheduled week of recording sessions together. The result is Redrago, a collection of tripped-out dancefloor oddities that take in everything from lo-slung punk funk ("Rave 'N' Roll), heady and (acid) bass-driven dancefloor narratives that cross over into vintage pop ("Il Veliero"), deep kosmiche ("Plastelina") and deep and tunnelling techno as heard on the epic "Ventilo".
Basil Hardhaus - "Breezin'" (Compiled By Benjamin Frohlich)
JTC - "Gallup"
The Abstract Eye - "I Feel It In My Forehead"
Tee Mango - "Into The Wild"
Marvin Horsch - "Pace"
Matt O'Brien - "Flourish"
Aubrey - "Dot 3" (Russ Gabriel remix)
Marcellus Pittman - "A Mix"
Herzel - "Devoid"
David Goldberg - "Part Bells" (Benjamin Frohlich remix)
Claude Rodap - "Hiwa"
Jose Padilla - "Lollipop" (I:Cube Casiotone reprise mix)
Jex Opolis - "Mt Belzoni"
Move D - "Beyond The Machine" (Compiled By Tom Bioly)
Pierre Bastien - "Snide Dins"
Vanishing Twin - "Under The Water"
Yussef Kamaal - "Ayla"
Roman Flugel - "Song With Blue"
Luke Abbott - "Dumb"
Machine Woman - "I Can Mend Your Broken Heart" ((Kassem Mosse remix)
The Stowaway - "A Suspicious Passenger"
New Jackson - "Let The Freak Come Out At Night"
Isolee - "In Our Country"
Albinos - "Palazzo"
Cobblestone Jazz - "Midnight Sun"
Sirconical - "Jambon Mama"
TB - "Unskinny Dub"
Slowdive - "Sugar For The Pill" (Avalon Emerson Gilded Escalation)
Review: It's all change on the 14th edition of Compost's long-running Future Sounds of Jazz series, with the baton being passed to two new curators: Permanent Vacation bosses Benjamin Frolich and Tom Bioly. It was perhaps a wise move, because the duo - compiling a disc each - have taken a much more liberal approach to "jazz" as a concept. The result is a hugely entertaining two-disc trawl that variously takes in immaculate deep house (Isolee, Marcellus Pittman), inspired electronica (The Abstract Eye), acid-flecked jazz-funk/house fusion (Tee Mango), hypnotic techno and spacey tech-house (Matt O'Brien, Aubrey, Herzel), synth-Balearica (Jex Opolis, I:Cube remixing Jose Padilla), ambient (Move D, Luke Abbot) and, of course, proper contemporary jazz (Yusuf Kamaal, Roman Flugel).
Review: DJ 1985's We Trippin' on Emotional Especial Records offers a unique blend of styles across four tracks, each showcasing an original sound palette hitting many subgenres under the electronic music umbrella. Possibly helping invent a few too. Side-1 opens with 'We Trippin',' evoking early AFX with its analog beats and whimsical, melancholic melodies. The track's modular bassline and subtle acid elements create a rich, nostalgic atmosphere. Following this is 'Dolphins & Sirens,' which blends Balearic influences into a smooth, laid-back groove that feels effortlessly cool. Is Balearic electro a style yet? On Side-2, 'Catland' presents a cinematic, acid wave-inspired experience. Its spatial effects, echoing sounds, and beachy undertones make it feel like a trip through a surreal movie soundtrack. Is Acid Wave a genre yet? The final track, 'The Last One,' features smooth synth washes and a futuristic, melodic vibe paired with an urban beat, rounding out the EP with a forward-thinking, sophisticated touch. We Trippin' is a standout release for those who appreciate a diverse, genre-blending approach to electronic music, offering a journey through various sonic landscapes.
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