Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Afrodesia may come on like another dusted down gem from those dedicated detectives at Best, but it is in fact a modern construction from the talented studio trysts of Mystic Jungle and Whodamanny from the Periodica camp. These Italian producers have more than proved their knack for crafting sublime, honey-smooth jams with a nod to the golden studio era of the 70s and 80s, and they're more than up to the task on this killer 12" of heavy funking jams with a dose of boogie and a nod to Ivory Coast disco. It's quite simply perfection, rendered with love and attention to detail, but utterly natural in its feel and flavour.
Review: School Daze is a killer compilation put together by the Dark Entries label and the Honey Soundsystem crew, collating some of the early recordings produced by Patrick Cowley in the years between 1973-81 and were later used as soundtrack material in two gay porn films. You will probably know Cowley for his Hi-NRG output or 'that' Donna Summer remix or his behind the buttons work on Sylvester tracks. Be prepared for a surprise (well quite a few as the 'explicit content' warning on the cover lives up to its billing) as this collection presents Cowley as a producer capable of many styles and moods. The closest School Daze comes to the sound Cowley is most identified is opening track "Zygote" and from here the collection runs through primitive electronics, short bursts of wave and more with a few extended gems that highlight Cowley's talent for arrangement. One of the compilations of the year!
Review: If you have had your ear to the Balearic underground over the summer you might well have heard some high-profile selectors dropping cuts off this latest missive from US label Just What The World Needs. It is another sublime three-tracker that kicks off with the string-laced and upbeat disco delights of the A1. Second up is a much more slow and sensuous sound that sinks you in deep to a beach lounger as the sun fades into the sea and the sky turns flame red and orange. Things pick up again with the third and final cut - a percussive jumble of organic hits and drums overlaid with a heart-melting vocal sample and deft melodic details that drift by like wispy clouds.
Review: Library music maestro and original member of The Shadows Brian Bennett has a raft of sought-after records to his name, but this is surely one of the most prized. As with the best library music, the execution of the compositions is impeccable - like slipping on silken luxury leisurewear for your ears. The record has been a rich source for sampling over the years, so half the joy is in spotting licks and loops from your favourite tunes, but equally these disco-fied delicacies funk all on their own. Lovers of the Black Devil Disco Club vibe will be more than happy getting down to these tasteful cosmic groovers, unbelievably repressed for just the first time on Isle Of Jura since the original release in 1978.
Review: Lee Alfred's 1980 disco classic 'Rockin - Poppin Full Tilting' fetches incredibly high prices on second hand vinyl markets, if you can even find one at all. It is one of only a couple singles the artist put out between 1980 and 1981. Here it gets a special one-sided 45rpm pressing with an extended version rolling on for six sumptuous minutes. Underpinined by a tight rhythm section and bubbly bass, the dazzling synth leads are all pixelated and cosmic, the female backing vocals add heat and the main voice of Alfred is all buttery and soulful.
Review: Psychemagik's Undercover Lovers Vol 3 delivers a masterful reinterpretation of dance classics with a twist. On the A-side-, their rendition of Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love' transforms the high-energy anthem into a mesmerizing slow burner. With a low-slung groove and heavy synthesisers, Psychemagik crafts an epic version that wow's listeners with its depth and intensity. On Side-2, their take on Hall and Oates' 'I Can't Go For That' is equally exciting. Retaining the legendary groove while infusing it with melodic nuances, Psychemagik creates a unique jam that feels both familiar and fresh. The addition of Spanish lyrics adds an unexpected dimension, further enhancing the track's appeal. Undercover Lovers Vol 3 is a great example to Psychemagik's talent for reinventing classics into new gems for a new generation.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: The Fossils label has been unearthing more musical treasure for its fifth outing, and this one takes you directly to the Middle East for some twisted disco-funk with red hot grooves courtesy of Fava Luva & Dr. Professor. The source of the tunes is obscure and unknown but the pair bring plenty of their own goodness with additional layers of live instrumentation really bring them to life. 'Lahatz' is steamy and full of sensuous vocal magic and cosmic synth work that will get the floor into action, while 'Kerem' is even more topical and exotic with its rich array of strong melodies and downtempo beats making for a woozy and wonderful trip.
Review: Tom Noble is renowned for his vinyl digging prowess as well as being the head of the Superior Elevation Records. Now he unveils his House Of Spirits alias with the debut single from an upcoming album on Razor-N-Tape. 'Times Are Changing' previews an album spanning nearly 15 years of work and one that blends modern-retro soul with nods to the Mizell Brothers and Patrick Adams. Recorded with live instrumentation and tailored for the dance floor, the limited 12" features an extended original and instrumental on side A, and a dynamic remix by Australian synth maestro Harvey Sutherland on side B. Infectious vocals and rich instrumentation, what's not to love?
Blow Monkeys - "Save Me" (Neville Watson dub) (8:04)
Cisco Cisco - "If You Want Me" (Jay Shepheard remix) (7:11)
Bongo Entp - "Drommen" (SIRS remix) (5:48)
Darlyn Vlys - "Wuzu" (Tyu Tribe remix) (7:18)
Kimo - "Whirl" (6:50)
Discoscuro - "Discoscuro" (6:10)
Popular Tyre - "Feel Like A Lazer Beam" (7:35)
Class B Band - "Repli-can" (edit) (6:04)
Bal5000 - "Bleu Infini" (7:52)
Phil Kieran - "Find Love" (Andrew Weatherall remix) (7:43)
Das Komplex - "89" (8:05)
Brioski - "Calling 626" (edit) (5:20)
Review: Sean Johnston curates a compilation that feels as much like a love letter to a bygone era of cosmic and chugging dance music as it does a blueprint for the future. Across this translucent red vinyl double LP, he assembles a narrative that stretches from the dub-tinged grooves of Weatherall-inspired rhythms to rich, enveloping basslines rooted in the darker corners of the dancefloor. These selections capture the ethos of A Love From Outer Spaceinot a style, but a sensibility, where tempo slows and subtlety reigns. Rather than overwhelm, the tracks reveal their power gradually, layering textures and grooves with a painterly touch.
Review: For his latest outing on the Good Timin' imprint he set up some years back, Jex Opolis is joined by Ian D Knight. The St Louis-based performance artist notably makes his presence felt on "Look At My Car", delivering a vocal inspired by "consumerism and rampant motorism" over the NYC producer's superb, Padlock-inspired, boogie-dub groove. The Compass Point influence also comes to the fore on closer "Guitar Sands", where intertwining guitar and synthesizer motifs stretch out across a Larry Levan-friendly backing track. The EP's other cut, "Rimini Nite", successfully pays tribute to the halcyon days of Italo-disco. It's every bit as thrilling as the rest of this superb 12".
Review: Funk, soul and house music courses through the veins of Jamie 3:26 and he always manages to convey that into his irresistible grooves. The best of them come on his own label 326 which is where he arrives now with this new 12" Dancefloor Damage Vol 1. It's a tight affair with just one cut on each side of the wax, starting with 'Maqnifique' which is a steamy, intense disco house stomper with wiry lines and unrelenting grooves. On the flip is a very different vibe - a sunny, flute-led led and jazzy soulful house number with heart-melting chords.
Make Me Move (feat Chelsea 'Chesta' Blake - Boogie version) (4:50)
Here's To You (feat Jolie Davenport) (4:39)
Review: As E Live, Eli Hurwitz is such a big part of the Star Creature Universal Vibrations family that they gave him his own sub-label, Elivity Records. His latest fantastic 45 doesn't appear on either of those imprints, but rather parent label Tugboat Editions. For those who like authentic-sounding revivalist boogie, we'd recommend picking this up - both tracks are re-inventions of old tunes with E Live's colourful, synth-powered twist. Check first 'Make Me Move', where glossy female vocals rise above a squelchy bassline, shimmering synths and unfussy drum machine percussion. Even better though is Hurwitz's flip-side cover of Skyy classic 'Here's To You' - a boogie gem that he re-invents as as a deeper, smoother and dreamier slab of neo-boogie squelchiness.
Review: Crazy P's latest album offers a clean, classic experience, while still showcasing the band's skill in merging retro influences with fresh, modern energy. Tracks like 'Portals' and 'Not Too Late' highlight the depth of their sound, and the late Danielle Moore's signature vocals provide an emotional anchor throughout. The pressing is high quality, ensuring every intricate detail shines through. This edition is perfect for both audiophiles and fans, offering an immersive listening experience that pays tribute to Moore's legacy within the band.
Smashed Atoms & Backdoor Man - "Hey Dreamer" (6:46)
Review: Eight years on from his last After Dark compilation for Late Night Tales, font of all musical knowledge Bill Brewster returns with a fourth instalment. According to the man himself, it's a 'freestyle' selection with 'low and slow' the overriding theme. That loose but logical concept allows Brewster to showcase a diverse range of selections that defy easy categorisation. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, with our current pics including the synth-heavy Balearic voodoo of 'Idle Hours' by Idle Band, the Weatherall-esque chug of Hotel Motel's terrific remix of Jeb Loy Nichols' 'Don't Drop Me', the dub disco-goes-cosmic disco squelch of Ray Mang remixing Khruangbin, the deep synth-pop sweetness of Debbie & The Code's 'Code of Love', a terrific Naill edit of Gilbert O'Sullivan's 'So What', and the deep electro of Carl Finlow.
Review: Having previously impressed with their reissue of Patrick Cowley's brilliant, all-synthesizer soundtrack to obscure '70s gay porn flick School Daze, Dark Entries and Honey Sound System once again join forces to shine a light on the high energy disco pioneer's work for San Francisco's Fox Studios. Unsurprisingly, it's another impressive collection, and features material recorded for a number of different pornographic films. There are naturally more up-tempo moments - see "Somebody To Love Tonight", which would later be re-recorded with Sylvester, and the synth-weirdness-meets-jazz-funk brilliance of "5oz of Funk" - but it's the impressively cosmic and exotic ambient moments, such as the stand-out "Timelink" and "Jungle Magic", that really stand out.
Review: Under the Jaz alter-ego, John Zahl has been serving up laidback, Balaearic-minded edits of musical obscurities since the mid 2000s. Initially, that was for Claremont 56 offshoot Sixty Five, but in the last decade he's also appeared on Passport To Paradise, Rotating Souls and, most recently, Pinchy & Friends. Here he returns to the latter label with four more rubs of atmospheric cuts from the dusty corners of his record collection. He begins with the wonderfully throbbing, solo-heavy dancefloor synth-scape of 'Cloud Worship', before successfully tinkering with a tactile, semi-organic proto-house gem on 'Pick a Toy'. Over on side B, 'Puzzle' is a tidy revision of a cosmic-minded, French language Balearic synth-pop gem, while 'Friday Night' is an eccentric, off-kilter slab of new wave disco oddness.
Blow Monkeys - "Save Me" (Neville Watson dub) (8:04)
Cisco Cisco - "If You Want Me" (Jay Shepheard remix) (7:11)
Bongo Entp - "Drommen" (SIRS remix) (5:48)
Darlyn Vlys - "Wuzu" (Tyu Tribe remix) (7:18)
Kimo - "Whirl" (6:50)
Discoscuro - "Discoscuro" (6:10)
Popular Tyre - "Feel Like A Lazer Beam" (7:35)
Class B Band - "Repli-can" (edit) (6:04)
Bal5000 - "Bleu Infini" (7:52)
Phil Kieran - "Find Love" (Andrew Weatherall remix) (7:43)
Das Komplex - "89" (8:05)
Brioski - "Calling 626" (edit) (5:20)
Review: Sean Johnston's A Love From Outer Space is a masterclass in mood and restraint. Over two LPs, it captures the ethos of Johnston's club night, favouring steady, low-slung rhythms and cosmic textures over high-energy peaks. The tracks are sequenced with care, creating a meditative flow that rewards deep listening. This is dance music for introspection, where each layer reveals itself slowly, embodying a philosophy that values depth and subtlety.
Review: You best get the sunnies on for this one because it is a sweltering bit of funk fuelled disco with lashing of cosmic energy, boogie baselines and irresistible grooves. First up is the epic ten minute plus 'Solar Flair' with its slapping bass and withering sci-fi chords, long legged drums and prog leads. After that sensuous slow burner things pick up with 'Heatwave', a more direct and textured cut but one still dripping with Rhodes magic and plenty of celestial charm. Two red hot tunes on a vital 12" from Hi Quality Inc.
Review: NuNorthern Soul's 2021 Record Store Day offering is something of a treat. It's a fresh reissue of an impossible-to-find promo 45 first issued to promote Flamenco legend El Turronero's 1980 disco album, EL Hondo. It features two tracks that have long been regular features in the sets of many dusty-fingered Balearic selectors, especially globe-trotting cult leader DJ Harvey. On the A-side you'll find the cosmic, driving, synth-laden brilliance of 'Las Penas (La Cana) - a genuine "everything but the kitchen sink" affair topped off by El Turronero's distinctive vocals - while the more exotic 'Si Yo Volviera Al Nacer', where synths and Sitars accompany the Flamenco-disco grooves, resides on the flip.
Review: Duca Bianco is back with one of its special various artists' releases, and a mighty fine one it is too. This one finds four guest producers all with their finest studio tools sharpened and ready for action. Two of the artists are well known but use new alias - one is Israeli synth and psyche wizards Red Axes who work their magic as Der Sexa on 'Gabi Plane' and another is Beauty & The Beat party man Cedric Woo as CW. He gets nice and twisted here while the other two cuts - one from Italo king Franz Scala who builds slow new wave funk, and one from Manchester's renowned edit kings Talking Drums who offer some lovely leftfield madness on 'DMNB', all make for crucial listening.
Review: Hot'N'Spicy's self-titled series of flame hot disco and funk gems returns with a sizzling sixth instalment here and it has some big names on board. Delfonic opens up with the low slung and seductive loopy disco-house fun of 'Everything Is Love' while HOLDTight up the funk and energy with more loose and percussive grooves on 'Disco Power.' Franck Roger brings his classy French house styling to a deep and slinky number in 'Pinguino Blumo' and DJ Steef shuts down with some big camp disco flourishes and dubbed-out vocal echoes on 'Warp Odyssey.'
Review: Minimal Wave presents an exquisite 7" EP release by Martin Lloyd entitled "L'Amant Electronique". Martin is mainly known for his Oppenheimer Analysis (Minimal Wave) and Analysis (Survival Records) projects, yet through the years he recorded over two dozen tracks on his own, most of which never saw the light of day. The four selected tracks were recorded between 1980 and 1984 in his own "Feedback Studios" in Battersea , London. Martin Lloyd delivers vocals via the vocoder and carefully layers synth melodies which range from upbeat and danceable, to what could be the soundtrack to a 1981 post-apocalyptic science fiction film. The record is pressed on white vinyl with a heavy black jacket (spot gloss) and is limited to 999 hand-numbered copies.
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'.
Review: Given their respective careers, you'd expect this surprise debut album from Balearic nu-disco specialist James Bright and Groove Armada member Tom Findlay to be rather good - or at least sonically attractive with good grooves and quality musicianship. It is, of course, with the pair opting for a glossy, 80s-influenced synth sound, bubbly electronic grooves, sun-splashed Balearic pop intent and authentically executed nods to West Coast electrofunk and nu-disco pioneers Metro Area. Our picks of a very strong bunch include the synth-fired blue-eyed soul of 'Slow Dance', the sunset-ready gorgeousness of 'Flowers', the low-slung, late-night AM radio vibes of 'It's Only Rain' and the Morgan Geist-esque 'NY Disco (Smile)'.
Review: Just What The World Needs returns to their own self-titled label with a 14th outing of fiery disco heat. This is potent music that melds together jazz, funk and soul with a lashing of synth goodness. The opener is a real driver with emotive gospel vocals and mad jazz keys. Second is a slower jam with a more dreamy feel then the flip side comes on strong with jazz say leading the way beneath vaping chords and funky, smooth drums. Last of all is a supercharged leftfield bomb with explosive cosmic synths and the sort of energy that stands out in any set.
Review: The star-studded Sai Galaxy project returns, bringing together West African legends Steve Monite and Rob with multi-instrumentalist Simon Durrington, guitar maestro Alfred Bannerman, and Egypt 80 trumpet player Bade, for a second EP of vital Afro-disco and soul. Following up 2020's 'Get It As You Move' EP, the likes of 'Sometimes It Rains', the homonymous 'Okere', the truth-to-power 'Rich Man, Poor Man', and the live and swinging coda 'Hold Me Tonight' paint a multifaceted picture of a trio, equally as concerned with groove delivery as they are with narrative storytelling. Most emblematic of Sai Galaxy's approach is their inspiration by analog production techniques of similar Afro-soul albums from the 1970s and 80s, adding a modern touch informed by Simon Durrington's Digital Afrika project.
Review: Heads High keeps up the good early work with a third interesting offering, this time in the form of a meeting of the fiendish minds of Mike Misiu and Eddie Smilie, aka Wednesday Club. They offer up late-night club sounds with plenty of musical nouse and worldly nuance that comes as a result of late-night sample mining across the African musical landscape. Their tunes are crafted on nice analogue gear so have that lovely freed edge feel and from the space-house of 'Magic Body' to the swaggering dub of 'Magic Dub' via the cosmic expressiveness of cruising groover 'Love & Care'. This one gets dubbed out to close a fine dancefloor adventure.
Taylorpo (Warehouse Preservation Society remix) (5:23)
Massive Birth (Mind Fair remix) (5:43)
Review: Coolly stepping out like a white-suited player on a Miami club strip, the high expectations set by any mention of Italian disco pioneer Daniele Baldelli are easily matched by the opener and title number. And things really only get better from there.
'Massive Birth' is an intelligent, freeform outing on a half-time, DJ Rocca's ever-tight drum programming clearly having some influence on the complex percussive patterns. On the flip, Mind Fair have their way with that original, turning it into a more grounded four-four workout if you listen beyond the top layer of rolls and snare crashes. For many, though, this one will be all about the Warehouse Preservation Society remix of 'Taylorpo', which puts Italo right back at the top of the disco agenda, sounding at once space age yet nostalgic, and unquestionably, unstoppably danceable.
Review: American label Peoples Potential Unlimited has cared out its own superb niche in the world of heart aching, lo-fi funk. But here a new catalogue number seems to suggest a new series. It kicks off with French collective Spaced Out Krew and their timeless, boogie driven disco funk. The music was written during 2020 by Spleen3000 and Marius Cyrilou of Ceeofunk and right from the first note of 'Doudou Bourbon' it is pure class. There are starry-eyed melodies, rasping basslines and curious vocals that all add up to a nice cosmic disco sound.
Loneliness (I-F & Alden Tyrell - live at CBS Micro Party Stubnitz 2006) (7:57)
Review: No, don't worry, Gove and Boris haven't found their way into cosmic disco or twisted acid house....The Conservatives were a brief project for Dutchmen John Scheffer (aka Intergalactic Gary) and Unit Moebius pioneer Ferenc van der Sluijs (aka I-F) around the early 2000s. "Loneliness" was their only single and it still sounds beautiful 13 years later. "Loneliness" is a chunky but altogether trippy slice of what we would now call disco but just called house back then while I-F and Alden Tyrell's remix comes with much more 303 crunch. Well matured and still highly relevant.
Review: After 3 months holed up in the studio Blair French has emerged to bring you Genes / Space Conductor 7" in support of his forthcoming album The Art Of Us on Rocksteady Disco. The A-side holds the "Loose Fit" mix of "Genes", where Blair channels his inner Tony Allen for an expertly executed modern psychedelic Afrobeat cut featuring a heavyweight cast of Detroit characters including Todd Modes, John Arnold, and Paul Randolph. On the flip is "Space Conductor", a cosmic afro broken beat joint with heavy drums, a huge bassline, kora, and Blair's vocals, exclusively available on this 7" only. Housed in a full color jacket, cut loud to lacquer, and pressed heavy with pride at Archer on Detroit's east side.
Review: The mysterious Medieval Man is joined by Thomass Jackson, Mytron & Ofofo and Barry Sunset on this new split EP from the fledgling Culted label. Their edit series tackles plenty of interesting dark disco source material with beguiling results. The freaky future sounds of Mytron & Ofofo's 'Machinenhimmel' opens up with phased bass and spooky leads. Barry Sunset's twisted sci-fi disco stomper 'Hit The Drums' then takes off to the cosmos and Thomass Jackson twists and turns on loose, jangling percussion that is underpinned by fat bottomed bass. The brilliantly entitled 'Humble Frodo' is a weird and wonderful closer.
Review: The backstory to this one is great. It starts in 1978 when a New York producer was in need of some studio musicians to lay down some fast and funky rhythms for a band he was working with, The Imperials. Minneapolis talents Andre Cymone and Prince Rogers Nelson duly stepped up and recorded 'Fast Freddy The Roller Disco King'. An album from the Imperials was set to follow but it never did, leaving us with this one majestic cut. It's soul-drenched and cosmic disco with a killer vocal back with a more leggy and slow-motion cosmic wonder, 'I Just Wanna Be Your Lovin' Man.'
Review: Cerrone has been turning out big and beefy dancefloor hits ever since the 1970s. Despite having made so many already, he still has plenty of skills in his locker as this one on his own label Malligator Preference proves. 'A Part Of You' is utterly glorious - the synths are bright, the symphonic sounds packed with joy and the vocal a steamy compliment up top as the nimble mid-tempo drums bounce below. A full spread of different versions is included on this vital 12".
Bachir Baba - "Dounia" (Babach Flagerman mix) (8:54)
Muharaqa (7:25)
Chouia (4:37)
Review: The intriguingly named Humus Per Tutti label has made us wait well over two years for a seance EP after the tantalising first volume of this self-titled series. It comes from a section of artists who are all editing some worldly source material. First off is a Jean Kefta edit that locks you in a guitar loop while intoxicating vocals up top bring the charm. The Babach Flangerman mix of the A1 is another loopy disco cut with a Middle Eastern flavour and the comes Jean Kefta & Max Houmous's snake charming and psychedelic disco groover 'Muharaqa'.
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Review: Marc Cerrone is a legendary producer, known for laying much of the glitzy groundwork for French disco and electronic music. Now releasing the standalone single 'For You', a track made "with the desire to get back to all the musical sensations I've experienced in 50 years", the piece is a hypnotic cityscape meant to dazzle and delight. Both the Long and Edit versions heard on this 12" version from Malligator are odes to the pure abstract form of disco, one untainted by temporal imperfections and tailor-made for DJs, yet still tempered by live recordings and analogue flavours.
Review: Locossolus is the DJ Harvey project that deals in club-slaying dark disco sounds. It's been a while since we heard from it and now 'Exhumed' marks the second release on Bassett's HGS label, which launched back in August. Featuring Tara Selleck and Sam Fox on vocals, alongside Dan Hastie on keyboard, 'Zombie Sex Dream' opens up with darkly futuristic synths echoing into a void. It's tense, taught electronic music with flourishes of lush keys and breath-y vocals. 'Hung Man' then has pulling, sonar like bass and searching synths spraying out into the night and 'Bloodbath' closes in mysterious, creepy fashion.
Review: This killer UK boogie 12-inch by Tony Crockett was originally recorded and released in 1982. It has some brilliant raps delivered in an aloof style, with plenty of swagger, and a touch of campness. They sound dated but in a good, nostalgic way, while the music around still sounds fresh with the sleek bass and big flutes, low slung drums and warm chords. On the reverse is /Plane Jane', another cheeky bit of UK boogie that oozes funk and cool. These are fun tracks for sure and come in a full picture cover.
Review: 'Available Forms' is the latest masterwork of the musical project Tobor Experiment, led by Giorgio Sancristoforo, an Italian sound artist and music software designer based in Milan. Active since 2007, Sancristoforo's work has largely centred on highly technical odysseys in avant-disco, exploring surreal takes on the ambivalent promises made by the tide of technological advancement, channelled into a that has been described, perhaps quite cleverly, as 'moogsploration'. Coming after a 12-year hiatus on gatefold LP, Sancristoforo returns to his go-to label Bear Funk for yet another foray into this retro-modernist vision, mixing genre-bent jazz, electronica, nu-disco, and psychedelic influences.
Ubaldo Missoni - "Let Me Be Your Man" (instrumental) (4:19)
Teknoafro - "Mama Africa" (4:50)
Bokaye - "Ethno Groove" (5:41)
Nightmare Lodge - "Mirage IV" (5:09)
Nistri & Fiori Carones - "Marcia A Gorky Park" (3:05)
Aritmica - "Touch Another Flame" (6:12)
Zen - "Antiacid" (4:52)
Major Ipnotic Key Institute - "Minimal Kinetic" (10:19)
Leo Anibaldi - "Muta 3" (6:23)
Review: Much time has been spent marking the importance and excellence of some aspects of the Italian dance music story - think the 1980s Italo-disco movement, Baldelli's cosmic disco vibes, and the later Italo-house and Roman techno scenes - but there are still gaps in our knowledge. That's where this compilation from Dualismo Sound and Gabrielle Casiraghi comes in. Devoted to 'Italian dancefloor outsiders', it aims to educate us on some of the overlooked oddities recorded in Italy between 1987 and '94. It more than achieves its aims, delivering a mixture of proto-trance (Cy & Gy), Fairlight-powered instrumental synth-pop (Ubaldo Missoni), druggy Afro-cosmic throb-jobs (Teknoafro), sparkling "Worldbeat" (Bokaye), breakbeat-driven downtempo grooves (Nightmare Lodge), and impossible-to pigeonhole sonic insanity (Zen). A genuine 'must-check'.
Review: Sao Paulo artist and About Disco label head Rafael Cancian once played Motor City Wine party in its native Detroit and was thought to hail from the city itself so synonymous was his sound with what the locals expected. As such he now steps up to Hot Pot with a new pair of edits starting with 'Heaven.' It's a fulsome cosmic disco stepper with low sling drums and plenty of shiny synths as well as soothing vocal coos that help take you to ecstasy. Flip it over and you will find 'Nigeriac' which is a syncopated mix of Afro funk and rock to shake your bones loose.
Review: Dark Entries has assembled a superb collection of covers celebrating 60s garage and soul music by the one and only Patrick Cowley. This LP showcases another side of the great producer's diverse influences, in particular his psychedelic San Francisco roots which can be heard in most tracks. They were mostly written between 1980 and 1982 when he was in prolific form and highlight his virtuosity while paying respects to the music that shaped him. The collection features a reimagined version of Loverde's 'Iko Iko,' a hi-NRG cover of The Doors' '20th Century Fox,' and a haunting take on The Who's "Shakin' All Over." It concludes with a swinging rendition of the Four Tops' 'Baby I Need Your Loving' and is another essential one for the collection.
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