Review: Techno-titanic title-holder Roman Flugel needs no introduction. On his latest vinyl EP, 'No Solutions', the artist returns to Erol Alkan's Phantasy Sound with his second release of 2024, keeping the hype afloat with just three short rain-makings in the vein of glistening, retro trance and house - contrasting to some of his earlier, more percussive outings released round the turn of this decade. This time, Flugel plugs the sensibility of 80s dance music and pop production into a more kick-implantable, danceable dream, bridging gaps between retro and modern dancefloors. 'No Solutions', 'Sapphire' and 'Dragged' each plod through finessed synth flicks, torrential Moog mambos, and dizzily detuned decontractions, all of which portray a blued, armoured alternate vision of an eighties that never crossed the threshold of the next decade, continuing frozen in time while we nonetheless bowled towards the oncoming singularity.
Review: In case you thought 'Nightjars' a few years back wasn't tasty enough, Foamy cooks up another buttery round for Magic Toast and there's breakfast for everyone. Each slice sits at a different tempo and spins a different yarn - the gluey Orbital-on-Mogodon 100BPM tech slug 'Multipass', the springy breakcore-curious lullaby 'Patter', the slimy sluggy business-witnessing blunderbuss 'Overkiller', the hopeful, playful but a little bashful 'Rarefaction' and the lonely chimes and cosmic wobble board adieu of 'Land' - but it all works together in a really immersive and inspiringly inventive way. Exceptional electronic music, this.
Show Ya How To MC (feat Def Jef & Grandmaster Caz) (3:25)
Let's Be Clear (feat The UMC's) (3:02)
Review: This release delivers a nostalgic nod to classic hip-hop with its two tracks, both reflecting different eras of the genre. Side A, featuring Def Jef and Grandmaster Caz, revives the spirit of 80s park jams with a laid-back yet funky vibe. Fokis's production and DJ Grouch's cuts make this a true ode to old-school hip-hop, brimming with energy and authenticity. On the flip, 'Let's Be Clear' teams up with Staten Island's UMC's for a 90s-inspired posse cut, with Pro.Grade's uptempo production and rapid-fire rhymes delivering a dose of lyrical firepower. A solid release for hip-hop enthusiasts.
Review: The endlessly fertile scenes that are minimal and tech house yield more essential DJ goodness here as Bread & Butter assembles a selection of talents for this ninth various artists' release. Alex Font & Aron open up with 'Walking On Clouds' which is not as airy and dreamy as it might sound, but does lay down a nice deft minimal groove. Beiger has a more sunny outlook with the mellifluous synth clouds of his 'Audible Illusions' and Mihai Pol then brings ouse late night jazz house cool to his 'Bip Bip.' Iuly B completes a varied package with the heady loops and wispy cosmic synth motifs of 'Bouncing Lights.'
Alex Font - "El Velorio De Pedrito Navajas" (10:06)
Crihan - "Dark Times" (6:24)
Paul K - "Electro Fantomas" (6:48)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks ***
It has been seven long years since Acme Music introduced the first part of this series but now Mis Hermanos Rumanos is back with a third instalment. The three-track various artists' affair kicks off with Alex Font and his lean minimal tech house groove 'El Velorio De Pedrito Navajas" complete with wavy bass, twanging strings and an exotic vibe. Crihan's 'Dark Times' is dubby and unhurried, and again heads into steamy jungle worlds with watery droplets and organic percussion. Paul K's 'Electro Fantomas' is a final tripped-out closer with snappy snares and wavy drums.
Alex Font - "El Velorio De Pedrito Navajas" (10:06)
Crihan - "Dark Times" (6:24)
Paul K - "Electro Fantomas" (6:48)
Review: It has been seven long years since Acme Music introduced the first part of this series but now Mis Hermanos Rumanos is back with a third instalment. The three-track various artists' affair kicks off with Alex Font and his lean minimal tech house groove 'El Velorio De Pedrito Navajas" complete with wavy bass, twanging strings and an exotic vibe. Crihan's 'Dark Times' is dubby and unhurried, and again heads into steamy jungle worlds with watery droplets and organic percussion. Paul K's 'Electro Fantomas' is a final tripped-out closer with snappy snares and wavy drums.
Review: Footsie is widely thought of as one of grime's most legendary voices and a legend of the game. From his early collaborations with D Double E as part of Newham Generals to his solo work, his roots in sound system culture run deep having grown up as the son of a system operator. Footsie was heavily influenced by reggae and dub and now runs his father's renowned King Original Sound. Returning to the label is Nottingham's Adam Prescott, who provides a heavy, dubwise riddim for Footsie to showcase his distinctive flow.
Review: A timeless gem from the mid-80s, this ballad is a magical slow jam of its era with a soulful touch that remains irresistible. Produced and written by the legendary duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the song features their unparalleled ability to craft heartfelt melodies and lush arrangements. Its delicate piano-driven sound and tender vocal delivery immediately connect, making it an enduring favorite. Initially featured in the movie Krush Groove, the track quickly outshone its cinematic origins, climbing to number four on the r&b charts and breaking into the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. It introduced the group to a wider audience, transcending their early hip-hop and pre-new jack swing roots. Now released on heart-shaped vinyl, this edition feels like a perfect tribute to a song that's all about emotion and connection.
Review: Ryan 'Simian Mobile Disco' James Ford's 'Fuzz Gathering' is a five-track EP that delves deep into his famously personal and adventurous exploration of sound and texture. Rooted in the idea of "fuzz gathering," Ford collects, analyses and reshapes sonic elements using inventive techniques to then craft a distinct auditory experience with each track. The EP blends intricate details with experimental sounds that highlight his unique approach to creating music. Complementing the release, Ford's own artwork visually echoes the EP's theme of dissecting and reimagining textures.
Hi Tension - "British Hustle" (Dave Lee Brit Funk Revenge mix) (9:14)
Funky Worm - "Hustle To The Music" (Dave Lee Re-Wriggle) (6:59)
Foreal People - "Tango Hustle" (Dave Lee Latican Hustle) (7:09)
Foreal People - "Tango Hustle" (acappella) (1:41)
Hustle Beats (4:31)
Review: Z Records returns with a Hustle-tastic 12" to light up both your life and DJ sets. It's the boss himself Dave Lee who kicks off with his extended rework of a bonafide Brit Funk classic in the shape of Hi Tension's 'British Hustle'. Featuring David Josephs's signature vocals over the chugging Caribbean rhythm track, it's a song that's never received an extended club mix from the tapes since its first release in 1978. His second cut is a Re-Wriggle of a Funky Worm volume pumping classic that becomes a fat-bottomed house jam with stomping brass, ear-worm vocal hooks and Latin inspired keys. "On the flip' (as they say) is Foreal People's 'Tango Hustle' - a driving clav heavy, jazz funk workout complete with chanting dance instructions over various solos. Add in an acapella and some 'Hustle Beats' and you have a very muscular package.
Review: Forest On Stasys takes the plunge here and launches a new label, Aura Sonora, which debuts with a hugely limited and high-quality new 12" from the boss. The imprint will be "a platform designed for sound experimentation" and the first missive backs that up with a great blend of drum & bass, half-time and techno. 'Magnetismo' is a prickly opener with slippery rhythms underpinned by bold bass. 'Domo' is a darker sound with menacing low ends and prickly percussive patterns while 'Sideral' is another late-night prowler with low sling sounds, eerie atmospheres and a real sense of futurism. A great start to life for Aura Sonora.
Review: Get ready for two of the most heartfelt big room bangers aroundiStay Here and Writeriborn from a recent machine jam between Fort Romeau and Gold Panda, masters of emotional dance music. 'Stay Here' starts with simmering synths, slinky guitar licks, and gentle vocal touches. Over on the flip, 'Writer' delivers restrained euphoria, steady beats giving way to a fragile, beatless acoustic finish. A sprinkle of acid throughout keeps everything hypnotic. Wrapped in Eliot Axelsson's striking design, this is pure Studio Barnhus magic.
Review: Swirl People revisit their roots with a nostalgic four track EP from their early days as Fortune Cookie. This collection - which is their third release on L.I.T.S. - features carefully selected tracks from their original 1996 releases on Marguerite, a small label run by a friend. Nearly three decades later, these still much sought-after tracks are finally being reissued. The EP opens with 'Glitter Girls,' which is characterised by a catchy bassline, followed by the deep groove of 'Um Bongo.' On the B-side, 'Galactic Snackbar' offers a retro-futuristic feel, while 'Frisko Heaven' wraps up the EP with classic disco-filtered house energy. Timeless tackle, for sure.
Fouk - "Loving At First Sight" (feat Debroah Bond - vocal mix) (5:35)
Atjazz & Shea Soul - "Home" (vocal mix) (6:04)
Robin S - "Show Me Love" (Emmaculate remix) (6:03)
Risk Assessment - "It's Not Right But It's Okay" (feat Monica Blaire - Grant Nelson remix) (6:11)
Review: Volume 4 of Reel People Music's 12" vinyl series delivers four exceptional tracks from the RPM catalogue. On Side A, Dutch duo Fouk teams up with US r&b artist Deborah Bond for the smooth 'Loving At First Sight', followed by the soulful collaboration 'Home' from Martin 'Atjazz' Iveson and Shea Soul. Side B offers two dancefloor anthems: Emmaculate's disco remix of Robin S's 'Show Me Love' and Grant Nelson's powerful rework of 'It's Not Right, But It's Okay' by Risk Assessment featuring Monica Blaire.
Review: Eddie "Flashin" Fowlkes is a pioneering force in techno who was there in the early days but is often rather written out of the story meaning plenty of his peers get more acclaim. His beats tan up on their own though and here he is all these years later still serving them up. This one is a reissue of his iconic 'The Truth' EP originally released in 1995. 'The Truth' is a funky and full-blooded house sound with snappy percussion and melodic bass. 'Planet Claire' picks up the speed with tightly programmed beats that float above the floor and 'Freestyle' brings some future machine soul. 'CBR' shuts down with more inventive percussion and analogue machine goodness.
Review: Backspin's first slab of wax comes from French producer Framboisier and it does not muck about. He covers plenty of retro-future ground here with 'Phantom Corporation' kicking off with big sirens, gallivanting drums and turbocharged bass for the peak time. 'Emergency Exit' is another upbeat cut with flashy stabs and techno drums but a tribal twist that brings great dynamics. 'X-Cell Cybernetics' is another cyborg blend of electro and techno with warped synth details and '343 Guilty Spark' shuts down with an electric mix of big drums, old school vocal stabs and a killer bassline.
Review: In the write-up for this admirable label debut by newcomer Framboisier, Gestalt has promised "a new kind of club sound" based on the foundations of "tech and hardgroove". So what does that mean in practice? Well, title track 'Buffout Trax' is a brilliantly bouncy and breathless affair, where rave-igniting riffs, bassline house style organ bass motifs and UK garage samples ride a beefed-up house groove. 'Orbit Reflex' sees the producer lean more into glassy-eyed rave-era nostalgia - all stabbing bleep techno style bass, hybrid techno-house beats and fizzing melodic motifs - while 'Flex-o-matic' is a more rolling concoction that puts retro-futurist fun at the top of the agenda. Closing cut 'Holodisk Data', meanwhile, is an all-action fusion of past and present dancefloor tropes with extra lashings of TB-303 psychdelia and nods to early progressive house.
Review: Lost in Music: Post Industrial Dreamscape is a powerful film made by British artist Jermaine Francis. This is its soundtrack and it is a collaboration between Tony Bontana and Francis himself. The soundscape mirrors the film's moody and smoky dissonance as it delves into Post-Industrial Britain's social and political landscape through Francis's life. After being inspired by seeing the film, Full Circle saw potential in the track and remixed it into a loose yet mechanical sound with trippy synths and churning bass, while Ukrainian artist Shjva added her own interpretation that is a much more heady and dee bit of techno with cosmic synth overtones and an otherworldly feel.
Review: Anacalypto Records' search for Fairytails led to an unexpected treasure-a forgotten 1994 DAT revealing four original tracks and two unreleased gems. They chose two classics for Side A and the newfound tracks for Side B. Opening with 'Fairytail Track 3', deep basslines and soaring strings create a mesmerising dancefloor spell and then 'Track 4' continues the magic with crisp snares and dreamy pads. On the flip, 'Track 5' delivers joyous chords and lively piano, while 'Track 6' glows with rave energy. This remastered EP revives four trance-infused house gems that will spread real enchantment across any 'floor.
Review: Before making it big with Maze, Frankie Beverly was the man behind Raw Soul, a heavyweight, politically conscious band whose fuzzy, full-throttle sound sat somewhere between the J.B's and Sly & The Family Stone. The band's most famous moment was 1975 single 'Color Blind', which was originally recorded as 'What's The Color?' Here that never-before-heard recording is finally issued. Rich in fuzz-soaked horns, crunchy drum-breaks, weighty bass and clipped funk guitar licks, the track features some superb, James Brown style lead vocals from Beverly. Brilliantly, there's also a chance to savour the unheard Raw Soul instrumental version, which features an extended, DJ-friendly drum solo midway through. A slice of history that's well worth picking up. As played by DJ Koco....
Review: This reissue brings to light one of most treasured and elusive recordings of soul music from the 60s. 'One Step Ahead', famously featured in Moonlight and sampled in Mos Def's 'Ms. Fat Booty', stands as a deep masterpiece from her early Columbia years. Released two years before her meteoric rise at Atlantic Records, this track never appeared on any of her Columbia albums, making it a rarity sought after by fans and collectors alike. The flip side, 'I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face', is equally spellbinding. Franklin's rendition of this classic exudes raw emotion and vocal brilliance, elevating it to a level that's both powerful and deeply moving. This special 7" pressing is for anyone passionate about Aretha's legacy. It captures a pivotal moment in her career and offers a chance to own a piece of soul music history, filled with timeless artistry.
Review: Aretha Franklin's soul anthem 'Respect' is arguably a record that doesn't need tampering with, though over the years there have certainly been some successful revisions - not least a B-More inspired take that dominated clubs in the early 2000s. On this single-sided 12", Matt Early and Lee Jefferies deliver their 'Expand Your Mind' remix - a funky, chunky and driving house interpretation that loops up key sections of Franklin's familiar vocals over a bed of bustling beats, rubbery bass guitar, warming chords and mazy, P-funk style synth solos. Throw in some well-crafted breakdowns and build-ups and you have a guaranteed winner that shows plenty of respect (sorry) to the peerless original.
Review: This is a real lost South American Latin Jazz-Funk treasure from Argentina taken from some original 1974 recordings led by Carlos Franzetti. Known for his late 70s jazz-fusion album Graffiti, Franzetti recorded Dedos after returning to Argentina from Mexico where he was musical director at Fermata International. His friend Mochin Marafiotti, A&R at Music Hall, proposed the Latin Jazz project and the session featured Ruben Rada, Ricardo Lew, Emilio Valle, Osvaldo Lopez and Franzetti himself. Though initially overlooked, Dedos and Doce y Diez now receive a long-overdue reissue as they remain high on energy and deeply jazz gems with a Latin twist.
Review: Colemine's latest transmigration of soul comes incarnated in rainbow-hued 45 form, culling two more slamming singles from Aaron Frazer's new and forthcoming LP, Into The Blue. Following the Brooklyn drummer and singer's earlier 2024 7"s 'Bad News/Done Lyin' and 'Bring You A Ring', we now consider ourselves further enriched by this contradictorily loose but tight soul-funk flabbergaster, which veers bassy and beatific, making stark and strident use of etheric vocals by singer Kiyamma Griffin.
Fred Everything - "Never" (feat Robert Owens - Yoruba Soul mix) (6:23)
Fred Everything - "Never" (feat Robert Owens - Waajeed remix) (5:13)
Fred Everything - "Soul Love" (feat The Stereo MCs - Clive From Accounts remix) (4:43)
Fred Everything - "Breathe" (feat James Alexander Bright - Rocco Rodamaal remix) (5:55)
Review: Lazy Days Records brings together a powerhouse selection of deep house talent on this 12" compilation, delivering a lush mix of soulful, techy and emotionally resonant tracks. Fred Everything & Robert Owens' 'Never' shines in two contrasting remixes. The Yoruba Soul mix emphasises minimalism, maintaining a deep, soulful groove that lets Owens' iconic voice shine through in an intimate, stripped-back way. Meanwhile, the Waajeed remix adds a breezy, island-inspired twist, with atmospheric elements that make it feel light and melodic. Side-2 keeps the quality high with Fred Everything's 'Soul Love featuring The Stereo MCs and a Clive From Accounts Remix' that blends melodic house with a subtle dance vibe, crafting a deeply emotive yet buoyant atmosphere. Finally, 'Breathe' with James Alexander Bright, reinterpreted by Rocco Rodamaal, wraps up the release with its nuanced production and rhythmic beauty. Each track here embodies Lazy Days' deep house ethos while showcasing the label's affinity for innovative, soulful sounds that remain true to classic house roots.
Review: French Affair was a German-French dance-pop band that emerged at the dawn of the new millennium and had some heart success between 2000 and 2023. 'My Heart Goes Boom (La Di Da Da)' is one of them and 'Sexy' is another. It gets reissued here with several different mixes making it more suitable to club play and is an irresistibly bold, upbeat tune that collides infectious house drums with catchy, sultry vocals. The production is polished, with deep basslines and crisp percussion and a smooth vocal delivery adding a layer of steamy allure. This one is both seductive and fun and perfect for playful sets in the sun.
Review: Having previously reissued Fresh N Low's sublime debut 12", a deliciously deep double A-side, Rawax has once more dipped into the UK deep house artist's back catalogue and come up smelling of roses. Originally released, like its predecessor, in 1995, this three-tracker offers more hypnotic, intergalactic and effortlessly tactile early morning fare. Check first 'Interact', where yearning pads, hypnotic riffs and intergalactic electronics rise smooth deep house beats and an undulating bassline. Over on the flip we're treated to two takes on 'Get Up', the chunky East Midlands free party deep house-meets-formative tech-house flex of the 'Rise mix' and the more sparkling, wide-eyed and warehouse-ready 'Shine mix'. Classic UK business that should be in any discerning deep house head's record collection!
Review: Rawax Germany is set to relaunch Fresh and Low's enduring classic, Wind On Water. Originally dropped in 1996 on Chicago's Guidance label, this seminal deep house track struck a chord that resonates to this day. The reissue is a loving tribute, bringing together emotive pads, tight beats and infectious basslines that defined a generation. Carefully re-mastered, Wind On Water captures that iconic atmosphere while feeling exceptionally relevant for today's dancefloors. A quintessential addition to any serious vinyl collection, it's an essential find for lovers of deep house sophistication.
Review: French synth-dub duo Froid Dub return with a fresh sonic exploration on their new six-track album, taking their blend of synth wave and dub to new depths. Known for their organic-meets-digital sound, they push the boundaries even further with this release. The album features the unmistakable rhythms of the TR-808, now more submerged than ever in the thick, swirling echoes of digi-bass, creating a hypnotic atmosphere. Perfect for fans of experimental electronic and dub, this latest offering is another testament to Froid Dub's ability to fuse genres in a way that feels both timeless and forward-thinking.
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