Shirley Diamond & Jesse James - "You Don't Know Who You Sleeping With" (3:56)
Shirley Diamond - "You Don't Know Who You Sleeping With" (3:43)
Review: Diamond & James, aka Jesse James and Shirley Diamond, unite for a timeless collaboration that will swell the heart. First introduced by the late Harvey Scales, Jesse and Shirley's partnership flourished over time while Shirley, an educator from Atlanta, balanced her performing career with teaching, always showcasing her talents on weekends and school breaks. She has graced stages alongside music icons like Atlantic Starr and Bobby Bland, proving herself to be a versatile talent with notable releases like 'You Don't Have To Be Sad, To Sing The Blues' and 'Strong Woman'. This one 'You Don't Know Who You Sleeping With,' is a duet produced by Felton Pilate that highlights their enduring musical synergy and dedication to their craft.
David Dingess - "Hyper Love" (Toni Rossano edit) (4:17)
Jaegerossa - "The Buzz" (6:07)
Cruisic - "Inspector Norse" (Slowly remix) (4:47)
FSQ - "This Is Carribean Disco" (A Tom Moulton mix) (6:28)
Review: Midnight Riot help the listener carve out their own personal Balearic headspaces with their new compilation Balearic Headspace, likening the "experience" of Balearic not just to a sound, but an affect, one that cannot be experienced without specific records or specific times and places. Do we believe it to be true? We may or may not, but that doesn't distract from the whopping curation job here, with most tunes on offer consisting of both total newness and reworks/revisions by the Midnight Riot crew; this 12" is a four-track selection of a wider 19-track digital comp. Our highlight has to be the ultra-smeary Tom Moulton mix of 'This Is Caribbean Disco' by Fsq, which floats atop a serious floe of stretched-out axe bubble and echoing crosstick, as its lyrics deal in word-painted themes of being held underwater. As mindfully, cognitively Balearic as it gets!
Review: The Stay Up Forever label hits release number 13 but there isn't a bit of bad luck in sight - instead, this is a potent EP of eyes-wide techno from Sam DFL who links up with a quartet of different collaborators and aims, it seems, simply to blow your brains. These jams are laden with hard techno tropes and distorted, fuzzy bass as well as video game signifiers, trance-techno pads and bright, visceral, vibrant melodies. Hammer Mode & Sam DFL's 'Bad Time 4 Acid' is a particular standout here for its high speed and compelling acid grooves.
Review: The Samosa label returns with Part 2 of the Re-Funk Head project, once again showcasing top-tier disco grooves. Opening up is Dirty Elements & Drunk Drivers feat. E.M.E with 'Disco Ball,' a sassy, high-energy track featuring a standout brass ensemble, while track 2, 'Ain't No Doubt About It' by Moplen, entices with disco beats, bongo rhythms, and a masterful bassline. Jazzyfunk's 'Sexy Thing' continues the disco theme with soaring strings and a punchy bassline, perfect for any dance floor moment. Closing the EP is DeGama's 'Feel The Groove,' a powerful tune blending house vibes with blues-inspired guitar and sultry saxophone. Re-Funk Head Part 2 is essential for serious funk fans.
Review: Gene On Earth's Limousine Dream label is a relatively recent arrival on the well-established minimal tech house scene, but it's quickly become a trusted source for sparkling early morning magic for those who like classic house touches in their stripped back club rollers. True to the mood, this VA EP is called One Long Groove, and the tracks contained within are all well built to sustain the party for a good long time. That doesn't make them forgettable building blocks mind you - there's vibrant detail and fresh synthesis bursting out of each production, giving you plenty to work with for those never-ending DJ sets.
Review: Moiss Music released a hot pair of EPs in February and repeat the same trick in May with another quality double drop. It is a various artists offering as always with DJ Delivery's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' a sure-fire floor-filling anthem to start things off. It's got loopy drums and string samples as well as sumptuous vocal harmony then Borka & The Gang keep the feel-good vibes alive with 'Kidding Feelings and Even Funkier's' Dance With Your Feet' is another smile-inducing bit of disco warmth with withering sic-fi synths and hip swinging claps. Jordan Reece's 'Prayer' has hints of gospel in the vocal while noodling keys and tight kicks all get looped to perfection.
Review: A deliberate exercise in Y2K aesthetics and cyberpunk electrance comes in the creative output of DJ Natural Nate - his latest EP for Hoodwink Recordings, 'Notes To Jiggabot' - which consists of four tracks eulogizing his cybernetic partner-in-crime, Jiggabot (several releases from this pair have come out since mid 2018) and seemingly the object of his fantasmic affections. Whether the likes of new numbers 'Chasing The Rhythm', 'I Will Shine For You' or 'Far Away' originate from some angelic conceptual otherworld or this banal material one, it's hard not to love the signifiers poured into the EP: US freestyle jaunts, pure femme vocals doused in reverb-reverbs and melismatic hums; hyper-compressed, lightsabre-sculpted beats and visual cues reminiscent of childhoods spent lost in postmodern futuristic fantasies, such as those of Deus Ex or Blade Runner.
Review: Mark Grusane presence on Disctechno brings with it a compilation of five unique house tracks from Chicago and Detroit-based producers, as you will probably have guessed from the title. The A-side features DJ Slush's synth-driven 'Memory Blank' and Deon Jamar's bass-heavy 'AYYYO' which offer different but both killer sounds. The B-side opens with Jordan Zawideh's reverb-drenched 'Axolotls' followed by Grusane's intense, atonal 'The Recoil' and concludes with Thomas Xu's groovy 'School Street.' All of these are the sort of off-kilter sounds you would expect of these revered and enduring electric hotbeds. Raw, stripped-down and authentic, this is the contemporary Midwest underground.
Review: Destination Finland: Straight Up Breakbeat roll their sleeves up for this almighty VA from some of the most respected jungle crafters you could possibly shake a dubplate at. Local legend Sofa links with Rupture Queen Mantra for the opening cut 'The Tunnel'. Dark and tense, it sets the scene for some utterly fantastic moments. Long time pals Basic Rhythm & Tim Reaper get silly with 'Target Lock', Blood Trust gets militant with 'RLLR 24' while Jesta finishes with a little blue-faced bust-up 'Liquor Snurf'. Sup sup!!
Review: Pioneering deck technician, scratch DJ, hip-hop master and sometime restaurateur DJ Yoda is doing a fine job of showing us his more sensitive time of late. After his super sweet 7" with Nubya Garcia he now joins forces with Joel Culpepper. This most sublime vocalist croons over laid back and jazzy beat work from Yoda. Deep, tumbling bass adds weight to 'London Fields' while Culpepper's soulful and pained vocal really hits the mark in some style. An instrumental is included on the flip which is just as blissed out, but allows the noodling sax more room to breathe.
Review: Three sumptuous offerings of quality grooves from the Aesthetic series, as Paris club scene fave Djebali and Argentinian DJ and producer Jorge Savorett join forces once again. This choice trio definitely veers on the side of the under rather than over stated, preferring to rely on warm rhythmic flourishes and enticing, inviting instrumentation rather than thumping firepower or gimmickry. The beats are tight and hypnotic, with perhaps just the slightest hint of a nod to the shuffling drum machine funk of early Derrick May productions like 'Nude Photo' here and the more head nodding repetition of Chicago jack house there. Aesthetically pleasing for sure.
Review: For the sixth edition of Sleazy McQueen's limited run on Whiskey Disco, you can bet that he's gonna serve up some serious disco deviance - and he sure as hell doesn't disappoint! First up on the A side, come and dance (a little bit closer!) with Tromso's Doc L. Junior on the very familiar hooks of "Closer", GOD (Grumpy Old DJs) from Colombia deliver some sexy late night mood lighting on "Chicha D'Humo" and newcomer Just Baker plays it well rolled (low slung!) on the irresistibly groovy "You Make Me Feel So Fine".
Review: Doctr's third trip to Bordello A Parigi delivers another gem with 'Now You Can Fly'. This time, he's teamed up with Julia to create two tracks brimming with peak-time energy and infectious rhythms. The title track is a burst of hi-NRG euphoria. Doctr expertly layers bending synths and sharp stabs over relentless beats, all while Julia's vocals add a soulful edge. There's a sense of anticipation in the air, each key change lifting the track to new heights. As the vocals weave in and out, the uplifting melodies build a strong synergy, creating a seamless blend of emotional depth and dancefloor power. On the flip, 'Now You Can Fly' takes a different approach. The vocals are stripped back, allowing the track's instrumental elements to shine. Sun-soaked synth lines float effortlessly above calypso-tinged percussion, creating a summery vibe that's both breezy and energising. The contrast between the two versions is striking, with the instrumental allowing the track's deeper textures and melodic layers to take centre stage. Doctr's latest offering is a masterclass in how to craft uplifting, feel-good music that doesn't sacrifice depth for accessibility. Whether it's the vocal-driven euphoria of the A-side or the more understated warmth of the flip, 'Now You Can Fly' is a testament to his ability to create tracks that resonate on multiple levels - exactly what the doctor ordered.
Review: Part one of Refuge's new La Decima V/A 12" series hears select tunes from select artists, all of whom have made significant contributions to the label's catalogue over the years. Spanning everything from firmly driven nu-disco to scratch n' sniff garage house to Chi-style stompers, we're more than enthralled by this well-rounded resonator. The best of the bunch has to be Demuir's 'Vibez High', which moves unabashed and stringy, its clawing claps, freeze-locked funk licks and scraping open hats painting a vivid street scene set outside the house.
Double Dee - "Found Love" (feat Dany - Dimitri From Paris remix edit) (3:27)
Jestofunk - "Say It Again" (Micky More & Andy Tee remix edit) (4:29)
Review: For the latest instalment of the label's occasional seven-inch series, Groove Culture has decided to offer up fresh takes on classic Italian house hits. On side A, the legendary Dimitri From Paris gets his mitts on Double Dee's 1990 number 'Found Love', re-imagining it as a colourful blend of rubbery nu-disco and hands-in-the-air piano house that rightly places Dany's recognisable lead vocal front and centre. Flip for label chiefs' Micky More and Andy Tee's take on Jestofunk's 1993 classic 'Say It Again'. Like much of their work, the Italian duo's translation blurs the boundaries between funk-fuelled house and revivalist disco, with flanged, occasionally bluesy guitars, strung-out synth solos and energy-packed sax lines catching the ear.
Review: This new tune on the crucial Original Gravity label finds Donnoya Drake covering the classic Shirelles joint 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow.' She re-sings the vocal in her own way, adding extra soul and spice, while the reggae rhythms swagger down low with plenty of drum fills and undulating guitar riffs. On the flip, Junior Dell & The D-Lites offer up 'I Can't Turn You Loose' which is a classic reggae sound with big horns energy and fat bottomed low ends all sweeping you up inna lovely rhythm that never lets up. Another 7"s of gold from this label.
Review: Sao Paulo's Junior Dread brings his world reggae excellence to this latest gem from Red Peak Sound. The collaboration began when J.Brenner met Junior at Minneapolis' Word Sound Power Festival back in 2022 and soon after they began making music and it led to two powerful tracks act were finely crafted through extensive mixing and testing. On the A-side here is a slow, heavy stepper evoking a vision of resilience atop Babylon's heart, paired with a dubwise mix that strips the rhythm to its core. The B-side offers a meditative one-drop rhythm and uplifting lyrics and is also accompanied by a swirling dub version that transcends space and time.
Review: It's coming home, it's coming home - house music is coming home! A second instalment of the Groove Access: series Chicago Is Home offers us five fresh tracks from the windy city landing in a glorious cavalcade of razor edged snares and hypnotic jack house. Ed Nine & Kid Enigma's 'Bandleaders' opens side one in spectacular fashion with spoken mantras lying deep in the mix, distinctive phasing arpeggios, poking keyboard riffs and ringing cymbals. JSquare's 'Get Wicked' kicks with even more power, tribal rhythms bouncing of bleepy melodies, before 'Move' by Geto Mark rounds off the side with the strutting, beautifully brutal 'Move', a proper 3AM peak time pleaser. Steve Noah's 'The Hater' opens side two, a wily acid line worming its way across a raw, stripped down backing before exploding into serious gnarliness when you least expect it. AFTR's 'Undercover' rounds things off with another knuckle duster of a tune, leaving no doubt that Chicago is still the place to be when it comes to house.
Review: Inhale Exhale will have you doing just that at a fair pace once you've dropped the needle on their latest record. It's a sweet trip into the depths of house and disco with seasoned artist Eddie C igniting the dance floor with a disco-infused anthem sure to set your hips swaying. Tilman crafts a delectable nu-groove track evoking the essence of the 90s with 'Forevermore' and then debuting on vinyl, Julius Renner embarks on a soulful journey to the heart of the dancefloor. Fresh talent Toomy Disco offers a funky, introspective bomb, Ron Brown serves up a deep, Latin-infused organ piece brimming with melancholy and optimism. Last of all, Meeshoo delivers a soul-stirring fusion of strings and disco brilliance.
Review: Akka & BeepBeep is a new label from the US that is dropping its first two EPs simultaneously on Valentine's Day. Joradesilver is behind one, and also feature sin collaborative mode on this other 12". It opens with 'King David', a hi-tek house sound with soul drenched pads and tightly programmed drums and bass. 'Mango Strut' slows right down to dubbed out house with clattering percussion and the sound of spacecraft, then 'June Buggy' gets funky with more twitchy cosmic synths and a nice organic house groove. 'Callin' Dybbs' is a deep and smoky closer for the backroom with a sublime sax line drifting throughout.
Review: Jackie Edwards' 'His 'Do You Love Me' is a pure good vibes only roots reggae roller, with laid back drums and bass that sit in one another perfectly. Plenty of rousing organ chords ring out with great self delight as soothing melodies take off to the stars. Flip it over for a head melting, knob twirling remix that makes use of a vast mixing desk to bring out the dub goodness.
John Wagner Coalition - "Cold Sweat" (edit) (3:12)
Review: Mushi 45 is launching a new series featuring fresh edits of obscure covers of cuts by James Brown and the JB's. The first boasts two thoroughly obscure covers of "Cold Sweat". On the A you'll find a tidy tweak of a rousing, raucous and sexually charged 1968 version by El Klan, a Mexican band renowned for their heavyweight take on funk, soul and rhythm and blues. Over on side B you'll find an interpretation from the John Wagner Coalition that originally featured on their 1976 debut album, which unusually was made up entirely of James Brown covers. Their version is a little more laidback, with tons of spacey synthesizer flourishes, crunchy Clavinet lines and oodles and wild Hammond organ solos.
Review: The latest release from Peckings Records features two classic tracks that exemplify the golden era of reggae. On the A-side, Alton Ellis and Phyllis Dillon deliver a heartfelt rendition of 'I'm Just A Guy,' showcasing their harmonious vocals and timeless appeal. The B-side presents Joya Landis's 'I Love You Baby,' a soulful tune that complements the A-side's emotive tone. This 7" single is a must-have for collectors and reggae enthusiasts, offering a nostalgic journey into the rich musical heritage of the genre.
Review: Caleto Records's eighth outing takes the form of this various artists compilation featuring exclusively Polish producers. The Etat Cru duo of Olszewski and Pawlescu kick off with the wire and sinewy synths and tech house pomp of 'Jasmina' then Jerry M offers two cuts. 'Gutek' is a nice spaced-out tech cruiser with flashy astral pads and 'Gondin' rides on well-designed breakbeats with an old-school bassline. Robsessive's 'Look After You' is a deeper, dubber, grittier cut for late-night vibes and SIM ON's 'Brudas' is all glitchy and dystopian urban landscaping. Poland sure has plenty of talent based on this EP.
Review: There is currently only one copy of this on Discogs and it is listed at a rather eye watering L1200. Thankfully this reissue means you can own an undeniably brilliant tune for a much more reasonable price. It is a seminal New Orleans joint from the main man Eddie Bo who made it for the hugely popular group The Explosions. Juanita Brooks is the powerhouse soul sister who provides the vocals and on the other side is something just as good - a deep soul gem to warm you to your core.
Firefly - "Love Is Gunna Be On Your Side" (Dave Lee Love Emergency mix) (9:42)
Ruffneck - "The Power - The Rhythm" (Backroom Productions Feel The music mix) (5:17)
Johnny Dynell - "Rhythm Of Love" (Larry Levan Garage dub) (5:33)
Doug Willis - "Doug's Disco Theme" (Doug Disco mix) (7:18)
Review: In its full digital form, Z Records' excellent Life's Better With Disco Comp is an epic 37 tracks deep. Naturally there aren't that many cuts on this sampler 12", but the four on show are undoubtedly amongst the set's many highlights. Boss man Dave Lee kicks things off via a superb classic disco-meets-nu-disco revision of Firefly's 'Love Is Gunna Be On Your Side', before there's a chance to cop an obscure Backroom Productions rework of their early proto-house/garage-house gem (as Ruffneck), 'The Power - The Rhythm'. The mid-'80s fun continues on Larry Levan's vintage remix of Jonny Dynell's 'Rhythm of Love' - a killer fusion of dubbed-out synths and drums and Konk style Latin percussion - while Doug Willis' 'Doug's Disco Theme' is a classic disco-house number from Lee under one of his many alternative aliases.
Review: NeoAcid returns with another EP of uncompromising techno, a sonic assault that's sure to leave a lasting impression. Flkn's 'The Jam' sets the tone, a relentless barrage of distorted kicks and acid lines that feels like a descent into a chaotic, industrial underworld. Collaborations with Jacidorex and Vcl push the boundaries further, their twisted soundscapes and distorted rhythms creating a sense of exhilarating chaos, like a runaway train hurtling through a dystopian landscape. On the flipside, Pisapia takes the reins, offering a slightly different flavour with hypnotic grooves and infectious melodies that add a touch of dark energy to the mix. A headfirst dive into the depths of techno, a sonic thrill ride that will leave you disoriented and exhilarated.
Review: Emma Noble, the emerging soul singer from London, delivers a powerful performance on the girl group soul anthem 'Unstoppable'. Her second single, it's poised to become a next-gen floor-filler; catch us playing it on repeat, *in flagranti*, after it premiered on Craig Charles' BBC6 Soul Show in early 2025. 'Going Going Gone' backs it up on the B-side, as the first single from FPE's upcoming album Waves. Hearing rising Australian singer-songwriter and pop genius J Mahon on vocal duties, the track's catchy brass sections combine with J's androgynous soul vocals, and evokes the sounds of young Motown artists in the style's 60s adolescence.
Review: Burnt Friedman and Joao Pais Filipe's collaborative efforts began back in 2018. The former using synthesis and electronics to paint subtly but incredibly specific aural pictures, the latter focusing on the drum and rhythmic end of things. At times their music feels entirely designed for the dancefloors of underground electronic clubs, in other moments it's something very different indeed.
This latest EP lives up to those broad brushstrokes. '21-30' is a lush, almost tropical sounding workout that offers a complex percussive pattern, and combines these with gentle shades of melody, harmony, hook and distorted note. '22-105' brings elements of glitchiness and robotics into the mix. Meanwhile, '18-140' would work well as a brooding building tool (or section) of a 'proper techno' mix, with '23-130' bridging gaps between the lot.
Review: The cultured ESHU label has pulled other some more tasteful talents for this four track 'Conrexture' EP. It opens up with Julien Fuentes's 'Jah Justice' (Klaridub Ambient mix) which is a nice atmospheric opener with some conscious dub mutterings and sci-fi pads. Jocelyn & Yasin Engwer then kick on with some watery, sub-aquatic minimal dub tech bliss in the form of 'Sticks & Stones', Voal gets even more dark and dirty with some grubby dub basslines on 'Eight Ball' and Ivano Tetelepta/Christine Benz layer up watery droplets, melodic whistles, static electricity and rubbery rhythms to mind-melting perfection on 'Supreme.'
Review: Two of the likeliest lads from Manchester team up for the first day release of their new collaborative project. And its something of a full circle moment, with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher previously citing Stone Roses hero John Squire in a list of formative teenage musical inspirations, who, in turn, first encountered the former when both bands were working the same studio, respectively recording Definitely Maybe and The Second Coming. The pair first shared honours three years after that, co-writing 'Love Me & Leave Me' for Squire's relatively short-lived outfit, The Seahorses, in 1997. Skip forward to 2022 and Squire joined the Gallaghers et al on stage at Knebworth, reprising his appearances for renditions of 'Champagne Supernova' at the band's 1996 shows, spurring the idea to do something together again. Here's the result - and it's precisely what the duo should sound like together.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.