Macchianera - "Gotta Dance" (De Gama Re-Groove) (5:24)
Niels F - "Trying To Love" (De Gama Re-Drums) (6:11)
MP Soundworks - "Gotta Get It" (4:46)
Review: Samosa Records delivers another funk-fuelled feast with Vol2, a double-vinyl delight bursting with disco grooves. Dirty Elements & Drunkdrivers open with 'Koko,' which is a clavinet-driven, string-laced dancefloor gem and then Macchianera's 'Gotta Dance' gets the De Gama re-groove treatment-soulful, brassy and endlessly playable. Niels F.'s 'Trying To Love' grooves with filtered strings, brass and a slick vocal hook that is nicely enhanced by De Gama's re-drums. MP Soundworks closes with the Afro-tinged 'Gotta Get It,' a tribal-infused banger powered by looped vocals and a bouncing bassline. This is a very useful collection that underlines Samosa's fine ear for cutting talent.
Review: UK-born, Spain-based house head Marlon Lopez faces off with downtempo king Nightmare son Wax here for a pair of dubbed-out cuts packed with soul and classic samples. 'Cancel Dat' rides a choppy groove with bleeping synth sequences and the tightest of pinging kicks, and as it unfolds, you get ever more hypnotised. 'Patang' has a dry, retro-future sound with chilly synth modulations and snappy hits, while a snaking, dubby bassline adds the weight. Two great sounds for back rooms and basements full of real heads only.
Review: Continuing their mission to retrouve genres across the spectrums of Latin funk and cumbia, Original Gravity welcome back founding favourites Luchito and Nestor Alvarez with yet another sonic vitamin D pill, presaging the warmer days to soon come. Both sides tap into that rich 60s and 70s Afro-Carib crossover sound, with, at least on the face of it, no studio trickery in earshot (though careful listens reveal the method behind the majesty). Anyone with a weakness for brass-led Latin burner will melt on contact with this one.
Review: FaF's Marseille-based label Durite has assembled another Various Artists compilation full of global soundscapes inspired by Middle Eastern rhythms on one side, while the other blends psychedelic Japanese and Chinese samples into trippy, atmospheric cuts. Italian producer Nativo balances deep house and electro with worldly flair, French artist Pagenty keeps ting dubby and slow with snaking leads and hiccuping drums. Fellow Frenchman Blinkduus Dischetto sparkles with raspy synth leads and celestial keys and Crane De Poule then serves up 'Lucky,' the clear EP highlight with its hurried Eastern Melodie and vocal samples over a clipped and tight tech beat.
Review: 'Cosmic Love' is the second release from Metrica Recordings and it's been crafted by label co-founder Ne,g who delivers a spacious yet grounded sound built from house groove but embellished with cosmic, electro, and deeper touches. 'Cosmic Love' is raw and direct with everything turned up loud and the retro bassline texture underpinning the swirling pads. 'Driving To Cb21' is a more introspective sound but not short of groove. Two standout remixes elevate the release as Alex Neri transforms the title track into a polished, club-ready journey driven by propulsive rhythms, while Manuold offers a dub-leaning version rich in echo and atmospheric depth.
Review: Reissued to mark 50 years of Bomp! Records, this 7” revives two sweetmeats from Nikki And The Corvettes, all teased hair, leather jackets and bratty charm. ‘Honey Bop!’ leads with snotty vocals and handclap hooks, wired on girl-group gloss and Ramones-tight riffs. On the flip, ‘Shake It Up’ elevens up the fuzz and attitude, nodding to 60s garage and jukebox sleaze. Originally released by Bomp! - the label who helped connect power pop, punk and psych weirdness under one roof - this single rattles with the same no-rules spirit that defined the imprint’s heyday. The Corvettes never hung about long, but their bubblegum snarl still cuts sharp.
Review: Happiest of birthdays to Super Spicy who celebrate half a decade in the game with an EP of irresistible tunes. Phunque kicks the party off with an old school vibe that pairs a superb male vocal with crisp, effective drums. Bob Musella brings sample magic on 'Baby Hot Stuff' and Ysheso, Ralo keep the disco-tinged house feels flowing with a percussive monster. After the smoother sounds of Ghosts Of Venice, the flip side brings a trio of funked-up and guitar-laced house grooves that take it back to the glory days of New York.
Review: Ma?h is based in Berlin but makes occult techno inspired by Tikal, which is the ruin of an ancient Mayan city in Guatemala. He creates a sense of ancient ritual, tribalism, primaeval drums and otherworldly atmosphere across five fantastically evocative and escapist cuts here. They all go deep, with rubbery rhythms marbled with wordless vocals, chanting, eerie FX and absorbing mysticism that is all expertly done and hugely authentic. 'Acat' is a standout with its lolloping bass and tom-peppered beats, while 'Exorcismo' is more intense and heady. 'Caiman Ritual' is a humid and intense dub techno bumper, and it rounds out one of the most original EPs we've heard in ages.
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