OPOLOPO レコード& CD

Review: Opolopo is a machine when it comes to serving up superb disco, funk and soul sounds. He's done so for two decades on plenty of top labels from Toolroom to Version Galore to Gamm. This time out he finds himself on a self-released tip with X Machine which is a mash-up of James Brown. The original vocals cut through funky basslines and lots of big percussions as the loose drums rumbled on next to warming organ chords. The instrumental is a more direct to dancefloor jam.

Review: Opolopo and Alafia have hooked up here to work together on a new musical journey that takes the form of these two richly layered percussive monsters. 'Axxanxxan' and 'Axxiove' which arrive on this 12" from Canopy are as addictive as it gets - they fuse Afro rhythms and disco dazzle with synth innovation to create a pair of dance bombs with real tribal energy. The A-side is detailed with metallic bass, choppy guitars and swirling synths that add up to a nice tropical sotmg, while the flip has more prominent drums and hypnotic rhythms that have a subtle cosmos twist. Two gems from Canopy, then.

Review: Gilberto Gil and Ernie Watt's classic jazz dancer 'Gondwana' gets a big remake here for the main man OPOLOPO. He offers a tweak that brings broken beat funk, with his jazz-fusion keys dancing over the shuffling drums and bass and mad pianos brings the vibes. The vocals are the icing on the cake for this class South American party starter. On the flip he turns his sights to Kevin Moore's 'Speak Your Mind' which is a summery and soulful disco heater with a squelchy boogie bassline that takes off and ensures the dance floor will do the same.