WHODAMANNY レコード& CD

Review: Compared to his usual bouncy house tempos, Japan's increasingly re-emerging house delight Soichi Terada is back with some slower fare, but it's no less steeped in nostalgic 90s sass. "Tell Me What" is quintessential Terada, beaming out positivity from every channel with its catchy piano hooks, keyboard stabs and funky-ass breakbeats. It's a wonderful surprise that the track in reverse is included on the 12" as well. For an added treat, Mystic Jungle Tribe affiliate Whodamanny takes control on the B-side with two distinct versions ranging from the plastic 80s disco funk of the first remix through to a more curious, off-kilter "Post Modern Jazz Reinterpretation".

Review: Firecracker sub label Unthank is back with Whodamammy aka Raffaele Arcella, an Italian DJ and producer based in Naples. He's related to the collective Early Sounds Recordings (with local hero Massimo Di Lena) and is one of the founders of Periodica Records. The music on offer on the Prima Industria EP is is a fusion between cosmic sounds, proto house, jazz funk and electronica. After the sublime intro that is "Iris Primum" get gets straight down to business on the oddball acid of "Indigo Auctoritas" and a couple of short experimental pieces which make for curious listening. But it's all about the B side in our opinion, where the intergalactic space funk of "Wise Glaciem" made a nice impression, as did the rather Hieroglyphic Being sounding analogue soul of "Neuter Gyrum".

Review: Periodica is a new label from Italian collective Early Sounds Recordings which by their own description will represent their "freaky side," or in essence a platform for more esoteric fare from the likes of Mystic Jungle Tribe and The Normalmen. After a few cassette releases, Periodica presents a debut vinyl transmission from Whodamanny of Mystic Jungle Tribe called Cosmic Morphology. The meandering nature of the LP is in fact a tribute to the Casio CZ-101 synthesiser, comprised of skits, sketches, noodles and occasional grooves sandwiched together across nineteen tracks. It's a pretty wonky ride as you would expect, but it's equally rich in wonderful sounds coaxed from the much-loved synthesiser. Killer stuff as ever from the Early Sounds crew!!!

Review: KC