Funky House Recommendations July 2013

Review: Those busy guys over at Defected are always quick to spot a valuable reissue or in this case, a stunning remix opportunity of an absolute classic! Lars takes care of giving Staton's "Hallelujah Away" a good tweaking, making it into a late-night house jam, keeping those beautiful lyrics in place but adding a hefty amount of shuffling kicks and snares to the pot. The dub is obviously deeper and more percussion-focussed but it nevertheless looses those beautiful pads which made the original so timeless. Recommended.

Review: Thee man from the nineteen thirties is back with some more polished brass! 3 new killer tracks in typical "Parov Stelar - Charleston Style", guaranteed to flip the floor from sad to swingin mad. "Chambermade Swing" - Perfectly sweeps away any winter moods. The speakers deliver a stomping bassline that hurls you more and more towards the hypnotic brass hookline. A peaktime climax! "Charleston Butterfly" features adorable vocalist Gabriella Hänninen performing a deeply emotional song into an unconventional clubtrack. Sweet pain! "Room Service" - Tiptoes with a shuffled groove and its tongue-in-cheek attitude through a smiling room. The Etage Noir crew officially announces the fact: Parov Stelar spent one of his earlier lives in Chicago in the nineteen thirties!

Review: Following their very respectful cover of Marvin Gaye, Swiss disco lotharios Estephe and Vulzor serve up another hot and steamy cover version and one very tasteful edit. "Set It Out" pays homage to Midway's 1984 classic with firing boogie licks and P-funk bass marathons. "Mercy", meanwhile, sees them returning to Gaye for inspiration. Less of a cover, more of a groove, it's a sampling masterclass.

Review: Giving their Nordic cosmic cousins a run for their money, Swedish Rollerboys continues their campaign for premium quality disco. Their last 12 featured the likes of Mark E and Prins Thomas and this one features even more of an all-star cast. The consistent sound throughout the EP is one of pristine, somewhat innocent, synth work, giving it an overwhelming classic 80s feeling. From Ultracity's uptempo new beat style bliss to the psychedelic effect of overlapping pianos and classic on "La Bahia Erotica" the entire EP oozes formative positivity.