DJs: Most Charted - Disco - Most Charted April 2012

Review: The Vinyl Factory come through with yet another sumptuous twelve inch release that sees the Norse disco deities Todd Terje and Lindstrom & Prins Thomas remix two classics from the Roxy Music canon. Terje has of course been impressing more with his own productions of late, yet armed with the masters for the seminal "Love Is The Drug" he proves that his golden touch for remixing has not lost one iota of its enduring shine. Wisely choosing not to drastically change what is an almost perfect pop song, Terje elects to add plenty of echo and delay, deftly updating the track for contemporary ears without sacrificing any of Brian & co's sax infused charm. On the flip "Avalon" get's eased back into an expansive and largely horizontal Balearic chug by Linny & Prinny which offers a nicely paced accompaniment to the highly charged brilliance of the A Side.

Review: If you've been following the rise of Cosmic Forest dwellers Psychemagik for more than a minute, you'll be aware of their extremely chunky revision of Wang Chung's 1984 jam "Dancehall Days" which has been teasing new arrivals at their Soundcloud page for more than a year now. It finally gets a vinyl release here, and an official one to boot as Wang Chung vocalist Jack Hues was so impressed with their illicit take he sent them the stems for the official remix you see here. It's very much in line with their original edit but comes replete with that extra beef and on a neat white twelve inch. Another archival killer from the duo in "Beauty And The Bass" lines the flip too.

Review: Our man from Banff Eddie C makes a welcome return to the Endless Flight imprint that's been the conduit for so much of the Canadian producer's finely judged disco escapades over the years. Commencing with "Tunnel Mountain", Mr Currelly is on epic form, expertly teasing out a simmering and emotion drenched melodic refrain over a woozy mid tempo structure that intermittently jacks with real energy. Alongside it "Banff Butt" sounds like rough Chicago house slowed down to an opiated pace, while flipside opener "Iceline" is a typically sumptuous gallop through thick layers of textured beatdown. Finally "Descent" mainlines intermittent twilight boogie vibes through the stripped back groove.

Review: Now firmly ensconced in Berlin, Eddie C's last abiding memories of Banff, Canada, are wrapped up in this dinky seven inch, the second release on his fledgling Red Motorbike label. "Smile Again" was recorded with Common Edit boss Dane in the studio time before Mr C strode across the Atlantic, revisiting The Torpoons project last seen on The Cosmic Muskrat 7" for a shamelessly uptempo romp through disco that's almost too big for such a small format. Flipside and 7 Inches Of Love main man Koosh adds some tempo based variance with a west coast beat down funker in the shape of "Luv Handles".

Review: Given that Todd Terje's first original material in some five years resulted in one of last year's highlights with the Running Back released Ragysh, it's natural he would want to leave some space before following up. The first of a series of EPs crafted from using one bit of vintage gear in particular, It's The Arps sees Terje dabble with the intricacies of the Arp 2600 analogue synthesizer as well as pay homage to his favourite Monty Python sketch. This is just as nerdy as you'd expect from a man who recently launched a website with the specific intention of exploring the obsessive studio nature of his contemporaries. The aforementioned "Inspector Norse" is an obvious highlight here, slowly unfurling gorgeous layers of playful synthesis that grapple the simplistic drums with flirtatious delight. Naturally for someone who spends most weekends of the year in a nightclub, Terje demonstrates a real prowess for building up the track, teasing your senses once before unleashing the mid point monstrous moment. It makes for another signature track from Terje which is likely to engender a rapturous reception for many years to come. Alongside it, "Myggsommer" provides a brief, twee interlude into oddball sci fi soundscapes which again prove to highlight the Arp 2600's capacity for inventive and idiosyncratic sounds. From here Terje unveils a two part skywards saunter through "Swing Star" showcasing a more dextrous manipulation of the Arp 2600's melodies across the markedly more rhythmic upbeat first part and expansive luxurious cosmic subsequent endeavour. Whilst "Inspector Norse" is guaranteed to be the one track from this release you will hear in the international discotheques, the remainder of It's The Arps serves as a excellent reminder of Terje's ever growing talent as a producer.

Review: The second of two Crazy P gets the Remix treatment EPs to drop this week, with 20:20 Vision presenting some more familiar disco-centric names to complement the curveball that was the (admittedly stunning) Appleblim remixes. Band member Chris Todd adopts his Hot Toddy alias to deliver a typically searing midtempo house revision that deftly incorporates the rhythm from Quando Quango's Love Tempo amidst the constantly simmering synth patterns, whilst 2020 Soundsystem's Fernando goes deep into the track, offering up two versions. His stripped down and built back up dub version hypnotises, whilst the flipside vocal version waits a glorious age before Danielle Moore's familiar refrain appears. Needwant's Mario Basanov adds further horizontal poise on a string heavy bubbling disco revision.

Review: Since Duff Disco's first outing on his own label in 2010 he's been noted by edit masters like Greg Wilson and The Revenge for the quality of his music and his latest EP, All Good (In Duff's Hood), is no exception. The title track is an unhurried, sexy rhythm, and lethargic stabs have a ton of space to manoeuvre around a full bodied but muffled bass tone. "Dusty" nails that very particular fuzzy sound of needle on wax, interspersing the shuffling percussion with a soulful progression of piano keys. The sun-rise textures shed warm light against your face while you slowly sway back and forth on a deserted beach.

Review: Italian label Hell Yeah is no stranger to finely presented releases - see their last screen printed 12" from Margot - though they've outdone themselves with the latest release. Vannij collates several remixes from Italian social-kraut-disco pioneers Crimea X and houses them in a hand-numbered, screen printed sleeve encased in a sleek PVC outer sleeve. This alone should cause ripples of excitement amongst the vinyl fetishists, and musically the standards are more than matched. Proceedings begin with a sumptuous take on Welcome Back Sailor's 'chill wave anthem' "I'll Be There" and it's complemented by one from the archives as Crimea X's endlessly arpeggiated remix of Luca Baldini's "Hooked" - the group's first commission - gets a welcome new airing. It get's a bit darker on the flip, with Banjo Or Freakout and Dyno treated to Crimea X in more menacing mood.

Review: In the wait for a forthcoming Rub N Tug album as well as the first release on the newly minted Still Going imprint, Eric Duncan finds the time to proffer a fifth edition of his increasingly must-have Keep It Cheap twelve inches. Once again featuring the equally knowledgeable talents of Justin Vandervolgen, KIC 5 is another fine trawl through the dingiest corners of the disco bargain bin. "I Need A Nam" displays all of Duncan's editing prowess, swooping into discofied chunks of a throaty voiced diva's call for a man amidst a thrusting electronic boogie groove caked with dust. On the flip Vandervolgen presents a delay laden bump through the sort of neon tinged, sax heavy discoteria that sound tracked the Tech Noir nightclub in The Terminator.

Review: The moustached disco avengers at Sccucci Manucci drop their latest missive, featuring more transmissions from the disco underground. Argentinean based Toomy Disco provides "What Goes Around", a tightly produced disco-house number with horn snippets woven around low-slung grooves, whilst The Glue deliver "Without You" a hazy slo-mo looper with vocal teases and hypnotic guitar licks. On the flip, South West Seven lock themselves into a fast moving groove with "What Have I Got To Do", a track that contrasts its fast rhythmic pulse with vocals and guitars that slowly emerge from the filtered ether. Aeromaschine close proceedings with "Deep Champagne"; combining a deep and melodic bassline with improvisational touches and glitchy vocal stutters, it successfully forges its own sound whilst keeping in line with his disco counterparts.

Review: Forever the horizontally inclined innovators, International Feel introduce a mild curveball in their direction with Flights of Fancy, a new series showcasing what Balearic should sound like - through the custom made Ear Dimension Filters they employ on the coastline of Punta Del Este of course. The identity of those behind Flights of Fancy remains a mystery, as does so much with International Feel, but regardless both tracks present adopt a vintage discofied aesthetic that will find a place in many a heart. "Love's A Dancer" comes across like a forgotten Moroder gem given the Noid recordings treatment, whilst the altogether more widescreen vision of Balearica that is "Tempo Of The Night" positively glides towards the runout groove.

Review: Future Classic have been long time supporters of Joakim, hosting parties together in Sydney, commissioning him for remixes and "trying to get him to go surfing", so it makes sense for them to get a full 12" drop from the Tigersushi man. We get an extended take on Nothing Gold highlight "Labyrinth" and it's complemented by some finely chosen remixes. Canadian duo Junior Boys go for a widescreen, sumptuous synth heavy revision, whilst Lone rewires the track to a narcotic half step crunch. This twelve is also the last time you'll see the words Stopmakingme and remix together for a while, with Dan Avery soon to focus on material under his name proper. He signs off in style, teaming up with veteran studio sparrer and best dressed chicken in town Justin Robertson for a club ready take.