Nathan Haines - "U See That" (feat Vanessa Freeman & Marcus Begg - Atjazz Love Soul mix) (5:12)
The Realm x Atjazz x Kelli Sae - "On The Road" (vocal mix) (7:58)
Review: Back ion 2021, the relaunched Foliage Records imprint offered up a killer mix from NYC house legends Mood II Swing, the must-check Deep Rooted. Soon, the revitalised label will release a sequel, with long-serving British deep house don Atjazz at the helm. This sampler EP boasts six of the highlights from that set - all remixed and reworked by Atjazz himself. There's much to enjoy throughout, from the tense, slowly building deep-tech shuffle of Halo''s 'Glorty (Atjazz Galaxy Art Remix)'and the sun-splashed 6am bounce of Atjazz's remix of Dominique Fils-Aime's gorgeous 'Sun Rise', to the dreamy dancefloor wooziness of Ralf GUM's 'AWA' (re-imagined by Atjazz as an Osunlade-esque spiritual house workout) and the jazzy, bass-guitar-propelled broken house excellence of 'On The Road (Vocal Mix)', a three-way collab between Atjazz, Kelli Sae and The Realm.
Young Pulse & Fleur De Mur - "Smooth Sweet Talker" (6:53)
Review: Get yourself geared up for festival season with some fierce party starters certified with the Glitterbox stamp. Melvo Baptiste leads the charge with 'Sweat', a sizzling disco house stomper with Dames Brown giving the biggest diva energy on her show-stopping vocal. Lovebirds bring unbridled joy on the Philly string swoon and slinky b-line funk of 'Burn It Down', while Art Of Tones & Inaya Day keep it peak time on the sassy strutter 'Give My Love'. Young Pulse & Fleur De Mur complete the set with 'Smooth Sweet Talker', another bright and bold vocal cut par excellence.
Review: When Toronto-based and ever versatile label Do Right! released 'Required Listening' - a raw, diverse and stunning compilation of sounds by artists from Toronto
- critics and music lovers around the globe took notice. 'Required Listening Volume 2' promises to keep up that standard of quality by featuring fresh tracks from
the West Coast, to the East Coast, with some stops in between. Vancouver's Cobblestone Jazz, a band comprised of world-renowned techno producer Mathew
Johnson, programmer Tyger Dhula and keyboardist Danuel Dante who are known for their hype live shows and their jazzy, minimal techno sound heard on the
track 'Creator'. Johnson's own tracks have received critical acclaim and have been caned by Laurent Garnier, Richie Hawtin and Tiga. Cobblestone Jazz have
been steadily creating a buzz around Europe, and were recently featured on Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 1. Also representing the West Coast is 8-member band
1 Luv along with vocalists Amaila Townsend, Deanna Teeple and Dawn Pemberton. Their groovy, soulful, jazzy house track 'Starz' explains why this band was
discovered by uber-crew Jazzanova and was featured on their 'Secret Love 2 Folk' compilation and how their music has been finding its way into the crates of
people like Phil Asher, Osunlade and Benji B. 'Starz' is taken from 1 Luv's debut album 'Neophilia' on Sonar Kollektiv.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Drop Music marks a marvellous quarter of a century of releases with this new slab of vinyl featuring some gems from disco funksters Crazy P and the house mainstays Inland Knights. Crazy P go first with 'Disc Odyssey' which is perfectly indicative of their much beloved sound with its low slung kicks and funky bassline. Inland Knights then offer a trio of in demand & unreleased tracks. 'Overnight' is a bumming deep house joint, 'Walk On' has an icy late night vibe and balmy pads and 'Do It Again is a more playful closer, with some killer b-line action. All four, needless to say, are timeless gems, and the fact the last two are appearing on vinyl first the first time makes it an even more desirable cop.
Crown Prince Of Waterford - "Getting Fingered On The Waltzers" (13:19)
Island Times - "Together" (5:47)
Umberto Lumber - "Between Those Sheets" (4:54)
Review: Chubby Irish groove hounds Fatty Fatty return with another sublime funk-stacked V/A three tracker. Local lad Crown Prince Of Waterford (not to be confused with the legendary blues singer) lays down a furiously funky jam about having fun at the fairground while fellow Emerald Isle strutter Island Times returns Fatty Fatty with a loose-limbed falsetto-loaded twanger. Finally, we fly off into the Italian sunset with a stunning slow jam from Umberto Lumber. A twinkling slo-mo chugger with serious cosmic tendencies, what a way to finish an EP.
Review: The world of dark disco tech is vast and so covers plenty of niches and nuances with artists all over the world adding their voice to the conversation. Spanish label Waste Editions offers up four more to the mix here with another well-assembled VA. Dark Vektor's 'Amb La Mirada Ens Menjarem' begins with some synth sounds that evoke a horror scene over snappy drums and sleazy guitar riffs. Synth Alien's 'Replica Cosmica' gets a little more loose but still comes with evocative vocal samples and a characterful world of synth sounds, some that fart, some that gurgle, some that amuse. Imiafan's 'Stupaj (Keen K RMX)' is another prying, loopy sound brought to life with myriad effects, textures and vocal snippets and Wardum shuts down with 'Wrambling' which has grinding bass and scuttling effects topped with occult vocals.
Review: Drop Music marks a quarter of a century of reliable and ever-on-point sounds with a special series of EPs that embodies what it's always been about, offering up both classics and never-before-released tunes. This one kicks off with 'Make A Move' which is chunky low-slung tech. It unfolds at a relatively slow tempo but that gives the fat acid gurgles time to really hit. Inland Knights then serves up the next three cuts, starting with the bass bin bothering sounds of 'Push It', the more silky tech loops of 'Long Time' and the vocal-laced acid-tech swagger of 'Same Talk.' Here's to the next 25 years.
Review: The endlessly fertile scenes that are minimal and tech house yield more essential DJ goodness here as Bread & Butter assembles a selection of talents for this ninth various artists' release. Alex Font & Aron open up with 'Walking On Clouds' which is not as airy and dreamy as it might sound, but does lay down a nice deft minimal groove. Beiger has a more sunny outlook with the mellifluous synth clouds of his 'Audible Illusions' and Mihai Pol then brings ouse late night jazz house cool to his 'Bip Bip.' Iuly B completes a varied package with the heady loops and wispy cosmic synth motifs of 'Bouncing Lights.'
Groove Armada - "Get Down" (feat Stush & Red Rat - Mark Knight extended mix) (6:15)
Illyus & Barrientos - "When You Gonna" (extended mix) (5:41)
David Penn & Offiah - "Satisfied" (5:18)
Ben Remember - "Waiting 4 You" (extended mix) (5:16)
Review: Mark Knight's epic Toolroom label returns with a four-track sampler featuring plenty more big-room house excursions. First up, the boss himself offers up an extended mix of Groove Armada's legendary 'Get Down' which is full of rave stabs and big vocals. Illyus & Barrientos offer the synth laced and peak time sounds of 'When You Gonna' and David Penn & Offiah combine for the supersized piano house rollercoaster that is 'Satisfied' complete with big hooky vocals. Last of all comes Ben Remember's 'Waiting 4 You' (extended mix) which ducks and dices with some smart filters, chopped-up vocal stabs and raw percussive house energy.
Review: Will Hofbauer and Igaxx collaboratively expand the all-too-easily received palettes of electro, techno, garage all in between, and even more yonder, proving to us that the boundary edges of each genre may be blurred without worry. Sharing three groove-bays each on this latest 12", Hofbauer indulges an across-the-pond sojourn, guesting on Japan's Ladybug label, which is managed by the also eminent Igaxx, who occupies the B with equal grip. Hofbauer's 'Cricket', 'Clod' and 'Cocodrilo' bring three endocrine C's to a singly sanguine side, echoing a Hessle Audio-esque experimental dance sensibility while secreting all manner of vital sonic fluids from his ears unto ours; the last track is especially alarming; cursedly toothy, its growly lead zombifying the elsewise rapid mix by way of an enthralled grunt. Igaxx's contributions are relatively supportive and yet mad, moving from the squelches and pipey ascensions of '4 5 SL Trip' to the parabreaks flows of 'Liquefy' and the sloshing cosmo-funk astro-vista that is 'Ray In Space'.
DJ Jazzy Jeff & Kaidi Tatham - "Doin' The Most" (7:32)
Matthew Law - "Dilla's Disco" (4:10)
Review: The Private Stock label is back with more of their irresistible house magic with a limited translucent red splattered 12" featuring some pretty big names. Terry Hunter kicks off with the sort of guitar-laced roller that you imagine would have been massive at Paradise Garage with 'Go Back Jack' then Ian Wallace brings big and sunny house stomps with his 'From Beginning To End.' DJ Jazzy Jeff & Kaidi Tatham then team up for the irresistibly feel-good disco, soul and house fusion that is 'Doin' The Most' and Matthew Law lays down dusty MPC drums with grinning bass and lo-fi atmospheres on the perfectly entitled 'Dilla's Disco.'
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
I Believe - "Master Spirit" (5:19)
Girls On Pills - "Vheladei" (Open Spaces Update) (4:44)
Steve Mantovani - "Doctor Of Dreams" (4:39)
Miki - "107" (Melly Melody version) (4:54)
Open Spaces - "A Beginning Of An Idea" (5:14)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Volume One of a label retrospective of pioneering early 90s Prog House label Interactive Test Compiled by Alex from Utopia Records and enigmatic Interactive Test founder Franco Falsini. Falsini, responsible for many of the underground classics on the label he founded in Florence in 1991 was first known for his 70s Italian Prog / Cosmic group Sensations Fix. A trailblazer who continued to push the boundaries of electronic music two decades later with Interactive Test, accompanied by the up-and-coming talents of Trance hero DJ Miki the Dolphin, his brother Riccardo and an host of cult Italian music producers. Here we start with 5 tracks from the archive, all highly collectable, remastered for DJs and psychedelic music enthusiastic alike from the best sources possible. Authentic and original dance sounds still hitting the spot in our times.
Review: Bellissimi Dischi di Ornavasso open the doors of the Archivio once again! Meticulously chosen from their vast, nigh boundless collection, each selection in this series maintains the warm and danceable sound that has continually distinguished SOMAR Records from the rest. 100% Italian, and certified by officer T. Campanat, their latest brings four new ones to the fore, which are increasingly whammy and experimental; 'Cosa C'e' is ear-infatuating enough, with its from-scratch handclaps and high strings, but from the jump of 'Mondo Killer' we realise we're in for a more experimental, electro-tinged and sample-heavy ride, ones like which we rarely hear.
Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass (XL remix) (9:14)
Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass (instrumental remix) (6:39)
Pong's Run (with Intergalactic Gary) (4:06)
Review: It's been 22 years since the release of I-F's razor-sharp Dutch electro anthem, "Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass". Given the upsurge in interest in electro of late, it's little surprise to see the man himself offering up this reissue, which is focused around two previously digital-only revisions that first landed back in 2010. Stretched out across the A-side is the brilliant - and undeniably mind-altering - "XL Remix", a nine-minute revision that gives greater prominence to the producer's twisted electronic riffs, industrial strength melodies and dusty drum machine percussion. This time round, it comes accompanied by both a vocoder-free Instrumental take and "Pong's Run", a lesser-known collaboration with Intergalactic Gary that's slow, spacey, out-there and thoroughly intoxicating.
Review: French label Boogie Butt gets us moving and grooving once more with a tasty new EP in the form of The Boogievison EP. It features a lead single from Ian Ash & Ella May, 'I Want To Thank You,' which pairs some jazzy chord work with a low-slung and warm house groove. The bass is funky and the vocals are seductive. It comes as an instrumental as well as a more direct and harder-edged Mr Doris & D-Funk remix. On the flip is Jessie Wagner & Fostin meet Ian Ash with 'Try Again,' a lovely soulful house groove with sublime and emotive vocals over another lush bass guitar. All very sweet tunes, these.
Review: Ichisan is back on the dazzling disco outlet Bordello A Parigi with more soulful house blends. The Slovenian producer mixes up clean electro lines and smoky disco grooves here as bold percussion sets the stage for melodic keyboard curves and throaty basslines while cosmic elements bloom throughout this nine-minute journey. 'Rodeo Disko' features off-kilter keys that evolve into solid strings with funky bubbles and distant vocoder echoes. 'Saturnus' is a bright Italo-tinged sound with lovely arps that constantly tumble over the lively beats and 'Fujirama ' features droplets of drums built into a racing rhythm next to spiralling synths and a thick, calming bassline.
Review: Ltd B's good recent run of form continues with another dive into lush deep house realms courtesy of ICTV. First off the mark is 'Hit The Floor' with its US garage-inspired drums and some old school hip-house vocals. 'Orange Mood' is a steamy one with romantic melodies soothing the soul and some smart vocals adding a tough of firey soul. 'Adrift' then picks up the pace with some high-speed jungle breakbeats and 'Dazzling' sinks back into loved-up late-night sounds with expressive vocal yelps. Last of all, 'Sunset Recall' takes things down into blissed out realms with dusty drums and wispy pads.
Review: The Jacuzzi Days EP, a collaborative effort between ICTV and DIMSUM, is a captivating exploration of house music's diverse landscape. Released on the strong French label House Puff, the EP showcases the artists' mastery of atmospheric melodies and infectious rhythms. 'Morning Dew' sets the tone with its deep house vibes, complemented by ethereal vocals and a serene atmosphere. Rama To NY' transports listeners to the golden era of New York house with its nostalgic synths and energetic beats while 'United Freedom Inc' captivates with its pulsating bassline and groovy vocals. 'Jacuzzi Days' provides a mellow conclusion that is perfect for winding down the night. With its seamless blend of classic house elements and contemporary influences, Jacuzzi Days EP offers some great dancefloor house music.
Review: Since rebooting their long-dormant Droid imprint earlier in the year, the Idjut Boys have used it as a vehicle to release some of their most wild, heavily electronic music in years. Portion Out of Control sees Dan and Conrad continue this trend with pleasingly heavy, mind-altering results. On 'Gum Saucer', they expertly work a pulsating, throbbing groove to the max, peppering a druggy bassline with breathless drum machine fills, delay-laden electronic motifs and brain-melting noises. 'Gas On Tap' is a more stripped-back chunk of new wave/EBM insanity that once again prioritises dubbed-out, echo-laden percussion, while 'Tartine De Merde' is a deeper, woozier chunk of intergalactic machine funk. Finally, 'Quick Bowl' sees them twist a raw, arpeggio-driven groove into a multitude of nightmarish, echoing sonic shapes.
Review: The iconic North London dance music duo Idjut Boys are famed for their nostalgia fueled offerings of dub, disco and house and join forces again for this 4 track single featuring 4 completely different takes on the track 'Speedball'. The 'Full Whip' version is an 80s powersynth with powerful kicks and synth perfection, an authentic use of a commodified sound used in the past couple of years. 'Severe Itching' takes the party downstairs into an acid techno rave, the liquid bass seeping through your ear canal into your skull - an utterly extraterrestrial experience. 'Strip Off Dub' is just that: a stripped back dub version of 'Full Whip'. Focusing on the heftier synths and bass, with the rushing wind effects that compromised 'Full Whip'. 'Whizbang Mix' invites you back into the bassment for another slice of acid house pie, the meeting point between 'Full Whip' and 'Severe Itching' that feels like trying to listen to the former after the laters aforementioned liquid has blocked your eardrums. This one's for the messy afterparty.
Review: As Toolroom only puts out a small percentage of their releases on vinyl, those given the wax treatment tend to be anthems in waiting. Martin Ikin's 'You', featuring some seriously loved-up, glassy-eyed lead vocals from Chenai, certainly sounds like a future classic. Shamelessly positive and life-affirming, 'You' is a turn-of-the-90s style piano house workout with added 21st century weight, a few disco-house style filters and a raw, stabbing bassline. The cheery vocal version (side A) comes back by a quite different Dub mix. This opts for a darker, chunkier big room sound - all wobbly riffs, pulsing electronic noises, cut up vocal snippets and mind-mangling motifs - that should delight all those who love Toolroom's trademark sound.
Review: Toolroom share the seventh instalment of their label Sampler series, bringing together four new ones from six artists in their roster; Martin Ikin, Raumakustik & Tony Romera, Low Steppa & Crusy, and Eden Prince. These are huge, ravey, deep techy numbers for the big-room-inclined; we're rhythmically and vocal-samply implored to oscillate at a nigh-militant frequency, though the impulse to dance doesn't come without its shuffles and wonks. Our highlight here is the beatless breakdown in 'BFG', on which that delicious chord stab truncates all expectations thereafter.
Review: Red Laser is back with just one more gem before the end of the year of our Lord 2024. Apparently already tried and tested at recent parties in Manchester, this release brings four prime Italo disco edits all curated by Bosco. These tracks were unearthed during his many trips to Italy and have since been refined for the club and 'Destiny' opens with pulsating arpeggios, cosmic bass and a stunning female vocal that gets the airtime it deserves. Next, 'Flavio' delivers a classic Italo vibe, 'Newsin' is a catchy track blending marimba and synth and closer 'Lace' is a proto-goth new wave piece with a romantic edge.
Review: Red Laser has long been champion of what they call 'Manctalo' ie a fusion of Italo sounds with Manchester attitude. Il Bosco is next to contribute to that canon with The Darkroom EP. It's a limited edition four track that opens with 'Sexual', a throwback 80s disco jam with retro future pads and a great sense of mystery. 'Darkroom' then has big bright synth arps and chugging beats for expressive move-making in the club and 'Notio Botherdini' then gets a remix from the great Fabrizio Mammarella who turns everything up to 11. 'Darkroom' (Bob Swans remix) shuts down with an electro-tinged rhythm and lashings of cosmic goodness.
Review: Ildec has become an increasingly vital artist in the last couple of years. His quality and tasteful output nudges at the boundaries of house and tech with unique sense of character. That's true again here on a new EP for Exarde that starts with a darker sound and snappy tech drums. Otis & Paul Lution remix with a hint of electro pop and futurism and 'Solo Para Adultos' then brings some shimmering synths to kinetic kicks and claps. 'Koala' is a textured stomper with an industrial cosmic edge.
Review: The legendary single from Illusion's self-titled album, which includes iconic tracks like 'Madonna Blue,' 'Man of Miracles,' and 'Theme,' is being reissued on vinyl in both black and coloured versions. This special release has been newly mastered from the original tapes by Phil Kinrade at AIR Mastering, under the supervision of producer Paul Samwell-Smith. The reissue offers a range of mixes, including an extended, dancefloor-ready version, a punchier drum mix, a melodic, synth-enhanced rendition, as well as an instrumental and bonus beats version, providing fresh takes on this classic track.
Review: This is a first-ever vinyl reissue of the Illusion band's self-titled and legendary single, which is taken from their self-titled album which also featured signature tracks like 'Madonna Blue,' 'Man Of Miracles,' and 'Theme.' This reissue has been newly mastered from the original tapes by Phil Kinrade at AIR Mastering, with producer Paul Samwell-Smith overseeing the process and it features various different mixes. There is the floor-ready extended mix, the harder drum mix, a more melodic and synth-laced version and then an instrumental and bonus beats.
Review: This EP showcases Ilo aka olafur Breidfjord's deep house and tech house style with three tracks that explore different aspects of the genre. The title track, 'Supernature' is a soulful house cover of Cerrone's 1977 disco classic. Breidfjord's version retains the original's catchy vocal and infectious groove, while adding his own unique touch with lush chords and a driving bassline. 'You' is a perfect track B-Side for this record, adding this alternative heater. 'Am I Feeling Good?' is a grittier track, with a driving beat and tough bassline. It's a perfect track for getting the party started, or for keeping the energy levels high on the dancefloor. The three tracks offer something for everyone, from soulful house to tech house to disco.
Review: Imaa is an experimental disco, funk and soul project which has graced the discography of the DD Lahouve Production label since at least 2014; in said timeframe, this mysterious moniker has topped up at least five releases in the French city pop vein. Although little information can be tracked down about the main artist or artists behind the project itself, we can verify that the new 12" record 'Funky Town' is indeed something special, an original, slick and catchy electric groove featuring the rampart new jack production of producer Claudio Esposito.
Review: A standout slice of modern soul and disco straight from NYC, penned by producer Alan Jones. This release switches things up from the original by offering a unique B-side with a lower vocal mix, crafted for DJs who want a fresh take for their sets. With a groovy, infectious energy, this updated version is perfect for the dancefloor. A must-have for collectors and DJs alike, this 45 is guaranteed to get the crowd moving.
Review: Melbourne producer Rami Imam is back with a new outing on his own Ponda Records which was established in 2020 as a platform for his cross-cultural sound explorations. Safara very much lives up to that across six tacks of energetic house and disco house that comes with just the right amounts of nostalgia and innovation while drawing from the cultural sounds of Afro-funk, highlife, Arab disco, Bollywood, Afro-Cuban jazz, Libyan reggae and Algerian Rai. Those varied sonic traditions are bolted into modern rhythms using iconic synths like the Juno 106 and Moog Model D alongside piano and strings. This is music for the mind, body and soul.
Review: Imperial Wonders were a Cleveland, Ohio soul vocal group earlier known as The Mints. The wonderful 'Work Of Art' is taken from the compilation The Motown Years (1981-1984) and London's Cordial treats the overlooked classic to some choice remixes. Opolopo stays true to the original, while Pagger gets the late-night boogie-down vibes in effect on side A. On the flip, the inimitable Daft Punk pick up the tempo with their surefire dancefloor burner, while Leo Zero & Des Morgan's remix is the one we were really feeling and it channels that spiritual deep house sound complete with hypnotic polyrhythms.
Review: The backstory to this one is great. It starts in 1978 when a New York producer was in need of some studio musicians to lay down some fast and funky rhythms for a band he was working with, The Imperials. Minneapolis talents Andre Cymone and Prince Rogers Nelson duly stepped up and recorded 'Fast Freddy The Roller Disco King'. An album from the Imperials was set to follow but it never did, leaving us with this one majestic cut. It's soul-drenched and cosmic disco with a killer vocal back with a more leggy and slow-motion cosmic wonder, 'I Just Wanna Be Your Lovin' Man.'
Review: 'Fast Freddie the Roller Disco King' is a tune that is as good as its title. It was originally a single by Little Anthony and the Imperials (as The Imperials), featuring none other than Prince on guitar, synth and keyboards. The track's base was recorded by Prince with Pepe Willie and Andre Cymone at Sound Palace Studios in New York with later vocal and instrumental overdubs by The Imperials. The B-side, 'I Just Wanna Be Your Lovin' Man,' is an early version of '10:15,' though Prince's involvement as guitarist on this one remains unclear. Either way, this is a brilliant reissue for disco and funk lovers.
Review: Give My Love by In Dat Groove & Lee Wilson is an infectious late-night jam with soft calypso vibe to it and the DJ Spen Rework elevates with soulful house flair, adding a depth and groove that's irresistible for dancefloors. The L'Amour Disco mix rounds out the package, paying homage to classic r&b, disco and house sounds with a polished nod to the 80s. Both versions offer a unique flavour, making this release a stunning collection that caters to diverse musical tastes. Whether you're in the mood for tropical warmth, soulful beats, or nostalgic disco, 'Give My Love' delivers beautifully.
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (Smeddles More Ass mix) (6:09)
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (Smeddles More Ass dub) (5:22)
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (vocal) (5:42)
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (acappella) (3:11)
Review: Indeep's 1982 'Last Night A DJ Saved My Life' is a stone cold classic. It has been remixed several times over the years and never stops attracting new audiences with each passing generation. On this latest reissue we get the 1980s New York-based trio's still hard-to-beat original version as well as the acapella and Smeddles's More Ass mix and More Ass dub. They are subtle reworkings that tweak the original for a little more dancefloor heft but do nothing to distill its still golden charms and catchy hooks.
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