Jack Swift - "Highrise" (Devstar Feel The Vibe remix) (6:15)
Review: SPIL Records follows up its impressive vinyl debut here with a second 12" release featuring fresh tracks from label head Jack Swift and Scott Diaz. Diaz kicks off with 'Like Dis' which is all classic US house drums and bouncy bass, then Timmy P & Lunoize's 'Ouch' is a swirling, vocal-laced party starter. Swift then offers 'Burning' which is a lively garage house cut with throwback diva vocals. Devstar's Feel The Vibe remix shuts down with some more naughty, dark and dirty bassline sounds perfect for pumping up the floor.
Review: It's worth noting this is a pretty impressive 125th EP from the Bristol label Shall Not Fade. The shine has not come off this always eclectic label in that time and next up to move things on is the dream team pairing of Lawrence J and J Peacock. 'Too Far To Come Back' opens up with some celebratory Daft Punk-style, hands-in-the-air and festival-sized house. 'Everything I've Got' keeps it a little deeper but filter synths still take centre stage with a balmy twist and 'Brother John' slows to heavy beatdown house with rapturous chords and vocals all swirling around to great and uplifting effect.
Review: Kito Jempere delivers a fiery four-track package that will electrify dance floors with his first outing of 2025. A bold departure from today's mainstream dance sounds, his New Life EP blends adventurous beats with a rebellious spirit and the lead track channels New Order's Technique era but is infused with early hip-hop breaks and a mix of acid, happy hardcore and ghetto tech. 'LoveFilter' takes a dreamy, chilled trip across electronic landscapes while 'Killer Line De-Part' combines trance, grunge and '80s analogue vibes for a thrilling climax. Closing with 'Put Love Into Your Heart (Club Mix),' Jempere leaves us with uplifting, feel-good energy.
Review: Bad Timin's next drop is a sort of greatest hits collection that brings plenty of its previous releases by Jex Opolis to vinyl for the first time. It kicks off with the perma-fan-favourite 'Music' which is high on unbridled piano joy and hard house beats that bang. 'Lizard (feat Precious Okome)' is another one with surges of big chord magic, 'If You Wanna' has silky liquid synths and cosmic arps ensuring maximum take-off while 'Wide Awake (dub)' brings a kaleidoscopic intergalactic trip. This serves as both a perfect introduction for anyone who hasn't been paying close enough attention, or a fine collection of greats from the always on form Mr. Opolis.
Review: Five years after unfurling their first collaborative album, Iron Curtisn and Johannes Albert have finally got round to recording and releasing their fourth - three years after its predecessor landed in stores. As with previous sets, it's loosely inspired by all things lunar. In practice, that means hazy, spacey synths aplenty, slowly unfurling grooves, and loads of cosmic intent. Beginning with the soft-touch headiness of 'Void Gathering', the German duo flits between moon-lit, synth-powered nu-disco ('Silverclub'), jaunty analogue house ('Sound (The Feels)'), warmer and more tactile dancefloor gold ('Ohne Dich', 'Club L'Avenir'), bubbly electro ('Pipeline'), revivalist Italo-disco ('Into Somethin') and ultra-deep bliss ('Daso').
Review: We don't half love a bit of Steven Julien, the artist formally known as Funkineven. And this new EP arrives just at the right time as the days brighten, the sun heats up and cruising day-time funk, house and boogie blends are all you want to pump out of your retro 3 series with the top down. 'Time' has distinctly 80s flavours with its bright chords and beats, 'Ultra' is more heavy with a contemporary rap/trap edge and 'Up' is a raw house cut with swinging kicks. 'Wraap't' is another crunchy and loved-up 80s street soul sound then 'Lil'bit' and 'Ballad' close out with more neon pads and retro-future melodic sparkle.
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