Review: The sixth volume in Toy Tonics occasional "Tonic Edits" series comes courtesy of label regulars COEO, a Munich-based duo who previously proved their edit credentials via a tasty 12" on Razor-N-Tape. This collection is arguably even better than its predecessor and sees them take their rusty scalpels to a quartet of Japanese disco-pop tracks from the 1980s. There's much to admire, from the sleazy electrofunk grooves, bold pianos and sparkling pianos of "Matchbox" (A2) and the slap-bass propelled boogie goodness of the Teena Marie-esque "Uber Man" (B1), to the freestyle influenced synth-pop bounce of cheery closing cut "Tibetan Dance". Arguably best of all, though, is lead cut "Japanese Woman", a bi-lingual disco song rich in rubbery bass, Chic style guitars and sparkling synthesizer flourishes.
Review: Unwaveringly reliable house stable Top Tonics keep the good stuff coming this October as COEO steps up with an extra vibes four tracker. This is pure and unreserved house joy, music to party to without a care in the world. It's the bouncing drums and happy trumpets that make it so, with energetic piano stabs and driving bass all working to make you forget your woes. The music is nothing particularly new, but it is pulled off with such a sense of style and class that it's impossible to ignore. Whether all out and sweat inducing or ever so slightly deeper, we cannot get enough of these cuts.
Review: Toy Tonic always deliver interesting, functional, emotional house music and here comes another such serving from the so-far so-excellent Cody Currie. The opener is as deep and jazzy as they come, with rich chords and twinkling pads all floating way above a nice warm bassline. 'LS Anthem' plays with broken beats and warped chords that are woozy and rich as a spoken word sample brings a sense of cool. 'When The Time Is Right' then keeps up the magical Rhodes work and a soulful, shuffling groove before 'M9' picks up the pace a little without loosing any of the heart and version of 'Moves' closes in steamy fashion.
Review: Having graced the likes of Razor N Tape, Classic and Shall Not Fade, in recent years Cody Currie has bedded himself in deep on Toy Tonics - just check the London-based producer's Lucas LP from last year if you need further proof. The label have taken a peep back at that album to serve up this feel-good remix package with some serious talent on re-fix duties. First up Dan Shake serves up a tough-bumpin' version of Cash before Sam Ruffillo and Kapote have fun amping up the funky elements of the track. On the flip, the mighty Kaidi Thatham lays down a typically soul-charged version of 'Money' before Jamie 3:26 takes the track deeper, riding on a sweet Moog bassline that will pull in the stiffest of crowds until everyone's feeling good and loose.
Review: The Toy Tonics label, which emerged out of the ashes of indie-dance label Gamma, is one of our favourite for fresh house. It is always packed with emotion and invention and does the simple things damn well. This is another great example from Gee Lane. 'Monkeys' is lively and lithe, with a killer bassline and soulful vocals. 'Neon Beach' ups the energy with taught synth stabs and prickly beats and 'The Fourth' then taps into old school jack, cowbells and Chicago rawness. A Musclecars remix of 'Monkeys' gets more blissed out and the Demi Riquisimo remix is pure old-school, finger-snapping fun.
Review: Fresh from blurring the boundaries between electronic disco and quirky disco-house via EPs on Nocturne and Public Possession (the latter alongside Wolfram), Josh Ludlow brings his trademark sound to Toy Tonics for the first time. Style wise, both A-side tracks doff a cap to Italo-disco and the hard-to-pigeonhole dancefloor psychedelia of Maurice Fulton's Syclops project, with throbbing opener 'New Transition (extended 12" mix)' being followed by the heady nu-disco squelch of 'Bumper Thumper (12" club dub)'. The latter track is given a makeover by Medlar on the flip, with the Wolf Music regular re-imagining it as a bumping, sweat-soaked house jam topped off with disco guitar licks and ghostly lead lines. Also worth checking is B1 'D.G.A.F', a funky, punky house jam smothered in intergalactic synth sounds.
Review: Since making his name late last decade with a string of re-edit releases, Italian DJ/producer Paul Older (real name Paolo Vecchiato) has been edging towards original production. This EP on the mighty Toy Tonics imprint is his most ambitious and - we think - impressive set of 'originals' to date. For proof, check excitable opener 'Guapita', where relentless synth-horn refrains dance atop a loopy disco-house beat, the horn-heavy, Blaxpolitation funk-sampling sweatiness of 'Keep On', and the house-meets-sleazy disco sensuality of 'I Like It, I Want It (Extended Mix)'. Arguably best of all, though, is the hybrid nu-disco/proto-house/disco-house headiness of closing cut 'Loop Story'.
Review: Last summer, Toy Tonics regulars Sam Ruffillo and Kapote joined forces on the fantastic Robot Salsa EP. Here it returns, with two of the set's most potent cuts being joined by fresh remixes. The key cut here is 'La La Tune', a rich fusion on vintage Italo-house and Latin house sounds blessed with infectious piano riffs and effects-laden organ stabs. It gets remixed twice on the flip, with A-Trak adding weightier bottom end and filters aplenty, while Mele re-imagines it as a percussion-heavy, carnival ready Latin house treat. In addition, there's also another chance to savour the salsa house warmth of 'Rico Suave'.
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