Harry Romero - "Revolution" (House Masters edit) (5:13)
Prunk & Rona Ray - "Keep It Simple" (6:41)
Review: The mighty Defeated has got a fun package on its hands here with some fat disco and house anthems primed and ready for big room summer fun. A'Studio's 'SOS' (feat Polina - Skylark remix - Nic Fanciulli edit) is chunky house with a hooky vocal and rolling groove designed to sweep you up and away. Chloe Caillet then remixes Tensnake's classic 'Coma Cat' into a hands-in-the-air house stomper with epic strings. Harry Romero's sweaty 'Revolution' gets its drums buffed up and well swung by a House Master's Edit and Prunk & Rona Ray steal the EP at the last with their lush vocal house cut 'Keep It Simple.'
Review: Cult Edits are specialists in pushing a certain kind of heater, working in a mode landing something between edit and original. Six producers - Mario Bianco, Tomoo Hata, Roe Deers, Radial Gaze, A Tweed and Oltrefuturo - lay down a blend of sampledelic, ecstatic, multi-tempo'd tribal moods. Channelling everything from chic Tulum rituals to the brutalism of Eastern-European underground clubs, and rounded off by doses of Italian rasta and Japanese re-imagining of Hungarian folk song, all come to the label's exquisite brand of mandala-esque vinyl.
Review: Feelgood garage house with a touch of synth clavichord from DJ Fudge and Ralph Session, teaming up with singer Chinua Hawk for a rousing, string-dousing new single through Groove Culture. Here we're assured of the carat value of life, and Fudge and Sessions' appraisal is as generous as you'd hope any antiques dealer would be about your grandfather's wedding ring, with lustrous strings and belting vocals suggesting confident self-determination and regality (the NYC dub, by comparison, is much loopier, riffing on the French house feel nascent in the A).
Dr Packer & Elektrik Disko - "My Lovin'" (extended mix) (6:04)
Dr Packer & Elektrik Disko - "My Lovin'" (Elektrik Disko extended mix) (5:14)
Mattei & Omich & Re Tide - "Give Me Your Love" (feat Katy Alex - extended mix) (5:27)
Re Tide & Lukas Setto - "Me & You" (Dr Packer remix) (7:07)
Review: Next up on the Fool's Paradise vinyl sampler is a four-tracker of glitzy and emphatic proportions. Vol. 3 opens with Dr. Packer and Elektrik Disko's 'My Lovin', which vexes us of our infidelities in the promise of being lent "all our love tonight", a vocal motif that swirls endlessly around its discoic mix. Mattei and Omich follow up with exactly the same theme, though it would seem that the former promise has been foreclosed upon, since the central vox is now asking the listener to "just give me your love", with an added dash of urgency to boot, and not the other way round. The B-side, not purely coincidentally, we think, dominated by the producer known as Re-tide, moves much more profligately, abandoning much of the A-side's glamour for the more immediate appetites that drive, but do not temper, disco's soul.
Review: 'Tribute To The Flowers' is one of those tunes that is often considered to be a part of the holy grail cannon. It's loved up and irresistibly catchy and now it gets a sublime new house make over with Rocky Washington on lead vocal. It is another great drop on the Sonic Wax In Da House label and comes from the great pair of Matt Early and Lee Jefferies on green marbled wax. The For Real mix is all soulful and airy grooves, there is an instrumental mix and also a more bumping club mix version.
Review: Inhale Exhale will have you doing just that at a fair pace once you've dropped the needle on their latest record. It's a sweet trip into the depths of house and disco with seasoned artist Eddie C igniting the dance floor with a disco-infused anthem sure to set your hips swaying. Tilman crafts a delectable nu-groove track evoking the essence of the 90s with 'Forevermore' and then debuting on vinyl, Julius Renner embarks on a soulful journey to the heart of the dancefloor. Fresh talent Toomy Disco offers a funky, introspective bomb, Ron Brown serves up a deep, Latin-infused organ piece brimming with melancholy and optimism. Last of all, Meeshoo delivers a soul-stirring fusion of strings and disco brilliance.
Review: It's ten up for the FrescoEdits Iabel with this latest entry into their esteemed series and as always there are plenty of irresistible beats on offer. The in-house FrescoEdits add their touch to the glorious, string-laced and funky disco of 'Little Love' and bring bumping beats and funky guitar riffs to 'Philadelphia'. Rogue D's 'Pensi A Me' is a super smooth heart melter for dancing in the open air as the sun begins to fade, while Kings Of Groove's 'You Got The Funk' is a soulful, slapping house cut with cosmic synth energy and hooky vocals that will always bring the good times.
Review: As we roll further into the New Year we're still enjoying the arrival of plenty of new labels. Now Is Not The Time is one of them from the US that takes a bow here with its first EP, Lost In The Message. It's a three-way collab between the legendary Rahaan plus DJ Reg and Jerome O. What they do is chip up classic samples and killer grooves form the worlds of funk, soul, house and disco with 'Lost In The Message' kicking off in freewheeling fashion. 'Get Up Out Tha Water' has oems nice big horn energy and plenty of whistles and 'The M8 Track' is a deeper house sound with a belting diva vocal.
Mark Knight & James Hurr - "You Take Me Higher" (6:12)
Friend Within - "Chain" (5:43)
Martin Ikin & Winnie Ama - "Control It" (4:51)
Flashmob & Raumakustik - "Club Talk" (5:45)
Review: Toolroom's 'sampler' series, which rounds up previously digital-only releases and sticks them out on action-packed 12" EPs, reaches its sixteenth instalment. Given the format, you'll be unsurprised to discover that there's plenty of bona-fide peak-time heat on show, starting with Mark Knight and James Hurr's excitable, filter-heavy, string-laden disco-house bomb 'You Take Me Higher'. Friend Within offers a scintillating blend of heavy acid bass, glassy-eyed female vocal samples, weighty beats and subtle disco samples on the superb 'Chain', while Martin Ikin and Winnie Ama opt for even heavier drums, warped bass, creepy electronics and dead-eyed spoken word vocals on the sweat-soaked 'Control It'. To round things off, we're treated to the tech-tinged funky house bounce of Flashmob and Raumakustik's percussion -rich 'Club Talk'.
Review: From Kon's forthcoming compilation on BBE entitled Kon & The Gang, this 12? sampler features two cuts taken from the LP and an exclusive remix from Boston producer and mix engineer Caserta, namely "Timeless" (Caserta mix)" a tasty serving of super deep and low slung disco goodness. A more functional edit for DJ use follows on "Timeless" (remix - Caserta mix)". On the flip Truccy (better known as Compost's Rainer Truby and Corrado Bucci) present "Closer", a gorgeous slo-mo house jam with a rolling groove fetauring all the good stuff: swirling Rhodes keys, groovy congas and hypnotic vox.
Lex, Dennis Liber, Rosa - "Una Sera D'Estate" (feat Max Giovara) (7:02)
Lex, Dennis Liber - "End Of The Line" (5:56)
Dennis Liber - "Playa Eden" (feat Sariela Camargo) (8:32)
Dennis Liber - "Hidden Island" (feat Ricardo Benitez) (4:17)
Review: Rocksteady Disco welcomes Dennis Liber & Lex for a standout debut here. Their four-tracker captures the magic of musical nights spent down in Mexican hotspot Tulum with organic and airy grooves aplenty. 'Una Sera D'Estate' (feat Max Giovara) exodus late-night warmth and loved-up vibes with its melodic bassline and disco-tinged house drums. 'End Of The Line' is more lively but is no less direct with its big drums and pointed bass phrasings. Liber then goes solo for the dreamy, Italo-tinged yet tropical 'Playa Eden' and wonderfully escapist closer 'Hidden Island' complete with Balearic beats and the sound of singing dolphins.
Micky More & Andy Tee, Reverendos Of Soul, Anduze - "Devoted" (6:23)
Serge Funk - "Can't Get Enough" (6:30)
Danny Losito - "All I Want" (Micky More & Andy Tee mix) (6:11)
Micky More & Andy Tee - "Philly Sensation" (6:55)
Review: There is an immediately loveable vibe to the carefree and breezy house music that the Italian label Groove Culture deals in. This is the 15th such offering - a third volume of its Jam series - and again the good times flow from the off. 'Devoted' is a four-way collab between Micky More, Andy Tee, Reverendos Of Soul and Anduze that layers up the soulful drums and disco percussion with buttery smooth soul vocals. Serge Funk's 'Can't Get Enough' is all swirling strings and sunny trumpet motifs over funk house beats and then Micky More & Andy Tee appear to remix 'All I Want' into another future Body & Soul classic. The duo's own 'Philly Sensation" is a disco-tinged, string-heavy house dream to close.
Fleur De Mur - "Ease My Mind" (Micky More & Andy Tee mix) (5:48)
Derrick McKenzie & Angela Johnson - "On My Way Out" (7:02)
Ron Carroll - "My Prayer" (Micky More & Andy Tee mix) (6:21)
House Freakers - "Tease Me" (feat MO) (5:34)
Review: Sultry purist disco house moods from Groove Culture Italy, welcoming four standalone originals to the first edition of their 'Groove Is In The Heart' series, three out of four of which are remixes of tunes that have already been released on the label. True to their form, this record welds the ways of classic disco and disco-house, opening with the melismatic vocal tones of 'Ease My Mind' by Fleur De Mur before moving into the slightly slower chic-funk of Derrick McKenzie and Angela Johnson's 'On My Way Out'. Things turn housier - as the outdoor shindig moves indoors at first sign of the crepuscular tide - with 'My Prayer', while House Freakers' 'Tease Me' rounds things off on a well-sidechained womper.
The Deepshakerz & Turntables Night Fever - "Oh Phunk!" (6:32)
Richard Earnshaw - "Touch Me" (6:21)
Sebb Jumor - "Makes Me Feel" (5:47)
Review: Toolroom's house imprint keeps the party pumping with another diverse selection of floor-filling weapons. Grant Nelson & Mark Knight lead the charge with 'Do It Y'all', a track that's been tearing up charts and dancefloors with its raw energy and irresistible rhythm for a while now. But this sampler doesn't simply rest on its laurels; it takes us on a winding path through the multifaceted sounds of house music. The Deepshakerz & Turntables Night Fever follow up with 'Oh Phunk!', a high-energy stomper fueled by a relentless rhythm section and soulful vocal samples that hark back to the golden age of house music. Richard Earnshaw, however, opts for a different approach, reimagining Fonda Rae's classic 'Touch Me' with a touch of soulful depth and emotion. Sebb Junior closes out the sampler with 'Makes Me Feel', a track brimming with bright melodies and feel-good vibes, showcasing the playful side of house music. This sampler is a showcase for the label's dedication to quality house music that offers listeners a diverse range of beats that are both good for the dancefloor and any discerning DJs.
Review: Rahaan is a Chicago legend and master of the most soulful sounds in the studio. His new EP for BBE, 'We Are The Ones,' sees him joining up with a whole host of top musicians such as Marcus J. Austin and Nancy Clayton on vocals, Carnell C. Newbill on keys, Todd Swope on guitar and Lou Terry on bass. Between them they bring real dance floor adventures that are steeped in proper musicality. Ohio Players' Kenny Anderson on the horns brings some real soul to these four-to-the-floor cuts which mix up disco and house in the finest of fashion.
Review: Another week, another clutch of must-have reworks from Chicagoan master Rahaan, this time on his personal, Hot Biscuit Recordings-funded Typewriter Record Pool imprint. He predictably hits the ground running on 'Ghetto Music', a slowly building and impeccably realised tweak of one of Phildelphia International's greatest moments, 'The Ghetto' by Donny Hathaway. After replicating and extending the original's atmospheric build-up, Rahaan focuses on keeping things rolling percussively, while subtly ratcheting up the energy throughout. Tampering with an all-time classic is dangerous, but predictably Rahaan has done a stellar job. 'Dark Places' is a more intense and psychedelic affair, with Rahaan working a bunch of heavy loops while inserting subtle builds and changes in tone and intensity. It's very good, but naturally lacks the 'wow' factor of his A-side edit.
Review: Rakija's back on the Rakija label with another EP called Rakija, but thankfully the music on it is not as homogenised as the naming conventions (although the titles are.) Track 1 is a turbocharged tech house cut that is rave ready. Track 2 is edgy thanks to some punchy vocal bars and more driving drum programming. Things are rather dialled back in for Track 3 which lays down sleek drums and bass that worming their way into your being in no time. Track 4 then shuts down with some high speed and bumping tech house funk thanks to a restless bassline and snappy finger clicks.
Review: An understated but thoroughly enjoyable dance release touching on Middle Eastern musical shimmies come neon new wave, the EP channels a distinctly Egyptomaniacal mood of egress. 'Cairo Nights' pits playfully hazily laid-down vocals - as laid back as a vagrant in the sun - against 8-bit melodies and phase-swirled drums, while 'Shtaye Dub' stops at a comparatively electrolytic oasis glimpsed opposite the pylons. The B-side brings vocalist Mimo to the titular 'Leek Fel Masry?' ('Egyptian For You?'), questioning the many crass orientalist tendencies of dance music, while the wordless closer 'Conferencia De Jungle' closes on a chugging psychedelic summit with vocal samples musing on human rights.
Review: After an outstanding debut on M.A.D Records earlier this year, Rakim Under is back with the first instalment of his edits series, 'Rakim Redun Vol.1'. Comprised of five edits set to move any dancefloor, these are soft-edged and playful knockers of the cut-up variety, with each of the five edits nodding to everything from medley-style breaks resampleage to early acid house subjections. Notable is Under's edit of 'House Teachin'', the original of which we can't track down, whereas the remix of which is stellar as it is robotically spoken-n'-spelled. Then come the increasingly celestial and piano-packed moods, most notable among which has to be, undendiably, the version of 'Celestial Ocean'. We bask and float in it gladly.
Marc Brauner - "The Feeling" (Tilmans Atmospheric mix) (6:35)
Max Telaer - "Running" (Soela & Module One remix) (6:32)
Sebastian Gummersbach - "Heads Up High" (Eddie C remix) (7:48)
Shaka - "Overminded" (Denyl Brook remix) (7:08)
Review: Inhale Exhale Records return with their seance virus artists EP and it is one that will appeal to anyone who has any love whatsoever for house music. Raoul's 'Vae Victis' is first up to get a remix and that is from Luvless who brings modern power with old school dreaminess. Tilman is next up with an Atmospheric Mix of Marc Brauner's 'The Feeling' which has potent 90s vibes and Soela teams up with her partner in crime Module One for a super chunky groove to close the a-side in style. Eddie C is the standout on the flip side with a suer funky rework of 'Heads Up High' while Denyl Brook brings some peak time power to his interpretation of Shaka's 'Overminded.'
Lou Rawls - "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" (Kenny Summit, Frankie Knuckles & Eric Kupper's Brawls Deep unreleased remix)
Kenny Summit, Frankie Knuckles & Eric Kupper - "Loving You" (feat Yasmeen)
Review: This special 12" sampler, part of the forthcoming compilation, taps into the timeless spirit of the Paradise Garage with two unreleased collaborations that showcase the late Frankie Knuckles' legacy. On the A-side, the final production from Knuckles, alongside Kenny Summit and Eric Kupper, delivers a soulful, uplifting remix of Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine." It's pure house brilliance that captures the essence of the Garage sound. On the flip, the trio reunites for "Loving You," a Motown-inspired anthem featuring Yasmeen's powerful vocals. These tracks, which have been staple spins for DJs like Cajmere and Sonny Fodera, form part of a larger collection that celebrates house music's rich history, with remixes of iconic tracks. The cover art, designed by Alexander Juhasz, adds an extra layer of cultural significance to this must-have release.
Review: Rayko is back with a much anticipated second volume of the Vadillo Vice series on Rare Wiri and again it is timeless disco and house for fans of the likes of Tiger & Woods. 'Rain' is slow and rugged with fleshy arps and tinny percussion before an iconic via sample lights up the groove. 'Mercy' is another unhurried but soul drenched sound with low slung drums and claps and airy pads up top. 'Gold Dust Woman' ups the ante a little with extra pace but no less emotion and heartfelt vocals while 'Amigo' closes down with a lovely Spanish twist.
Review: British producer Gerry Read returns with some roughed-up soul/disco workouts on this new one for Pampa, all reinterpreted via his idiosyncratic, lo-fi style. We're loving infectious, dusty opener "It'll All Be Over" with its sweet soul vocal samples, jazzy guitar licks, blocky Rhodes chords. That's not all, label chief DJ Koze contributes another misty-eyed disco-house remix on the flip, careful not to deviate too much from the original, but injecting it with just the right amount of dancefloor dynamics. We're also loving Read's second cut, "Satyricon", with its intoxicating and hypnotic melody, driven by a deep mid-tempo groove peppered with sultry Spanish phrases.
Beo Dat May Troi - "Ho Chi Min" (feat HCMC Students) (7:19)
Co Doi Thuong Ngan - "Hanoi" (feat Viet Rice Band) (5:10)
Phu Quoc (feat Minh Duong) (6:13)
Hue (feat music Acadamy Students) (5:38)
Review: Thanks to the globe trotting "Trips" series in which they collaborate with local musicians in far-flung locations, Red Axes are clocking up plenty of air miles. Volume two in the series contains more exotic, cross-cultural treats, this time made in collaboration with Vietnamese musicians. They begin with the spacey dub disco shuffle of "Ho Chi Min", where ear-catching Vietnamese vocals and South East Asian string instruments ride a chunky groove, before stripping things back on the bass-heavy late night exoticism of "Hanoi". "Phu Quoc" sees them brilliantly chopping up, mangling and manipulating vocals and snaking solos over a druggy groove, while "Hue" is warm, deep, groovy and almost Balearic in its deliciously loved-up way.
Review: Label regulars Roberta and Trilaterals are back on Worldship Music to take part in the latest Herald Tarccs instalment. Reelsoul is a new name to join the fun and pens up with 'La Costa' which is a throwback disco house sound with wild melodies and big horn leads vying for attention and getting hands skyward. Trilaterals bring plenty of percussive funk and jumbled drum brilliance to 'Flo Jo' and Teflon Dons taps into a Philly sound with the string loops of 'DONTWANTU2GO.' Roberta's "Hang Back' is a classy little jazz-house number.
Review: Fresh disco edits outing Respect have essentially named themselves after just the right attitude they expect of their rave-goers. Continuing to embody virtues of respect and respectability with another limited edition white label release, this sixth addition to the pile hears whimsical collieries, chicken-pickin' rhythms, and lurching remixes, with the B-side doing especially well to re-ingest the essential War cut 'The World Is A Ghetto' and its DJ Spinna nu-disco rendition. The breakdown is especially performative and brilliant, with scatting mimicries of guitar heard expertly interleaved.
Reverendos Of Soul - "Love Will Set You Free" (Micky More & Andy Tee mix) (6:06)
Right To Life - "Give It Up" (Micky More & Andy Tee mix) (6:04)
Soulista - "Love & Life" (feat Karmina Dai - Micky More & Andy Tee mix) (6:28)
Serge Funk - "Disco Hustle" (6:11)
Review: Groove Culture's ongoing 'Jams' series continues to deliver disco-house excellence with its fourth edition. This high-quality compilation features standout tracks from Micky More & Andy Tee, Reverendos Of Soul, Soulista, Serge Funk, and Right To Life. Highlights include: Reverendos Of Soul - 'Love Will Set You Free'(Micky More & Andy Tee mix): An all-night disco spirit track verging on Hi-NRG style, bringing big energy and a lively atmosphere to any dance floor. Another great one is Soulista's 'Love & Life" (feat. Karmina Dai - Micky More & Andy Tee mix): A perfect blend of piano disco and house, featuring a heavy beat and great horn sounds that create an infectious groove. Closing things out on a classic leeven is Serge Funk's heater 'Disco Hustle'. This fantastic edit of the classic disco track is a filtered gem that is sure to knock the roof off the discotech. Groove Culture once again proves its reliability as a source of top-tier disco-house with this stellar collection.
Don't You Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come (part 1)
Don't You Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come (part 2)
Review: Eight years ago, Super Weird Substance unveiled a cover of Bessie Banks' classic 'Don't You Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come' - a hybrid nu-disco/classic soul interpretation that was credited to The Reynolds (twin sisters according to press releases circulated at the time), but produced and mixed by Greg Wilson and regular studio buddy Peza. This timely reissue marks the first time the track has appeared on a 45. Just like many classic soul sevens, it features 'Part 1' and 'Part 2' versions, which seem to be edits of the near nine-minute 'club mix' that appeared on the original 12" release. Both are great, with the Reynolds' gorgeous vocals being joined by rubbery synth-bass, simmering synth-strings, tasteful synth-horns and unfussy, floor-friendly drums.
Review: The superb and ever-hard-to-pin-down Shall Not Fade label is racing on towards its 100th real and this 96th outing sure does come with a big old sense of celebration and joy. It's a fresh collaborative outing between Rhode & Brown & Kid Simius who gets hands in the air with big piano stabs and 90s dance vibes on 'Eurostar'. Things take an Italo turn on 'Delfino Bianco' which is a more melodic and breezy retro-future Beatrice house cuts. 'Suite Tropical' slows it down further with an even more breezy and carefree slice of sunset house that warms the heart. A pair of 'Eurostar' remixes find Jex Opolis going big and Demi Requisimo bringing scuffed-up garage-tinged grooves.
Hold On To My Love (Micky More & Andy Tee mix) (6:04)
Blow Your Mind (Micky More & Andy Tee mix) (6:05)
Love Blind (Micky More & Andy Tee mix) (6:49)
Review: Italy's Groove Culture has really done a fine job of winning us over since it started out and this 14th EP is another one that is sure to slide into your affections. It's a quartet of disco-tinged house cuts from Right to Life, Micky More and Andy Tee that kicks off with the hip swinging and lush feels of 'Subway'. 'Hold On To My Love' then layers up the loops and rickety organic drums with some rousing strings and vocals. The good time vibes and carefree sense of soul continues on the flip with 'Blow Your Mind' and the more heartfelt 'Love Blind'.
Review: Semi Delicious return for their 19th outing in label head Demi Riquisimo's 'Perilous Joy' EP. The five-track release effortlessly meshes the classic influences synonymous with the now set-in-stone Semi Delicious sound with a nonetheless singular expression unique to Riquisimo themself. On the A come 'Sinewinder' & 'Direct Fix', a pair of four-to-the-floor tools. 'Sinewinder' brings a more diva-ish, big-room affected track, while 'Direct Fix' errs on the side of depth with a head-turning bassline. The flip kicks off with 'Perilous Joy', offering a nod to the sonics of the dreamy, progressive Italian house of yesteryear. Up finally is 'Thyme After Time', and with it more psychedelic house delvings. Finally, the artist lowers the pace on the Balearic chugger 'Autoglide'.
Review: Luv Shack's compilation style 'Disco Biscuits' series is the very definition of reliable, with each new EP delivering killer cuts aimed at the more cosmic end of nu-diusco dancefloors. Volume five in the series arrives with four more tried-and-tested workouts and little in the way of forgettable filler. Check first Rising Seed's 'Back For More', a driving slab of spacey dub disco/cosmic disco fusion in which intergalactic electronics and samples sitars ride a Prins Thomas-esque bassline and beats, before admiring the chugging and squelchy nu-disco shuffle of 'Suffering of K.P' by B.Visible. Over on the flip, Peletronic's 'Drifting' is a glassy-eyed slab of immersive deep house/nu-disco fusion, while Jon Gravy's 'When U Leave' is a stomping slab of peak-time house headiness rich in bustling beats, memorable melodies and hands-aloft riffs.
Review: UK artist Risk Assessment is back once again with some potent sonic weaponry that is designed to make a big impact in the club. All four of the disco cuts are peak time sounds starting with 'Something New' which is awash with some crystalline synths and gloriously lush pads. 'Party People' is nice raw and live-sounding disco with lo-fi drums, slapping hits and a James Brown-style funk vocal. 'Like This Like That!' brings some funky little guitar motifs and a jumble of percussion while last of all, 'Girl At The Disco' shuts down with a more sensuous sound and slinky grooves that worm their way into your affections.
Review: Chachi Romero's famously magic fingers are back in full force on the latest release from Open Air 72. This project dives into the nu-funk movement and do so by mixing up retro-funk vibes with futuristic synth sounds reminiscent of the likes of MoFunk, Zackery Funk Force and Dabeull. A-side jam 'Sunwave Space' rings endlessly nodding and funky basslines to withering sci-fi motifs and blissed-out vocal coos. It's a nice and catchy sound while 'Arm Candy' is a more deep and dusty house groove with libidinous vocals and rolling beats topped with some well-chosen vocal samples for an extra steamy allure.
Review: .Ron Basejam has always cooked up a wealth of characterful cuts across the house and disco spectrum. This unknown label is now home to a load more starting with the lovely soft focus chords and gospel tinged vocal bursts of deep house meditation 'We Need Change'. A house dub ups the energy a little with more cosmic sprinkles raining down over percussive grooves. 'BFG' then ups the disco quotient with elastic bass and leggy drums, a nice organic vibe and carefree chords. 'Blue' shuts down with some feel good soul and funk house fusion work.
Review: For decades, the humble disco re-edit has offered wannabe-producers a way into music production. In recent years, there's been an upsurge in house 'edits' too - a trend that has seen countless producers combine bits of classic and obscure cuts with their own peak-time ready grooves. This debut from the previously unknown Jay Rook fits into that category. Check first opener 'Master Wonnin', where Rook turns what appears to be a classic Highlife jam into a bouncy, bass-heavy Afro-house workout, before further refining the same attractive, sun-splashed formula on 'Eme (Yeah Yeah)'. Over on side two, Rook changes tack on 'Do God a Favour', adding a touch of hip-swinging, disco-flexed gospel-house flavour to a bluesy old soul-jazz cut, while 'Jesus Saved Me (Glad)' is a filter heavy disco-house re-wire of a righteous gospel number.
Review: Latest from the Scharnhorst camp (not to be confused - please - with the historic German battleship) comes the five-track future disco booter from producer RP. All tracks here resound with the vestigial aura of a classic disco cut, except they've rerouted back through a busted amp operated by Tiesto standing in as soundboy (the sidechain is real). Meanwhile, the track titles are conspicuously absent of vowels, suggesting lips sealed tightly to the point of speaking through teeth. 'DNTKNWWHTCNSVYFRM' is difficult to speak aloud; perhaps the implicit message is to say less and to move more. Best among this bunch is the closer 'CHGRNDLMR', which brings out a beautiful Balearic guitar to temper the otherwise brusque drums.
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