Cocktail D'Amore Germany レコード& CD

Review: REPRESS ALERT: Through his glittering catalogue for Public Possession, Bell Towers has proven himself to be a leading light in contemporary house that packs personality and class to match its club dynamics. His irreverent humour comes out in droves on "I'm Moving To Berlin", which thumps with the '80s-tinged energy he does so well. "Sexual Intruder Alert" actually sees the BT sound edge a little more towards techno, perhaps appropriate given the subject matter of the EP, and then "Approach & Identify" takes things in a tense, sleazy direction that jacks with a rawness you could imagine Ron Hardy going absolutely apeshit for.

Review: Apparently eight years in the making, "Costellazione K78" is the collaborative effort of Discodromo and Massimiliano Pagliara. It's a truly cosmic affair that channels a generous amount of warm, 70s sound into its component parts as it sets a course for the stars. The A-side houses the original throbbing epic in its pure form, restrained in parts but with a bold narrative arc that reaches further out with every passing bar. Meanwhile on the flip you can feast your ears on the more boldly defined dub version, which amps up the FX and synth vamps for a truly interstellar space trip.

Review: Jules Etienne has been skirting around labels such as Apersonal Music for a few years, but here makes a strong statement with a new record for CockTail D'Amore. "Triangle Des Bermudas" is a swinging yet cosmically inclined jam powered by warm synth arpeggios, which regular collaborator Massimiliano Pagliara then nudges up into crafty deep house territory. "Cuban Omlette" is a delicate affair that interweaves pattering percussion and nagging synth lines to make a particularly heady brew before "John's Job" finishes the record off with a richly layered drum track that should have DJs across the board getting tricky in the mix.

Review: The fledgling Cocktail D'Amoure imprint maintains their status quo in our affections with its second release which sees Heatsick at the helm. Whilst this is the debut twelve inch from the East Anglian recently transposed to Berlin, he has plenty of DIY form having released some under the shade CDrs for that most esteemed of imprints Not Not Fun, amongst others. His is a talent worth paying attention to, as the classiness of "Dream Tennis" will inform your senses. Central to the track is a kaleidoscopic treatment of a vintage Casiotone keyboard, its rusted rhythms oscillating outwards with true intent over equally strained Chicago house drum patterns. Seemingly endless in its progression, "Dream Tennis" is a track worthy of NNF offshoot 100 Silk and a magnificent coup by Cocktail d'Amour overseers Discodromo and DJ Boris. Equally fine is their choice of remixers with the hallowed phrase Prins Thomas Diskomiks adorned across the B Side reason enough for inquisitive minds to seek out - however it's the remix from Comeme's Diegors that almost matches the delight of the original, bringing to the fore a hitherto undisclosed sonic restraint that embellishes proceedings with an otherworldly, Mr Fingers vibe.

Review: Discodromo's ever-essential Cocktail D'Amore label launches into action once more with the ear candy of Komodo in tow. "Magic Hour" manages to work classic piano house tropes into a suitably cosmic headspace that's loaded with reverb and all things trippy, but it's relatively grounded compared to the exotic meditation that The Backwoods manage to conjure up on their "Oriental Dub" of the track. "Lizard Dance" channels early trance vibes to great effect in a celebration of early 90s rave mysticism and then "Sand Dunes" offers up a bubbling, friendly twist on acid house. Using familiar tropes but still maintaining originality, from start to finish this is a classically rooted record with something to say.

Review: From the label: Jakarta based Jonathan Kusuma delivers a new EP on Cocktail d'Amore Music. After his European debut on Cosmo Vitelli's I'm A Cliche, followed by a successful EP on Berlin's imprint Love On The Rocks, the Indonesian artist keeps carrying the vessel of the Far East sound. The title track Black Magic is a fat disco-tribal inspired groove that builds fast, eventually climaxing with a cloud of acid synths and mystical vocals. Japanese duo Mascaras, Chida and Cos/Mes' 5ive, straighten up the groove giving a 4/4 beats restyling. The result is a Proto-Techno, Trance influenced soundscape, for foggy late-night dancefloors. Urban Sorcery is an Italo inspired maze of proto-acid synthesizers, sounding like an enchanted concrete-covered forest. 90's house inspired Redvox is an experiment of cosmic influences. As the vocal becomes part of the groove, the long pads fuel this spaceship pushing it to the borders of time and space.

Review: Cocktail D'Amore know a thing or two about party starting wild cards, and thus far Lion's Drums has proven to be adept in that department with drops on Hivern Discs and his own self-titled label. He comes to the Cocktail party with two edits of Manos Tsangaris' powerful drum sermons - visceral percussive flurries from a man with enough rhythm to partake in the lauded Drums Off Chaos project. You should have a good idea from that what these two tracks are about - heavy, physical tracks for maximum dance induction, moments of pure abandon and the odd firework or two.

Review: To regard Lord of the Isles as merely a producer of contemporary disco would be doing him a great disservice, as those who indulged in the smattering of sold out releases on Unthank, Ene, Adult Contemporary and Tusk Wax would attest. Arising on Cocktail D'Amour for the Berlin label's fourth release, his variety of production is in abundance across these four tracks. Piano laden ambience fills the strains of the opening track "I Remember", its pensive tonalities offering a moment of delicate calm before proceedings veer into the horizon setting balearic house of "Let Me Feel This Way." A real highlight here, it's the way endless streams of sonic texture arrive and are cast off that ensures your mind is constantly captivated as the thick drums drive things forward. The tempo is pushed further forwards, as is the stylistic envelope, on the subsequent "Don't Reach" which is rightfully compared to Carl Craig by the label, though again it's the ever spiralling sonic elements that hypnotise. "Searching" ends this release in new territory, veering into the kind of emotion laden electronic music that might feature on a Kompakt Pop Ambient compilation.

Review: Since contributing to the CockTail d’Amore 5 years Compilation, Andrew Cole aka Luv*Jam has been invited few times to rock the monthly party with his deeply blissful and futuristic sounds. This is his first 12” for the Berlin imprint.
The title track takes over the A side. Nip To Space is an abstract hypnotic slice of techno. Every frequency of the 4/4 groove is stretched to the max, and it’s built to enhance the dance floor with masterful soundscaping. On the flip Forest of Nip is a raw tune, made by unexpected elements disappearing and re-appearing vibrantly, climaxing in a maze of fluffy acid synths.
With Flip To The Flop the alchemist of sound design explores breakbeat of the finest UK tradition that evolves unexpectedly in a cosmically distorted afterhours delight. LUV*JAM’s psychedelic perspective of sound is at its best in this EP, coupled with his unique mastery of frequency manipulation.

Review: The Cocktail D'Amour nights in Berlin overseen by DJ Boris - also a resident at Berghain - and Italian duo Discodromo make their first steps into the record label business with this fine sampler including input from Bottin, Hard Ton, Ichisan and Massimiliano Pagliara. Discodromo open proceedings on the Moustache Side with a delightfully crunchy version of Jose Manuel's "Vampyros In Love" all live sounding percussive patterns and dramatic arpeggiated bass throbs which lay down the scene for a full on acid freak out midway through. Bottin's contribution is just as impressive, once again turning to compatriot Miss Plug Inn for inspiration, adding a shuddering proto house feel to her track "Chanson D'Amour". On the flip, Hard Ton gets the remix treatment from Pagliara, whose treatment on the former's IDJ Gigolo B Side "Earthquake" brilliantly twists between a shimmering bed of synths and the tracks acid house origins and back again several times over. Ichisan completes this impressive clear vinyl pressing with the crazed synth funk vibes of "Neli".

Review: This promising Israeli talent delivers two slow burning tracks oozing with eastern influence and informed by the modern sounds of dance. Part of the 84% Creativity crew, Naduve presents his second release with Cocktail d'Amore in the form of a two track EP which revels in it's dark and seductive energy. "No Good News" builds over it's 7-minute run layering mystic vocal synths and coupling them with splashing hats and tight shakers to give just enough beat driven energy to keep a crowd to attention. The flying guitars and staccato synths of "A Trip In Tel Aviv" slither over half beat percussive structures to give this track a sinister feel ideal for late, late, late nights. Wunderkind Man Power drops a tab on "A Trip..." giving it a fresh take perfect for psychedelically inclined moments.

Review: Germany's always tasteful and boundary nudging Cocktail D'Amore has another irresistible offering for us here. This time it's Naduve at the controls after outings on the likes of Motrodiscs, Calypso and Les Disques De La Mort in recent years. 'Echo Wave Bay' opens with a tense siren that rises and falls but keeps you thoroughly on edge. 'Hypogeum' then drops into deep house territory but riddled with detuned synths and pixelated pads that glow bright. 'FX Jungle' (feat Stephan Bazbaz) is a tropical and tribal cut with a humid feel and unrelenting bas synth and on 'Thursday Gem' the lo-fi, rough edged analogue drums are offset but more sleek, polished metal percussion and synths.

Review: Having already dazzled with her initial appearances on ESP Institute and Born Free, Japanese artist Moko Shibata continues to flourish as a producer with this utterly essential EP on Cocktail D'Amore. As with her previous releases, the mood is one of flamboyance and inventive melodies throughout, not least on the mutant disco celebration of "Heart". There is still some tougher fare to enjoy as well, with "Hole" proving to be particularly grubby, but overall there is a distinct sense that Shibata was reaching for a more disco influenced sound on this record, but it's far from your average slice of re-edited nonsense.

Review: Pushing Movies is a collaborative project from Jeffrey Sire and Dimitri SoEmotional that celebrates the vintage tones of Italo disco, synth pop and all things slick and 80s. "Thinking About You" does indeed sound like it could have been made 30 years ago - from the slap bass to the reverse drum fills, plastic FM synth lines and overall aspirational tone, it's the consummate extended 12" mix track. Lauer takes the original and smacks it up sharp with some tougher drums and a greater sense of urgency, and then Fort Romeau takes a subtle approach that keeps much of the original spirit of the track intact while honing the edges for maximum club play and using some cosmic synth flourishes to devastating effect.

Review: Having previously popped up on ESP Institute, Juan Ramos teams up with Trent to form Greenvision, making their first appearance on the home of freshly squeezed discoid deviance, Cocktail D'Amore. "Surdinia" takes over the A side with a bombastic array of peak time devices in its utility belt, from bubbling acid tweaks to gluttonous monosynth leads and a chunky set of drums. "Meccanica" is no slouch either, laying down thick slabs of synthesized grease in pursuit of a different kind of party track. This is unusual, distinctive club music for those who want the crowd to stop and pay attention.

Review: Studio Luce drops some serious disco heat with the Defender X EP which receives remixes from Toby Tobias and Tuff City Kids. Studio Luce's original enjoys a slowly swagger of bass and kick-clap combo's with Italo synths as its centrepiece. Toby Tobias does away with Italo musicality and reworks the drums for a stripped version of the original while the Tuff City Kids tailor their version of the dance floor, adding bigger claps equalling the synth action of the original. The "Drums Mix" pulls back most of the melodies, leaving space for the occasional disco squiggle, delay and pop.

Review: Notorious Discodromo helmed session CockTail D'Amore celebrate their 10th birthday with a compilation that highlights many different aspects of the much loved and musically adventurous Berlin party. The Garden is where the energy of the club becomes exuberant and open, making Tornado Wallace's stomping robo-disco burner "Start Again" a perfect open air treat. "Sleeping Bag In New York" hits on a freestyle flavour clearly indebted to Arthur Russell and Will Socolov's seminal label, courtesy of Greenvision. Bon Voyage Organization have a sweeter disco mood to impart that sounds custom built for roofless celebration, and Bell Towers channels Blake Baxter to great effect on "In The Garden".

Review: Well, hold on to your seats because this is a pretty wild surprise by Cocktail d"Amore! The Berlin party, the new hedonic Mecca in the German city, mark their fifth anniversary with this exquisite compilation featuring some of their most beloved household DJs, as well as some high profile contemporaries. Among the throng, we have Lord Of The Isles with "Wilderness Three" - a super deep and super abstract groove barely held together by a flurry of percussion - Dorisburg, Luv Jam, Pan's Heatstick and even Mr.Willie Burns himself under the Black Deer alias! This is a 3 vinyl pack with superb illustrated artwork download code included. What a deal.

Review: Discodromo's CockTail D'Amore label continues to turn out the goods after an especially productive year, rounding things off by reaching out to The Violet Hour for a 12" that should worm its way into a wide variety of party scenarios. "One Morning In The Future" is an emotive slice of synth-led electro that will surely shine through for those who want a romantic start to the night, while "Ultraviolet" sports a throbbing bassline that could easily see its disco tones edged into a more house-oriented set. "Prisoner Of Love" is more lean in terms of arrangement, but the dubby FX processing lends it a psychedelic quality that will go down a treat in the early hours of the dance.