Duca Bianco レコード& CD

Review: Berlin-based Tom Bolas has long been one of the most reliable re-editors on the Duca Bianca roster, regularly delivering inspired reworks of Balearic obscurities, flea market record finds and under-appreciated gems. Predictably, there's a similar sonic aesthetic to his latest collection of re-cuts, his first for four years. Opener 'Pantera' is a delay and reverb-laden revision of an early house era synth-pop/indie-dance number that could possibly be filed under Italo-dance, while 'Spiel Mich, Fuel Mich' is a fine take on an odder German synth number. On side B, the Berlin-based producer re-cuts a shuffling and eccentric new wave track ('Lineas Blancas'), before excelling on a killer revision of an arpeggio-driven, dial tone-sporting Eastern European take on Italo-disco ('Czech My Machine').

Review: Casinoboy makes a triumphant return to Duca Bianco with a sparkling EP that once again shows his studio mastery. Previously featuring alongside luminaries like Rune Lindbaek and Khidja on a well-received compilation, Casinoboy's latest kicks off with 'Honesty' which is a blend of Balearic and breaks that brings a shuffle-and-wiggle experience with uplifting samples and an old-school UK rap edge. 'This Feeling' has a catchy Street Soul feel, while 'Searos' mixes up ambient sounds and Spanish Guitar to evoke the essence of the White Isle. Closing with 'Astral Go Go,' really pumps the party in ways only he knows how.

Review: The Duca Bianco label swerves its usual various artists' format to allow CW - who has appeared on those before - to step up with his own solo EP. He is a mysterious artist but is well known for his immersive record collection and legendary sets on the London scene. He is one-third of the Beauty & The Beat party and brings his unique twists of Afro and soul to this quartet of tunes. 'Karambolage' opens up with lots of big horns and noodling string sounds over a ramshackle beat then things take a cosmic turn on the rather more psychedelic 'Six Times Seven' with its Nippon-koku polyriddims, while 'Ou Ka Jis Fe Kole' is a party starter with a Zouk dub edge and 'Nzimbab' is built on a low slung and swaggering rhythm.

Review: Duca Bianco is back with one of its special various artists' releases, and a mighty fine one it is too. This one finds four guest producers all with their finest studio tools sharpened and ready for action. Two of the artists are well known but use new alias - one is Israeli synth and psyche wizards Red Axes who work their magic as Der Sexa on 'Gabi Plane' and another is Beauty & The Beat party man Cedric Woo as CW. He gets nice and twisted here while the other two cuts - one from Italo king Franz Scala who builds slow new wave funk, and one from Manchester's renowned edit kings Talking Drums who offer some lovely leftfield madness on 'DMNB', all make for crucial listening.

Review: While he's used the NAD alias for numerous commissioned re-edits and reworks, it's been a decade since Idjut Boy and Record Mission co-founder Dan Tyler last released an EP under the alias. Given his track record as a dub delay and space echo living editor, this surprise outing in the excellent Duca Bianca imprint is a more than welcome development. He begins by dubbing out, extending and rearranging a Germanic new wave gem ('Dow Wordy', with its dead-eyed spoken word vocals), before showcasing a lower-tempo, French language obscurity on the Balearic-not-Balearic shuffle of 'Histoire De Cul'. 'Krapps Smack' sees the Oslo-based Brit add extra layers of echo-laden insanity to a low-slung, extra-percussive punk-funk number, while 'Release The Pigoen' is a spacey, slow-motion AOR gem drenched in effects and saucer-eyed intent.