Favorite France レコード& CD

Review: Favourite France drop some absolute truth with this killer reissue of Beckie Bell's 1980 classic "Music Madness", from the album 'In Need Of...'. This is he funkiest disco you can possibly ask for, a chirpy, upbeat tune that calls for the good times. It's the sort of track that can be slapped on in just about any set, anywhere, and Bell's vocals are as infectious as the tight groove that pushes the track forwards. There are a couple of remixes, though, which bring out the best of the original and make it even more playable than before. The first one is a more beat-heavy reinterpretation from Voilaaa, while Tom Noble injects the perfect level of houseness into the equation thanks to a slamming 4/4 and some extra percussion. Perfect, and very much recommended if you've somehow slept on the original.

Review: Bars on the French Riviera, beaches in Cannes, hot sunny weather, mesmerising deep-blue seas and lovely leafy palm trees all come to mind once you drouth need on this latest 12" slice heat from Favourite France. Magic Source do a great job of musical transportation here particularly with 'Genius of Love' which is a riff on the Tam Tam girls classic. The tropical island beats and funky bass riffs all douse you in good vibes while a lead flute takes your mind up, up and away into a cloudless sky. 'Riviera Drive' is slight more dance effort ready with its rump-wiggling trumpets, exotic synths and Balearic disco vibes.

Review: Sounds like it came out of Lagos in 1971, actually written and recorded in Lyon in 2015: Voilaaa is the brainchild of Bruno Hovart whose long relationship with Favorite goes way back to his days as Patchworks, Mr President and The Dynamics. Recording on a whole host of vintage machines and calling upon local African singers both cuts have a real authentic sense of realness; "Spies Are Watching Me" drives with big horns and swooning strings which isn't dissimilar to the work of The Movers, while the TY Boys-esque "Le Disco Des Capitales" is a heavier, more concentrated slab of floor-minded disco where the groove takes more of a forefront role. Apparently there's a whole album of this cooking... We can't wait to hear it.