IRMA Italy レコード& CD

Review: Anduze is a new school vocalist with an old school soul sound. He has that rare quality of being able to bring to mind greats like Marvin Gaye and James Brown while also having his own sound. He reimagines the greats on this new album that was written during the pandemic and blurs the lies between jazz, soul, funk, R&B and pop similar in fashion to the likes of Prince or Lenny Kravitz. Raised on the native land of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, Anduze draws also on reggae sounds on the deep cut 'Helen' while picking up the funk on cuts such as 'How To Love A Good Man.'

Review: Don Carlos' 'Aqua' is the second album to be released by the Varese-based producer, and in its day, it came to be renowned for its rare white label edition (contrasting to the main version which contained a smug-looking Don on its blue-tinged front). The generic version became a collectors' item, thanks to a combination of its tasteful design and the inclusion of the classic house track 'Alone' which shocked the dance music community at the time of its release. Now, finally, the generic version gets an unlikely reissue, with many remixes of Alone in tow, not to mention obscurer tracks like 'Ipnotica' and 'Move Your Body'.

Review: Don Carlos will always be best known as the legendary Italian producer behind the enduring Balearic and Italo/dream house classic 'Alone' which was, rather impressively, his first ever release. Here we get to hear some of his favourite tunes on another vital volume of this series from his longtime home label Irma Records. All the tracks on this essential double pack have been re-edited by Don Carlos himself, especially for this occasion with highlights from the likes of Deep Aural Penetration, Love Nation and Outdance.

Review: Following a rework of their 1991 hit 'I'm Gonna Love You' on Groove Culture back in April, Italian soul legends Jestofunk get their 1997 album Universal Mother reissued on IRMA. Comprised of northerners Alessandro Staderini, Claudio 'Moz-Art' Rispoli and Farias, they went on to release six albums. All the anthems you probably remember still sound as good on here as they did 24 years ago, such as the disco explosion of 'Be A Warrior' featuring vocals by legend Ce Ce Rogers, the deep down and dirty groove of 'Special Love' with the one and only Jocelyn Brown, to the funky acid jazz joint "If You've Got It, You'll Get It" with percussionist Bill Summers and Fred Wesley on the trombone. Timeless.

Review: Since appearing in limited numbers back in 2019, vinyl copies of Luca Trevisi's seventh album as LTJ Xperience, Deepening of a Groove, have swapped hands for surprising sums online. IRMA has responded by delivering this reissue. We're glad they have, because it's one of the Italian veteran's strongest sets - a wonderfully groove-driven fusion of chugging disco, deep house, jazz-funk, soul and sample-rich club cuts that's packed to the rafters with playable treats. Our picks of a very strong bunch include the acid-flecked loop funk of 'Deeper', the rolling swamp funk headiness of harmonica-laden future classic 'I'm Coming Down', the sensual nu-disco soul of 'Infiltrator', and the bluesy, slow-motion hypnotism of standout 'Black Feeling'.

Review: The 2013 album, Ain't Nothing But A Groove, followed in the footsteps of its predecessor back when it as first released. It found the cult favourite LTJ delve into the rich world of disco and '70s groove with his unique touch. Mixing contemporary sounds with the timeless vibe that had become his trademark, LTJ explored this musical landscape like no other and brought forth a fusion of old and new that captivated listeners then and will surely do so again now as it gets a reissue on double vinyl via IRMA.

Review: Bologna's Irma label always does a top job of delving into the archives to serve up on point retrospective compilations. House Classics: Sounds Of The 90's is another case in point and it kick off with a seriously seminal tune from Balearic beat master Don Carlos. 'Alone' is pure sunset house to send shivers down the spine. From there you get plenty more definitive house sounds all with a deeper bent, jazzy melodies and the sort of proper musicality that you don't get so often on modern tunes. From the New York bump of Be Noir's 'Give Me Your Love' (Philadelphian mix) to the Italo and Med' vibes of Riviera TRaxx's 'Parfume 1' this is a real feel good selection.

Review: One of many of IRMA Records' jazz-funk compilations, Acid Jazz Funk is a sixteen-track compilation full of delights; but should not be confused with many of their prior, albeit similarly titled titles, including Acid Jazz & Funky Grooves and Acid Jazz Classics. Clearly, we're in the presence of connoisseurs; cuts from Black & Brown, Funky Destination, The Smoke Orchestra and Jestofunk appear as standouts on this as-ever supremely selected V/A on 2xLP, once more centring on the tasteful proclivities of the c.1990 Bolognan dance music fan; their preference for hard breaks and quiet-stormed funk calms overlaid.