Local Talk レコード& CD

Review: After declining to reveal their identities while promoting their early singles on Nu Groove, Acid Jerks decided to unmask themselves earlier in the year. Now Berlin-based twosome Oliver Siebert (AKA Oliver $) and Stefan Braatz (founder of Adapter Records) have pitched up on Local Talk for the first time. They begin by doffing a cap to Lil' Louis and hypnotic, heads-down epics of old on the hypnotic excellence of 'Shades of Grey' (which boasts some very DJ Rolando-esque synth-strings), before opting for a more Mr Fingers-esque sound on the nostalgic 'Wheels of Forture'. Over on the reverse, 'Rise Up' sounds like a long-lost Virgo Four deep house jam from the mid 1980s, while 'Ace of Spade' is a terrific, effects-laden jack-track driven forwards by a killer bassline and psychedelic acid lines.

Review: Joseph Caserta is an LA-based artist with a now global profile after outings on God Hour, Shadeleaf and Razor-N-Tape. He brings a distinctive funk style, has put out disco and deep house, as well as adding his own distinctive takes on classic cuts on his own label BridgeBoots. Now he lands on Local Talk with an EP called Hip Hop that once again finds him serving up his singular sonic signature. It features two originals and two versions and the A-side comes compete with swinging drums and a stabby chords that keep the energy bumping while the flip is all about punchy and bumping house jackers.

Review: Astonishingly, a decade has now passed since Timothee Milton's last significant single - a digital-only affair on Moodmusic called 'Back In Time'. This 12", featuring the mighty vocal talents of Dome Records soulstress Angela Johnson, is therefore long overdue. Milton's 'Main Mix' (B2) is a nostalgic, retro-futurist chunk of vocal house - think driving drums, incessant minor key melodies, early morning synth riffs, organ bass and a typically inspired lead vocal from Johnson. The accompanying remix package is unsurprisingly strong, too. On the A-side 'Underwater Mix', Hugo LX adds Johnson's wonderful vocal to a backing track rich in undulating acid bass, bouncy, Afro-house-influenced beats, King Britt chords and woozy synth sounds. Art of Tones version, meanwhile, is a looser and more organic-sounding affair that takes cues from disco and gospel house.

Review: Local Talk hits the rather significant catalogue number of 100 with a forward thinking EP that stays true to its MO over the last few years. It finds MLiR aka Modern Life Is Rubbish joined by Arnau Obiols to serve up a brace of brilliant tunes that blur the lines between a myriad different dance styles. "Lajbans" is a playful, fun tune with tooting arps and cosmic melodies all married to a chugging beat that Todd Terje would be proud of. The Bellaterra dub on the flip reworks it with plenty of space echo, knob twirling effects and sci-fi atmospheres. A tidy little package.

Review: Local Talk has quietly but assuredly become a vital voice in there underground. It has done so over the last 13 years and now makes that occasion by doing what it does best - serving up timeless club sounds that mix under many different subgenres. This is another feel-good offering from four of the label's talents or as the label puts it, "producers that we love and respect." There is funky bass and soulful vibes from the Soul Renegades opener, Wipe The Needle's 'Light Years Away' is a more serene cosmic journey and The James L'Estraunge Orchestra offer a broken beat and jazzed-up dancer in 'Broken Spells.' Nico Lahs brings some cuddly depths to his slow-mo house jam 'Happenstance.'