Toy Tonics レコード& CD

Review: For the fifth volume in their Tonic Edits series, the Toy Tonics crew has handed over the reins to label regular and sometime Razor 'N' Tape contributor COEO. There's plenty to set the pulse racing throughout. Opener "Orlando Magic" offers a tightened up, re-arranged take on a killer chunk of highlife disco, while "Cabrio Magio" appears to be a tooled-up take on a killer South American disco stomper. On the flip you'll find the rubbery electric bass, Chic style clipped guitars and eyes-closed vocals of "1981", as well as "She Keeps It Good", a superb P-funk/boogie rework which sees COEO brilliantly tease out the groove via some seriously cut-up loops.

Review: New York psychedelic soul/stoner disco fusionists Phenomenal Handclap Band have been rather quiet of late, with this surprise single on Toy Tonics marking the New York combo's first outing for 18 months. Curiously, there's no original version of "Judge Not" for us to assess, just three reworks from disco stalwart Ray Mang. They are, though, extremely good. The A-side "Special Remix" is particularly potent, with Mang lacing the band's breezy, gospel-influenced vocals and killer pianos solos over a lolloping West Coast disco groove. Those pianos take pride of place on the dub disco style flipside "Reprise Mix", which may well be our pick of a very strong bunch, and on the sweaty, dancefloor-ready "Instrumental" version.

Review: Toy Tonic always deliver interesting, functional, emotional house music and here comes another such serving from the so-far so-excellent Cody Currie. The opener is as deep and jazzy as they come, with rich chords and twinkling pads all floating way above a nice warm bassline. 'LS Anthem' plays with broken beats and warped chords that are woozy and rich as a spoken word sample brings a sense of cool. 'When The Time Is Right' then keeps up the magical Rhodes work and a soulful, shuffling groove before 'M9' picks up the pace a little without loosing any of the heart and version of 'Moves' closes in steamy fashion.

Review: Bologna-based Sam Ruffillo is undoubtedly a rising star. What's most impressive about his work is his seemingly innate ability to blend elements of deep house (both Italian and American) and US garage with nods to jazz-funk, broken beat, soul and boogie. His latest EP for Toy Tonics is another exceptional collection of cuts. There are three Ruffillo originals on show: the slick soul vocals, boogie bass and kaleidoscopic house colour of 'Just Fine' and the electrofunk-meets-Italo-disco excellence of 'Mind & Soul (Italo Version)'. Elsewhere, Ash Lauryn turns unreleased cut 'Don't Think Twice' into a subtly disco-tinged deep house body-warmer, while Art of Tones delivers two passes on 'Mind & Soul' - a glistening, sun-bright vocal version that sounds like a classic Dave Lee production, and an equally as impressive, vocal-free Dub Mix.

Review: Those who pay attention to South American DJ culture may have encountered Barbara Boeing, a genuine rising star who has slowly been easing herself into music production. This is her debut EP, which was co-produced by another scene starlet, Toy Tonics regular Sam Ruffillo. 'Brigada', featuring Phil Mill, is the headline attraction - a brilliant blend of nu-disco colour, mid-90s US house motifs, hip-house breakbeats and sun-splashed melodies aplenty. Esa Williams remixes, keeping the joyousness of the original version whilst giving the track a bit of a post-kwaito, late 1980s/early 90s South African house feel. Elsewhere, 'Brasiliana' sounds like early 90s Pet Shop Boys after a fist full of happy pills, while 'Baille Do Silencio' sees Boeing brilliantly join the dots between Art of Noise, electrofunk and rushing nu-disco.

Review: DJ Sneak is in a great run of form right now, which is all the more impressive given that he has been turning out his signature house sounds for more than 30 years now. The self-declared House Gangster recently impressed on Dam Swindle's Heist Recordings label and now makes this way to the always-assured Toy Toncis outlet. He offers up four cuts that veer away from his loop, filter-heavy house into more edgy and late-night minimal and techno but with the robust sound design and compelling sense of underlying groove that you always expect from the man.

Review: The Toy Tonics label has been one of the most consistently good house labels in the past decade plus. Those who see the label design in a record bin immediately recognize and respect the curation of the label by their owners Murk and Kapote. Electric Slide is the latest EP to get the seal of approval for mass release. Producer Kapote brings his high energy Balearic house sound to this record which also mixes in a bit of steady deepness to tracks like 'The Come On' (extended version). The title track blends a late-night disco groove to maximize the mood of the record. Do not sleep on the A-sides though as they blend in some classic Euro sound and New York 90s sounds.