Want You In My Soul (Summer In London edit) (4:51)
Review: Stee Downes is one of contemporary house music's most prominent vocalists and here he lends his silky tones to Freerange, Defected and OM Records associate, Lovebirds for this new one on South Street. "Want You In My Soul" is a mix of old and new, where disco percussion and cosmic synths nestle alongside a mid tempo house groove with plenty of warmth. Downes' vocals are the loved up icing on the romantic groove cake. Flip over for the "Summer In London Edit" - a more stripped back and direct version, perfect for outdoor stages as the sun beats down.
Review: Global dance music superstar Peggy Gou comes back with a second super summer single that is widely infused with her own distinctive influences. Chiefly, that is a love of 90's dance anthems, which was rekindled in her during downtime during the pandemic. Released via her own Gudu Records, 'I Go' is a catchy, singable bit of throwback dance-pop with her own vocals front and centre. The old school beats and bass will get any party pumped, with the synth work looks to the cosmos and explores a very different vibe to her previous single. An instrumental and acappella are also included on this lovely 12".
Review: Since 2013, Brighton & Barcelona duo Payfone have been crafting atmospheric, mid-tempo grooves on respected labels like Golf Channel, Leng and Defected. Their latest track keeps up their quality levels as a synth-driven, drum-machine-powered journey featuring deep Moog bass and striking vocals. On the flip, San Francisco trio 40 Thieves aka Corey Black, Layne Fox and Jay Williams provide a remix that is patient, slow-burning and underpinned by an undulating acid line. It's a moody, sultry production that continues Payfone's knack for sophistication and late-night allure.
Review: Tom Noble is renowned for his vinyl digging prowess as well as being the head of the Superior Elevation Records. Now he unveils his House Of Spirits alias with the debut single from an upcoming album on Razor-N-Tape. 'Times Are Changing' previews an album spanning nearly 15 years of work and one that blends modern-retro soul with nods to the Mizell Brothers and Patrick Adams. Recorded with live instrumentation and tailored for the dance floor, the limited 12" features an extended original and instrumental on side A, and a dynamic remix by Australian synth maestro Harvey Sutherland on side B. Infectious vocals and rich instrumentation, what's not to love?
Review: Coral City return early in 2022 with an excellent release. N&W are on duty again here with three stand-out tracks. 'Rave' the A-Side is exactly what it says on the tin. It's 808 State meets Larry Heard with a touch of Inner City. Stripped down and four to floor. Classic Roland 909 drums are met with aAhook that shakesAany dancefloor, expect early support with this. 'Speed' is a killer Nu-Disco / Boogie affair with a nod to the seedy underworld of the '80s, Picture Michelle Pfeiffer throwing shapes on the dancefloor in Scarface, and you are right on the nose. Finally, 'Cherry' is an all-out Italo / Hi-NRG workout, the linndrums, the driving arpeggio bassline and overall melancholy feel, is reminiscent of Bobby Orlando.
Review: For his latest outing on the Good Timin' imprint he set up some years back, Jex Opolis is joined by Ian D Knight. The St Louis-based performance artist notably makes his presence felt on "Look At My Car", delivering a vocal inspired by "consumerism and rampant motorism" over the NYC producer's superb, Padlock-inspired, boogie-dub groove. The Compass Point influence also comes to the fore on closer "Guitar Sands", where intertwining guitar and synthesizer motifs stretch out across a Larry Levan-friendly backing track. The EP's other cut, "Rimini Nite", successfully pays tribute to the halcyon days of Italo-disco. It's every bit as thrilling as the rest of this superb 12".
Sonic Soul Orchestra - "Good Inside" (feat Kathy Brown) (6:17)
Da Lukas - "Drop The Funk" (7:05)
Yam Who? & Rikky Disco - "Set Me Free" (6:49)
Guy Preston - "Purple Heart" (feat Adrian Crutchfield) (4:49)
Review: Disco Juice kicks off with some irresistibly sweet disco jams on this first volume on 12". Sonic Soul Orchestra get things underway with 'Good Inside' featuring the one and only Kathy Brown belting out some big hooks over strident drums. There are more rickety drums and loose-limbed funk workouts on Da Lukas's 'Drop The Funk' then Yam Who? & Rikky Disco's 'Set Me Free' brings big trumpet energy and withering pads next to lush strings. Last but not least, Guy Preston's 'Purple Heart' (feat Adrian Crutchfield) rounds out with a hip-swinging groove and call and response vocal to get hands in the air.
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (Ron Trent remix) (4:14)
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (Ron Trent dub) (4:09)
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (ASHRR Soundsystem instrumental) (5:06)
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (ASHRR Soundsystem remix) (6:23)
Review: LA-based band ASHRR picked up plenty of new fans with their recent Sunshine Low album and now they're back with the sixth single from it and it comes with some seriously heavyweight names on the remix. Chicago house pioneer Ron Trent does his thing to 'Please Don't Stop The Rain' by going super deep, spine tingling and heady with some lush arps and distant guitar twangs adding a Balearic feel. Dub treatments come from the Prescription boss himself, while ASHRR's alter ego, ASHRR Soundsystem, offer up an instrumental and a remix that lay down dubby house drums and lush chord work. This one keeps the summer vibes going well into winter.
Review: Crazy P's latest album offers a clean, classic experience, while still showcasing the band's skill in merging retro influences with fresh, modern energy. Tracks like 'Portals' and 'Not Too Late' highlight the depth of their sound, and the late Danielle Moore's signature vocals provide an emotional anchor throughout. The pressing is high quality, ensuring every intricate detail shines through. This edition is perfect for both audiophiles and fans, offering an immersive listening experience that pays tribute to Moore's legacy within the band.
Review: Comes courtesy of producer and edit maestro Alkalino. The Germany based selector dug deep into his vaults of hard and electro to deliver some of the best sleeper and classic gems.The highlight of side one is easily Breakin' Wind, with other notable bangers such as Bang on it, Stardance and Fly with the wind. One thing about Adeen Records and the Make-Up series is they deliver every time.
Review: Yse Saint Laur'ant makes wonky, left-of-centre sounds for proper underground parties. He's done so for years, and now returns with more of his raw and inventive disco on the sought-after Vinyl Only label. Opener 'Bad Company' pairs visceral arps with glossy pads and soulful vocal, which is stripped away from the 'Better Company' version. On the flipside, 'Don't Look Back' is a more freewheeling and funky feel, with silky basslines and hip swing claps under buttery vocals. Last of all is a classic chug-disco gem. 'Foreign Love' goes slow, with crashing hits and languid bass all topped off by a yearning female vocal that slowly but surely rises into euphoria.
Review: You best get the sunnies on for this one because it is a sweltering bit of funk fuelled disco with lashing of cosmic energy, boogie baselines and irresistible grooves. First up is the epic ten minute plus 'Solar Flair' with its slapping bass and withering sci-fi chords, long legged drums and prog leads. After that sensuous slow burner things pick up with 'Heatwave', a more direct and textured cut but one still dripping with Rhodes magic and plenty of celestial charm. Two red hot tunes on a vital 12" from Hi Quality Inc.
Elia Y Elizabeth - "Fue Una Lagrima" (Phenomenal Handclap Band 7" edit remix) (4:54)
Elia Y Elizabeth - "Descripcion" (Buscabulla Beatless remix) (3:23)
Review: The Phenomenal Handclap Band combine forces with Buscabulla on this new split 7" for the new Relatin project, a New York-based initiative to reimagine Latin music for a new generation of music listeners. Touted as "sweet sixties soft pop meets funk and club culture", this three tracker comes to us with all the style of a low key Americana acetate found in a thrift store, but surreptitiously works modern sonics into the mix; 'Descripcion' is a beatless meander through mellow Latin vocals and whistles, while more energetic cuts adorn the A.
Review: For his next outing, Nebraska has curated a mini best-of EP that serves up a quartet of tunes that have been digital only until now. Side A opens with 'Senza Parole,' featuring a weird and wonderful vocal sound and some loose hand claps under Italo-infused disco-funk drums. 'Let Me Be The One' is a nice tripped out and slow motion 90s downtempo jam and 'Funkbraska' is an homage to French Touch with filtered synth loops fizzing with sugar goodness over a characterful bassline, and last of all is 'Love + Hate', another low slung hose groove that oozes cool and has a fantastic bassline propping it up.
Review: LUXXURY (born Blake Robin) is the LA Beatmaker who really comes correct on this new EP on Nolita Records. It features four of his freshest tunes to date and if the title is anything to go by it could be the start of a fine new series. Things start all sensuous on 'Let's Stay Together' before the stylish cosmic disco Rhdoes and smooth grooves of 'Don't Give Up (I Believe In You)' and breezy, hip swing charms of 'Pleasure' make a great impression. 'Two Hearts' rides on nice languid bass riffs and last of all comes the upbeat, piano laced and hands in the air jam, 'Hold On (Crackazat remix).'
Review: It may have taken longer than some anticipated, but Roisin Murphy is finally getting the plaudits she serves as one of the UK's finest vocalists and most inventive artists. It's taken time but finally the accolades are coming along with the of packed-out venues, dynamic live shows, and superb new albums. Hit Parade is a brand-new record made not with regular producer Crooked Man, but the leftfield Pampa Records boss DJ Koze. Musically, it's a genre-straddling, style-bending affair whose strong songs - rich in sing-along choruses, thoughtful lyrics and musical hooks aplenty - are presented in vivid colour (with plenty of sparkling organic instrumentation). This is the deluxe version of a truly deluxe album.
Review: Under the Tigerbalm alias, Rose Robinson has done a stellar job in crafting a trademark style that blends elements of boogie, nu-disco and proto-house with a variety of global musical influences - most notably African, Latin and South-East Asian sounds. On this welcome return to Razor N Tape, the London-based producer leans into the Latin inspirations, first via the colourful nu-disco breeze of 'Profunda Alma' (featuring regular vocalist Joy Tyson), and then on the 21st century synth-samba of 'Vem Ca' (featuring Jao Selva's honeyed vocals). Yuksek turns the latter into a club-ready Latin nu-disco gem, before rising stars Make a Dance deliver two rubs of 'Profunda Alma': a superb, warehouse-ready and TB-303-laden 'Acid Remix', and a percussive, spaced-out and decidedly delicious 'Tribal Dub'.
Grasslands (feat Mitchell Yoshida & John FM) (5:41)
Visions Of You (feat Mitchell Yoshida & John FM) (5:56)
Totall Recall (feat Mitchell Yoshida, John FM & Carla Azar) (2:29)
Car Dates (feat Tyesha Blount & Carla Azar) (4:22)
Slide (feat John FM, Mitchell Yoshida & Billy Lotion) (6:18)
Keeping Me (feat Mitchell Yoshida, John FM, Troialexis) (5:41)
Growing Old (feat Mitchell Yoshida, Amir Hasan) (6:02)
Morning Ride (feat Mitchell Yoshida) (5:35)
Selinho Na Calcinha (feat Alexia Bomtempo & Mauro Refosco) (11:53)
Saturn Eats His Young (feat Supercoolwicked) (3:57)
Review: If anything, the hugely prolific Motor City mainstay that is Omar S seems to be getting even more prolific as time goes on. His vast catalogue grows once more here with Fun House, which finds Alister Fawnwoda exploring a wide range of dance music styles alongside guests such as FXHE regular John F.M., plus Mitchell Yoshida, Super Cool Wired, Troi Alexis, Tyesha Blount and more, with all the production, lyrics and mixing taken care of by Omar S himself. The tracks range from seductive deep house to edgy mechanical techno, dubbed out downbeat joints and smooth electronic Detroit soul. It is yet another crucial chapter in the FXHE and Omar S story.
Got To Find Dub (feat Benedek - bonus track) (6:49)
Review: While much of Mark Seven's work on his Parkway Rhythm label leans into the vocal end of the NYC proto-house/formative garage-house spectrum, his occasional 'Parkwerks' EPs are designed to delight those who prefer stripped-back, synth-heavy dubs of the kind released back in the day by the likes of Paul Simpson, Boyd Jarvis, Winston Jones and Timmy Regisford. There are plenty of "hard, raw and raunchy dubs for DJs" on this belated third instalment, with the Stockholm-based Brit offering up bassline-driven, freestyle-inspired brilliance ('Thrust'), cowbell-laden post-boogie proto-house ('Runnin' Dub') and echo-laden NYC electro ('Time Storm'). He also joins forces with fellow proto-house enthusiast Benedek on the lightly acid-flecked, Chicken Lips style brilliance of closing cut 'Got To Find Dub'.
Review: Heads High keeps up the good early work with a third interesting offering, this time in the form of a meeting of the fiendish minds of Mike Misiu and Eddie Smilie, aka Wednesday Club. They offer up late-night club sounds with plenty of musical nouse and worldly nuance that comes as a result of late-night sample mining across the African musical landscape. Their tunes are crafted on nice analogue gear so have that lovely freed edge feel and from the space-house of 'Magic Body' to the swaggering dub of 'Magic Dub' via the cosmic expressiveness of cruising groover 'Love & Care'. This one gets dubbed out to close a fine dancefloor adventure.
Review: DJ and producer Gratts returns to his own imprint with the third instalment of the "Balearic but bumpin'" trilogy. Here, the Belgian puts forward a captivating piece of organic, Body & Soul NY inspired deep house, assisted by Cata Mansikka-aho on vocals. As always, an instrumental is provided for maximum nightclub daydreaming. On the flipside, British duo Faze Action up the energy levels with an equally musical disco version that hits in all the right spots. Artwork once again by Mads Cooke.
Remedy (feat Steve Monite - JKriv Disco dub) (6:02)
Review: Razor-N-Tape is a bastion of deep house brilliance as once again perfectly exemplified by this vibrant new package from Flamingo Pier. New Zealand collective Flamingo Pier have dropped several well received 12"s on the Soundway Records label and then came good with 2021's self titled full length. They are still all about bringing happy, sunny vibes to a tropical disco template here with the likes of the synth lead 'How 2 Feel' then funky vocal pumper 'Remedy'. There are cosmic rays lighting up the big chords and aloof vocals of 'Beneath The Neon' then a couple of remixes on the flip bring more dubby disco-house sounds.
Review: Fresh music from a fresh label and a fresh duo, More Amour, 'Nightshift' and 'Don't Look Down' are nighttime funk dazzlers, sure to surprise with their takes on g-funk and house, all blended together in this instrumental nu-disco stew. The latter track in particular is a clear exercise in instrumental talent, with the producers embarking on a detuned keyboard-sizer journey of a solo.
Review: Vega Records finally drops this EP from Honeysweet having teased tunes from it on the Vega Records 5 Pack Unreleased III. It's a superb house offering with lashings of soulful groovers, all produced by Josh Milan. First out of the blocks is 'Last Night Changed It All' featuring Lawrence Clark on sax. It's a jam that will pack out the floor but brims with real musicality from the magical Rhodes, picked bass guitar, rhythm guitar and drums. 'Crazy' is a more raw, textured percussive sound but then come plenty more feel-good grooves for sun-kissed dance floors such as 'Being Free.'
Review: Razor-N-Tape is like catnip to disco and funk lovers - the label seems to serve up endless amounts of dance floor gems and now it is a couple of sick remixes of Phenomenal Handclap Band which have got us all ready for the weekend. First up is a sublime and deep Prince Thomas Diskomiks of 'Burning Bridges' which has gloopy bass and leggy nu-disco drums all overlaid with some funky guitar work and ethereal vocals. The more slow and lumpy original is included while on the flip is 'It Was The Summer' (Each Other remix) which is laced up with restless acid tweaks and slapping hits that mark for a much darker vibe than the hazy and laidback original.
Review: International Feel kicks off what is presumably a new series given its title, Mediterranean Dreams - Part 1. For it, they turn to Perugia synth obsessive, underground mainstay and fine producer Feel Fly for four tracks of breezy and sunny disco-house chuggers. 'Onironauta' brings retro Italo chords and nice chunky drums, 'Grace In Space' is a leggy cosmic wonder with far-sighted chords and muted acid magic, then 'Mediterranean Dreams' is pure 80s dream house bliss. 'Becalmed' is the most rough edged and analogue house jack track of the lot.
Review: Roisin Murphy has finally become a genuine top-tier star - an artist capable of packing-out venues with dynamic live shows, and whose every new musical move is headline news. Hit Parade is not, as the title suggests, a solo retrospective but rather a brand-new album produced not by regular collaborator Crooked Man, but rather another masterful maverick, DJ Koze. The pair has worked together before, so Murphy is in safe hands. Musically, it's a genre-straddling, style-bending affair whose strong songs - rich in sing-along choruses, thoughtful lyrics and musical hooks aplenty - are presented in vivid colour (with plenty of sparkling organic instrumentation). Recent singles 'Cuckoo' and 'The Universe', both instant classics, offer a neat summary of the album's many qualities.
Review: A modern lunar take on jazz and disco, Jazz On The Moon hears Italian producer Paolo Fedreghini moonwalk backwards through live horns, bass, synth and guitar for a crisply produced six-track EP. Opening with original NASA-issue intercom vocals from the 1968 moon landing, 'Interstellar' crafts a moonscape of Harmon-muted trumpet and avant-garde growls, while expansive electro-funk opens out on the title track and 'Distant Planet', by which point a tonal shift is underway. The vibe is increasingly P-funky, erring desolate on the interluding 'Outer Space', before we wind up purblinded by the light side of the mood on closers 'Groove Odyssey' and 'Cosmic Funk'.
Review: Los Angeles' producer Luxxury has long specialised in the kind of opaque, warming, stylish and melodious fare that tends towards the timeless - retro-futurist, yacht-rock-tinged fusions of disco, AOR, synth-pop, boogie and blue-eyed soul that sounds like it was tailor-made to listen to while cruising down the Pacific highway in an early '80s convertible. Alright, his latest album, sees him subtly tweak that sound further and in the process deliver his most consistently entertaining full-length excursion to date. Our picks of the plentiful standouts include the slap-bass propelled dreaminess of 'Somebody Tonight', the radio-friendly dancefloor delight that is 'Be Good 2 Me', the yacht disco goodness of 'I Need Somebody' and the kaleidoscopic, filter-sporting lux-pop of 'Alright'.
Review: 'Back For More"' by Cool Million stands out as a true Neo-Boogie classic. Originally released in 2010, this infectious dancefloor anthem has become a coveted gem among DJs and collectors, with original pressings fetching remarkable prices due to its limited run of just 1,000 copies. Featuring the iconic vocals of Eugene Wilde, the title track is a soulful synth funk jam that continues to dominate playlists worldwide. The flipside offers another smooth midtempo delight featuring DeeDee alongside Wilde, further showcasing the duo's knack for crafting irresistible grooves. Now, in 2024, Cool Million is set to reintroduce their signature sound with new recordings, while simultaneously delighting fans with a limited re-release of the original pressing. This is an essential addition for any serious vinyl collector or DJ looking to elevate their sets.
Freak Like U (Luca Lozano The Breakbeat Guy remix) (7:15)
Freak Like U (feat Karlos Moran - Luca Lozano Tribal Workout dub) (6:32)
Review: Second time round for Masarima's 'Freak Like U', a sparkling 2020 tribute to post-Italo-disco proto-house, co-produced by Whodamanny and Mystic Jungle. This time round, the track has been reimagined by two stellar talents: West Coast electro stalwart Egyptian Lover and Sheffield-based bleep, hardcore and acid revivalist Luca Lozano. The former handles side A, delivering warming, dreamy, tactile and glassy-eyed electro takes (vocal and instrumental) that reinforce the track's mid 1980s inspiration. Lozano, meanwhile, opts for another kind of nostalgia altogether, first combining house tempo breaks with echo-laden elements of the original (and a couple of hazy new synth stabs) on the 'Breakbeat Guy remix', before layering up the beats on a rather lovely 'Tribal Workout Dub' featuring percussionist Karlos Moran.
Don't Want This To Be Over (feat Satchmode) (3:51)
How We Gonna Stop The Time (feat Stee Downes) (5:32)
The Future Is Yours (3:36)
Let's Go Back (feat Romanthony) (3:20)
Review: The formidable Dutch trio of Kraak & Smaak has now been turning out their own brand of nu disco, house and funk for two whole decades. To mark the occasion they have been digging in their vast and vital back catalogue to come up with what they think are some of their best moments. The results have been put together on this compilation, Twenty, out via Jalapeno Records and their own label Boogie Angst. Plenty of fan favourites feature as well as collars with top names like Lee Fields, Parcels, Romanthony, Ben Westbeech and Durand Jones.
David Holmes - "Hope Is The Last Thing To Die" (feat Raven Violet - Daniel Avery remix)
Saint Etienne - "Like A Motorway" (Chemical Brothers Chekhov Warp vocal mix)
David Holmes - "It's Over If We Run Out Of Love" (feat Raven Violet - Darren Emerson Huffa remix)
The Parrots - "It's Too Late To Go To Bed" (Confidence Man remix)
Working Men's Club - "Ploys" (Erol Alkan rework)
Monkey Mafia - "Blow The Whole Joint Up " (Let's Slash The beats mix)
Mattiel - "Cultural Criminal" (Raf Rundell's Salty Man dub )
Espiritu - "Baby I Wanna Live" (Monkey Mafia Terminal mix)
Audiobooks - "LaLaLa It's The Good Life" (Herbert Vaccine dub)
Confidence Man - "Luvin U Is Easy" (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs remix)
Flowered Up - "Weatherall's Weekender" (Audrey Is A Little Bit partial mix)
Review: Having devoted volumes three and four of the ongoing 'Heavenly Remixes' series to reworks by the late, great Andrew Weatherall, this double-disc follow-up offers a more eclectic selection of reworks drawn four almost four decades of Heavenly Recordings releases. As with its predecessors, it's a fantastic collection packed to the rafters with highlights, from the shuffling synth pop-goes-dubby nu-disco flex of Ewan Pearson's dub of Out Cold's 'All I Want' and the squelchy, acid-fired indie-dance excitement of Confidence Man's rework of The Parrots' 'Let's Go To Bed', to the psychedelic big beat brilliance of the Chemical Brothers 1996 take on St Etienne's 'Like a Motorway', the 80s new wave-goes-industrial funk excellence of Trevor Jackson remixing Raf Rundell, and the creepy late night techno hypnotism of Daniel Avery's inspired revision of David Holmes.
In The Dark (Oliver Heldens extended remix) (5:47)
In The Dark (Aeroplane remix) (3:49)
Review: Purple Disco Machine continues to offer up fresh, club-ready remixes of recent singles. Here, Sophie & The Giants hook-up 'In The Dark' - a radio-friendly nu-disco sing-along in its original form - is given the re-rub treatment. Crazy P's Jim Baron delivers two A-side revisions under his Ron Basejam alias: a squelchy, bleeping, electro-not-electro full vocal take that will get plenty of plays for the rest of the year, and a deeper, hazier 'Dub Remix' for the heads. Over on the flip, Oliver Heldens joins the dots between Italo-disco, grandiose 21st century synth-pop and driving house on a certified hands-aloft take, while Belgium's Aeroplane drops a pleasingly bouncy, synth-rich nu-disco spin.
Audiobooks - "LaLaLa It's The Good Life" (Herbert's Vaccine dub) (12:14)
Confidence Man - "Luvin U Is Easy" (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs remix) (5:19)
Flowered Up - "Weatherall's Weekender" (Audrey Is A Little Bit partial mix) (15:33)
Review: The rather legendary Heavenly label is always hard to pin down. It has put out a dizzying array of music that pretty much redefines what the word eclectic can mean. Right now they are in the midst of releasing a series of collections of remixes. Once again this one is an eye-opening and ear-popping journey through sound as a well-curated mix of artists bring their own perspectives and reframe the original tunes. They take them into new worlds and in between genres that are all best heard at night, in some well-loved space with the lights down low.
David Holmes - "Hope Is The Last Thing To Die" (feat Raven Violet - Daniel Avery remix) (5:49)
Review: Heavenly Recordings has always been a place where anything goes. From genuinely brave folk to dazzling disco, lush broken beat and jazz to alternative indie, the label has done it all. This fifth collection of remixes of label material focuses more on club sounds. It features a clued-up list of producers from the veterans like Ewan Pearson who adds his own unique spin to Out Cold's 'All I Want' via new school techno and noise specialist Daniel Avery and his take on David Holmes's 'Hope Is The Last Thing To Die.' Thrilling stuff, for sure.
Review: Only by upholding and enforcing a limit can diehard music fans find the will to "keep coming back"; and by the sounds of it, recording artists Liminal know this rule all too well. The Danish duo and new Leng signees are still relative neonates on the scene, having paired up as session musicians in Denmark's flagship indie electronica studio Troest; they too could not avoid keeping coming back to each other, perhaps by sheer force of unavoidable collaborative potency. With a new midnight funk-disco threnody, 'Keep Coming Back To Me' harks back to the best of Scandi post-punk and disco as it swept the Baltic peninsulas in the early noughts; 'The Moon Is Changing' develops said captivating indietronic sound to a post-progressive effect, bringing a next-levelling of fused funk and abstract electronica.
Review: Reissued from the original Sedsoul 7" first laid down in 2010, and then a further digital 'House Session' edition in 2015, Cool Million and Eugene Wild are again 'Back For More'. Clearly, the Danish-German production duo, when in collaborative cahoots with r&b singer Wilde, are prone to redound to milking the dance for all it's worth; we gather that for as long as this tune is out, they'll always want their seconds and thirds, else they wouldn't eat, so to speak. So too does this third edition of the stellar, four-alt-mix 'Back For More' prove just as funky as it did at the moment of its original release fourteen years ago; Wilde rides the groove with serious flux, assuring the fulfilling of said prophesied return against spiccato strings and a curvaceous synth bass. There's even a karaoke version on there too, just in case you'd like to flaunt your underground soul intel at your next knees-up.
Review: JKriv returns to Razor-N-Tape after two years away and in that time it is clear to say he has further fine tuned his sound. This latest offering kicks off with 'Blueprint' which is a nice loose sound with elastic acid lines and bright chord stabs. 'Intuition' (feat Megatronic) slows down to sun-kissed and lazy swagger with soulful spoken words and cuddly pads and soft shakers all soothing you to your core. 'Zone 1' then kicks on with a nice bright blend of nu-disco colours and soft acid undulations and 'Paula's Dance' (feat Pauha) closes with some steamy and timeless house that is perfect for sunset sessions.
Review: Antoni Maiovvi's latest synth EP 'Birds of Paradise' is a dark, brooding release that draws inspiration from classic horror soundtracks, avian themes and early synthwave. Like something between an 80s title theme for the mothman and a modernist fever dream for automobiles taking flight, each track here is named after a quirkily-named bird, whether that be the Quetzal or the Streamertail. In keeping with the thermal-riding and soaring feel of the music, every track contains subtle birdsong as its texture, not to mention beautifully danceable yet minimal melodies.
Review: Miracle Thomas and Rob Hardt bring new life to 'Sugar Free,' the 1985 hit by Juicy, just in time for the arrival of spring. The funky bassline and smooth vocal runs make this cover instantly catchy and memorable. Miracle's sultry delivery, paired with Rob's groove-heavy production, creates an irresistible blend of old-school soul with a fresh twist. The song's infectious chant and hook elevate it to a dancefloor favourite, while the chemistry between Thomas and Hardt is undeniable. This track will no doubt soar on the charts, earning its place on playlists and keeping listeners hooked for months. It's the perfect mix of nostalgia and contemporary soul.
Review: Rose Robinson is something of a rising star: a musician and producer inspired by the twin delights of disco and the different musical cultures she's encountered during her travels around the world. Her debut album as Tigerbalm does a brilliant job in fusing these together, with Robinson and a string of vocalists and guest musicians giddily flipping between bongo-laced, early morning dub disco ('Kete'), colourful and extra-percussive nu-disco ('Tokyo Business'), hot-stepping Afro-house ('Waiheke'), revivalist NYC proto-house (the incredible 'Cosmic Camel'), spaced-out samba-house ('Bahia Escapista'), Latin-fired, Prince style purple funk ('Riad De Lister') and her dark, rolling, atmospheric and sweat-soaked tribute to tribal house ('Cocktail D'Amour', a track inspired by the Berlin LGBTQ+ party collective of the same name).
Review: When it comes to gorgeously summery blends of colourful nu-disco and sunset-ready deep house, Tim Berndhardt AKA Satin Jackets is in league of his own. That much is proved by his third album, and first for three years, Reunion. It begins with an immersive dose of sunrise deep house warmth, 'For What We Have', and ends with the piano-spotted, hands-in-the-air audio dopamine of 'Don't Worry'. In between, you'll find a sparkling, sun-bright mixture of Balearic house loveliness ('Little Aeroplanes'), head-bobbing synth-pop lusciousness ('Different Directions', with Ivy Falls), melody-rich cheeriness ('Hundred Fifty Up'), dreamy vocal nu-disco (Tailor hook-up 'Spell'), and smile-inducing, guitar-laden joyousness ('Coffee & Feels').
Fever Dreamer (feat Charlotte Day Wilson & Channel Tres) (5:20)
Epiphany (8:46)
Lifetime (4:46)
Plain Sailing (3:16)
Vibe Like This (feat Ty Dolla $ign & Lucky Daye) (3:58)
Different Light (1:39)
Something About Your Love (5:24)
Honest (3:53)
Review: London-based singer-songwriter, producer and DJ SG Lewis is back with his sophomore long player. AudioLust & HigherLove finds the talented creator building on his auspicious debut with a record that is served up in two distinctive halves. His debut was all about colourful and cosmic disco and here he offers driving late-night club bangers as well as ecstatic pop sounds. Both are effortlessly and expertly realised so as to make maximum impact in a range of settings from sweaty back rooms to festival main stages via glistening pool-side parties in Miami. Big hooks, organic instrumentation and vocal eloquence are all in plentiful supply on a record that cements his status as a modern great.
Review: Ignore the title of this one because despite what it may sound like, this new album from Roisin Murphy is not in fact a look back at her greatest hits, even though there have been many. Instead it's a new collection of new tunes produced by the masterful DJ Koze. The pair has worked together before, so Murphy is in safe hands. Musically, it's a genre-straddling, style-bending affair whose strong songs - rich in sing-along choruses, thoughtful lyrics and musical hooks aplenty - are presented in vivid colour (with plenty of sparkling organic instrumentation). Recent singles 'Cuckoo' and 'The Universe' already became instant classics, with many more likely to follow.
What's Life (Idjut Boys Seven Slackers remix) (7:08)
Review: The Innovative Leisure label is here with more of that irresistible hand-stamped white label goodness. This one comes from the super cool LA duo De Lux (who have a new album out this month) as remixed by Dan Tyler and Conrad McDonnell aka Idjut Boys. They bring plenty of their signature and spacious cosmic dub sounds to 'What Life', layering in the echo and spring reverb in fine style. The dub mix is on a constant upward trajectory that never resolves and so will have the floor in raptures with cowbells and big splashy drums. The original is also included as is their Seven Slackers remix.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.