Beaten Space Probe At Juno Download

Review: After impressing with a series of decent contributions to re-edit EPs from Chopshop and Man made music, Japan's Beaten Space Probe (AKA producer Shota Tanaka) strikes out on his own. The mood throughout Beaten Space Probe 01 is celebratory, as Tanaka subtly extends, tweaks and improves a string of groove-heavy disco jams. The four-track menu includes a particularly tasty extension of Loletta Holloway's "Love Sensation" and the deliciously optimistic "Nine Lives", a sugary sweet but surprisingly meaty edit that builds to a blistering climax. Best of all, though, is opener "Boogie Prancin", which is as addictive as it is cheery. That's very, by the way.

Review: It's been a while since we've had contact with Beaten Space Probe, but presumably his probe is still operational because here we have a follow up to last year's debut. Once again this Japanese producer (aka Shota Tanaka) is in party mood with four authentically 70s sounding slices of disco. "Boogie Rice" marries Philly strings with a killer funk riff and "In Your Soul" is a tour de force of female belters; "Feel Like Dancing" is the standout with a Nightfever funk that'll make you strut like Travolta, although "River Magic" come a close second with its emotional orchestration and tight guitar licks.

Review: Having previously appeared on Chop Shop Digital and others, British scalpel specialist Touchsoul has decided to launch his own imprint. First up on the label is a split EP featuring a quartet of deliciously summery disco and jazz-funk reworks from Touchsoul and pals. Touchsoul's own contribution is "Floyd's Solution", a deliciously bumpin', low-slung rework of a track previously cut-up by Dr Dunks on his recent Disco Deviance 12". Beaten Space Probe's hustlin' "Slow Down" is probably the highlight, though Manmade Music's lazy jazz-funk groover "I'm In Dub With Nancy" runs it close - as does Ian Blevins' darkroom disco-houser "Feed Le Flame".