Sare Havlicek At Juno Download

Review: Given their obsession with early 80s synths and cheery nu-disco, it's no surprise to see that the bods behind Mullet have recruited Sare Havlicek. Or, for that matter, to find that the resultant track is a grin-inducing tribute to early '80s electro and hip-hop dressed up as a delay-laden electrofunk jam. "Bipolar Duality" comes complete with a tongue-in-cheek, old skool style rap vocal from DJ Winksy, and is backed by a remix by Casio Social Club that pilfers the beats from BB&Q's synth-soul classic "Dreamer". Pleasingly, the package also includes two delightfully breezy B-sides. Of these, it's the guitar-laden '86 stomp of "Let The Sound" that impresses most.

Review: Nang go full throttle on exposing the world to the delights of Sare Havlicek. Having liked what they heard when the Slovenian took part in their recent John Carpenter tribute and Space Remix projects, Nang are now putting out an album from Havlicek. As a taste of what to expect, we get "Dreams In Light", a lovely vocal disco bomb very much in the vein of Crazy P. Hannah Mancini's crisp vocals float perfectly in sync over Havlicek's perfectly arranged melodies and warm bass lines. London Disco veteran Ray Mang (DFA/Eskimo/Mangled) is on remix duties, offering up an Attakshak remix which adds extra glisten and a lofty near nine minute dub which is matched by Havlicek's own dubbed version.

Review: Perennial synth-fancier, nu-disco producer and occasional nu-Balearic type Sare Havlicek makes a welcome return to Nang with a particularly expansive EP. With its flowing strings, retro synths and drum machine shuffle, "Diamondback (Parts 1 & 2)" sounds like ABC's "The Look Of Love" as re-invented for the nu-disco generation. It's rather pleasing and very attractive, all told, and arguably one of Havlicek's finest outings to date. "Diamondback (Part 3)" shuffles further towards the world of cock-rockin' AOR disco (whilst, of course, retaining some of those gorgeous strings and synths). The remaining mixes sit somewhere in between the two, adding and subtracting big pianos, vocals or heartier bass.

Review: As well as providing the smallest nation to compete at this year's World Cup, Slovenia has a nu disco icon in Sare Havlicek. The producer is no newcomer either, having started making music when Slovenia was still called Yugoslavia. We can thank Tirk offshoot Nang for bringing the analogue hoarder to our general attention with "Toscana Nights", a splendid debut album for the imprint. Supposedly completed without the usage of samples or loops, Havlicek has crafted thirteen songs full of warm synths and crisp instrumentation. From the throbbing synth grooves that run through the opening title track and the vocoder assisted "UFOs Are Real" to the more classic Philly sound of "White Russian", it's clear Havlicek knows his disco onions. Working in tandem with vocalist Hannah Mancini, Havlicek crafts some sultry diva anthems in "Dreams In Light" and the low slung boogie of "Pleasure Storm" with the latter a real highlight of a marvellously executed album.

Review: Former Slovenian techno pioneer Sare Havlicek has enjoyed a new lease of life since shacking up with Tirk offshoot Nang and re-focusing on sun-drenched nu-disco. This single features tongue-in-cheek Balearic lounge groover "White Russian (Lazy Summer)" - see the silly electric guitar solos and soaring strings of the Cocktail Mix - getting remixed by Loveunlimited, Max Essa and Chris Coco. While the latter's mix is probably destined for a million "Chill Out" comps, Essa and Loveunlimited provide smart and pleasingly melodic nu-disco rubs. The latter's string-drenched electro-funk version is probably the pick of the EP, but Essa's more uptempo take isn't far behind.

Review: An all-star cast has been assembled for this latest expansive release on Nang, which features all manner of bonus cuts and remixes. The original version of "Too Late" casts itself as some kind of vaguely cosmic nu-disco epic - all eyes-shut 80s guitar solos, cheeky synth-pop touches and world-weary vocals. James Bright and Keita Sano remix, with the latter taking the spoils with a live-sounding dub-disco rework (check the bass guitar part - it's immense). The former's electrofunk-influenced synth-pop take is pretty tasty, though. As if all that wasn't enough, there are two bonus tracks, including the happy-shiny "Cosmic Furnace". An epic package that largely delivers.