Amplified US At Juno Download

Review: A new compilation of deep disco from four different producers on Amplified's Disco In Distress series. Russian producer Lay-Far uses some canny mid-tempo glitterball samples on "Yellow" but mostly keeps them filtered deep under some Revenge-style drums, while Lump takes a vocal from a Bill Withers-esque singer and layers it nicely over a classy house backing. Mudeg supplies a bubbly future-bass number, complete with some gurgling retro acid lines on "Luv No Guarantee" while Nicholas' funky and slow "Wind City" rounds off the collection in a soulful, Roy Ayres-ish mood.

Review: Amplified Orchestra is back! 4 Lux boss Gerd has been releasing everything from deep house to nu jazz to downtempo under this alias since 2002 - in both official form and on the sly. However these days Amplified Orchestra is all about the obscure and not so obscure disco boogie edits. Play It "Disco" For Me is thirteen tracks of the more recognisable disco and the beards amongst you will have no trouble identifying the source material on tracks such as "I Want You", "The Fighting Spirit" and "Disco Acid". But the important thing is all the tracks on show are expertly sequenced and edited for maximum dancefloor potential.

Review: Portuguese producer and new member of the Amplified Orchestra Alliance, Lump delivers three lovely slices of house on the Rain EP. The playful, rolling bongos on the title track bounce delightfully off the looped vocal, while "A Promise" and "U Talkin' But U Ain't Walkin" both have a gospel-blues twist weaved into irresistible grooves.

Review: Following a rapid rise to attention over the last year or so, The Shake Up Soul Connection deliver another killer release on Amplified. The ode to disco funk comes in original version and in a Dante edit of the live version recorded at their coveted Basement gig in addition to two more original productions thrown in for good measure. Since their arrival last year, The Shake Up Connection shot to popularity with their debut "You Got Me" and subsequent Live At the Basement LP.

The first track on this new release is a Dante edit of The Shake Up Connection laying down a live version of title track, "Dantes Deja Vu." Keeping the spirit and energy of the original alive, Dante straps on the groove and takes us all for a stroll along a funky rework. Next up is the more stripped down, driving version of "Dantes Deja Vu." Combing a 4/4 beat with funky basslines, piano chords and guitar licks brings this soulful, disco feel right up to contemporary club status. The scruffy Chicago outfit take more of a laidback approach on "Let's Dance." Slowing things down but retaining all the groove from deep basslines and all the funk from some clever percussion, TSUP keep their invitingly infectious sounding music at the focus. "Touch Me" continues in much of the same vein, creating a classic disco shine from some powerful female vocals. Keeping things effortlessly cool, The Shake Up Connection inject the boogie and the fun into the crossover between house, disco, soul and funk. Letting their imaginations run wild, this is The Shake Up Connection at their self-indulgent best.