FAR (Faze Action) At Juno Download

Review: Legendary UK disco imprint Faze Action Records returns with more sweat-drenched dancefloor goodness, this time from the live Andromeda Orchestra outfit. Alongside the requisite Special Disco Version of lead track "Sensitive" (which is ace) we're treated to a typically lush and percussive remix from man like Pete Herbert. Up next, "West Coast Lady" shimmers with a vintage moog bassline, while "He Is Coming" boasts shimmering synths, a slick bassline and a particularly epic vocal backing! This is proper disco music that has been played, not programmed, with live bass, guitar, piano, solina and disco breaks. Don't sleep!

Review: This latest missive from the Faze Action camp should appeal to all those who still wig out on a Saturday night to original New York electrofunk dubs, freestyle and proto-house. "Don't Lose Control" is faithful to the sound of early '80s New York, coming on like a cross between Serious Intention and D Train (presuming Hubert Eaves III went a bit crazy on the Tape Echo). The White Kappa Tracksuit mix flips the script slightly, throwing in block rockin' electro and Italo disco influences (with, perhaps, a smidgeon of Rockers Revenge). "We Rock" travels further in this direction, dubbing out body-poppin' electro in the style of Todd Terry's early productions for T La Rock.

Review: Faze Action have never been comfortable with the nu disco tag, and in an age where it's dominated by digitally designed and somewhat pedestrian in its tempo the Lee brothers return with a dynamic live sound that sets them apart. "Freak for Your Love" is the lead track from their forthcoming album Information Overload and straddles a sick dubbed out punk funk groove that brings to mind the sort of incessantly sweat inducing music DFA was releasing in the label's first few years. A pleasant new direction for Faze Action is explored further on the accompanying "New Wave Disco Dub Mix" that delves further into the realm of echo and delay over that strident groove. The mysterious ST contributes two rerubs that switch the emphasis up towards a throwback bumping 90s house flex without loosing the original's charm.

Review: Disco cognoscenti and brothers in arms Faze Action return to the production fold with "Tattoo Man", coming at you like the theme song for an 80s action show. Recorded in the studio with a live band, the track combines infections bass, drums, congas and keys that give "Tattoo Man" a wonderfully loose and genuine feel. There are a whole load of different versions - a 7" radio edit, a live extended rerub, a special disco mix, an agogo dub for the boogie heads and a couple of remixes from Rudy's Midnight Machine - making this the ultimate single package for discerning disco jocks. This has already been getting love from Pete Herbert, Hunee, Jim Stanton and Joey Negro - so get on it fast.

Review: Incredibly, brothers Robin & Simon Lee have been providing us with their slick updates of the classic disco and house sound since 1995! This bumper 25-track collection tells the story from the birth of FA Records in 2006. There's a lot to tell too; it's packed with enough vintage-sounding grooves to shame the Paradise Garage. Highlights include Jay Shepheard's breezy remix of FA's debut "Original Disco Motion", FA's own Rocker's Revenge-esque, "Hypnotic (disco mix)", the linear, chugging arpeggiation of "Touch It" by The Shack, the loopy robot-funk of "Lifestyle 101" by Rudy's Midnight Machine, the moody "revenge mix" of FA's "I Wanna Dancer" and the killer retro house-isms of Miss Cheesecake's "You Must Create", exclusively provided for us lucky folks!

Review: Horse Meat Disco member Luke Howard debuts the Miss Cheesecake nom de plume for a shiny new release on the venerable London institution otherwise known as Faze Action Records. Electronic bass and piano action abounds on "Get Off The Floor" which features some delightfully lo-fi robotic vocals and a relentlessly driving groove, while "You Must Create", which features Luke's own vocals, is dripping in neon-tinged 80s dancefloor sweat. Up next is a typically lush proto house remix of "You Must Create" from label chiefs Faze Action which really could be the theme tune to a 1983 moustache-riddled cop action flick set in San Francisco, alongside an instrumental version of the original cut.

Review: Since 2006 Faze Action's eponymous label has been cranking out their own productions, releasing such dance floor killers as "Hypnotic", "I Wanna Dancer" and those remixes of the track that started it all - "Original Disco Motion". Here comes the new slab, this time around it's Robin manning the faders and knobs as Rudy's Midnight Machine. "Open To Your Love" opens with a steady bouncing groove punctuated by crisp 808 snares and stabby chords. It's definitely going straight for the retro house jugular but still has enough oomph about it to appeal to young waifs as well as misty eyed rave granddads. "Dib Dab" slips back a few more years for its electro dance feel, coming on like a long lost tougher dub of Shannons' "Let the Music Play". It's a tune that wears its heart on its sleeve with orchestra stabs, proto garage baseline and sampled vocal chops, pretty much guaranteed to get any party moving with a cheeky smile on its face. "Street Museum" is the most recognizably Faze-esque track, with New Order-ish synth melody lines, a nagging rhythm guitar and a whole heap of delay on the drums. In other words, a sure fire disco winner.

Review: A welcome return for Faze Action's synth-laden side project, this time with more electrofunk and Italo-inspired dancefloor jams. "Let It Happen" gets the perfect balance between synth-funk authenticity, Italo melodies and delicious disco guitars, while Faze Action's own Instrumental Dub puts more emphasis on the two sparring basslines (one a rubbery electric bass effort, the other a thickset synth one). The storming "Work It" wanders more towards synth-wave and Italo territory, whilst retaining Faze Action's usual swinging disco pulse. Best of all, though, is the sparse but delightfully funky "Turn Me On", an exercise in vintage synth fetishism with added talkbox. It's almost enough to make Roger Troutman jealous.

Review: Faze Action maintain their fine run of form in 2011 with this four tracker from The Shack, aka Guy Williams and Dan Williams (not related!) Both have been active in dance music from the early 90s ,with Guy holding DJ residencies at clubs such as the Ministry Of Sound and Turnmills during their pomp while Dan Williams aka D.R.W carved a career as a singer/songwriter. Together as The Shack they have absolutely nailed it with "Touch It", a sleazy-does-it Italo peak time jam. Arpeggiated synth lines, catchy vocal hooks and instant bassline work in jotous unison with some cowbell carnage. The EP comes replete with a dub version and boogie influence Faze Action remix. Rounding off the release is another original cut, namely "Don't Stop", in which tough drums combine with a late night vocal intoning the track title to bewitching effect. This Shack Attack has already found its way into the record bags of Pete Herbert and Severino - expect it to be in many more come summer's end.