Lightspeed Recordings At Juno Download

Review: Heavy disco action from Melbourne's Lightspeed Recordings on this remix EP from DJ Agent 86. Title track "So Hot" is actually less disco than it is 80s funk, with a hip-hop inspired vocal and more than a hint of Chromeo about it. As far as remixes go, there's something to please everyone; Jayl Funk takes the hip-hop elements of the track, isolating the catchiest hooks and bringing them to the fore. Space Ranger takes a cosmic direction with his remix with a bouncy Italo-inspired bassline. By far the most inspired remix comes from DJ Madness, who takes buttery analogue bass and wraps it around the slap bass of the original, while ethereal vocals float over the top. Fromage Disco's rework takes a more mid-tempo approach, but with a big room sensibility incorporating a rising synth siren into proceedings, whilst Fang Jr takes the slo-mo approach, stretching out the vocals across a rich section of Balearic violins. Finally, Mr Moonshine increases the speed and turns the whole thing disco-rock with a 70s guitar solo and diva vocal that works surprisingly well within the context of the original.

Review: Given Lightspeed Recordings' love of vintage synths sounds, electrofunk dub effects and contemporary nu-disco, it's little surprise to find that "Disco Me", a collaboration between funtime disco chap DJ Agent 86 and productive veterans Drop Out Orchestra, resembles a contemporary fusion of '80s electro and Italo. The solid original is joined by a wealth of remixes, including a sparkling, electric piano-laden proto-garage tweak from DJ Rocca and a chugging Italo version from Kid Who. Delightfully, there's also a wonderfully camp Hi-NRG take from George Kelly that bizarrely features a great electric guitar solo.

Review: Boogie wonderboys and nu-disco dons Dublin Aunts craft a subtle Change-recalling gem in the shape of this latest single, "Heartbreak Reputation". Airy cords stabs, tight disco drums and a delicate yet commanding Hercules And The Love Affair-recalling vocal all come together very nicely indeed on their original, while excellent Swedish producers Drop Out Orchestra add an octave-straddling bassline on their equally smooth remix.