Review:
Munich-based Portugese producer Alkalino has earned himself a reputation as one of the most reliable re-editors around. Here, he delivers four more Heavy Cuts for disco-minded house producers, and disco heads that like it heavy. There are some familiar grooves on show - "An Angel" delivers a sturdy, locked-in 4/4 version of all-time classic "Angel In My Pocket", while "Cosmic Dust" brilliantly works a guitar-heavy, tried-and-tested disco groove - but also some reworks of lesser-known gems. Of these, it's probably the strings-and-clav-laden "Wonderful Man" that hits home hardest, though the spiraling jazz-funk stomper "Air" isn't far behind.
Review:
S.O.R head honcho and respected editor Alkalino dives deep into house music history with four respectful homages to the glory days of early dancefloor naughtiness. Highlights abound but you really can't go wrong with the classic synth hammers of "We Jiggle", the instantly alluring vocal sample on "Distant Future", the smoky croons on "Heavy As Stone" or the squidgy synth funk bass on "Faith". Essential.
Review:
Munich-based Portuguese producer Lino "Alkalino" Rodriguez pops up on Italian label DaBit with a pair of pleasingly warm and toasty deep house cuts. Both "Martin Luther King" and "Isolation" feature inspirational spoken passages from classic speeches, giving each track a quietly uplifting feel. Throw in enveloping chords, pleasingly loose beats, cascading melodies (in the case of "Martin Luther King") and alien electronics (in the case of the more Balearic "Isolation"), and you've got yourself a pair of winners. Sccucci Manucci boss Vorres drops a piano-laden US garage remake of "Isolation", while the mysterious QLab turn "Martin Luther King" into a swinging chunk of late night post UKG-house that boasts delightfully jaunty riffs.
Review:
Munich-based Alkalino has earned the respect of everyone thanks to his sublime ability to chop and re-twist tracks into some of the most vibrant edits we've ever heard. Returning to his own Audaz imprint, Blind Eyes gives us some much needed funk for those highly awaited Friday evenings, perfect to wind down to and have a few cold ones with. "Risky Boogie" is simply seductive, where a blinding, progressive bassline hits through to the infamous "star struck! That's what you are..." vocal. "Our World" is another '70s era monster unleashed onto a more mixable platform, and "Big Phreek" adds a more sensual touch to the equation. Another bomb of an EP from Alkalino.
Review:
Portuguese house producer Alkalino is back, and for the superbly titled "Weapons Of Mass Distraction", he appears to be on a Euro tip. Sure, "Let Me Kiss You" is more your soul-flecked American rhythm & blues, but "Make It Funky" is pure Latin, Kid Creole style, disco-wave mixed up with some Italo disco sleaze, and "Disco Forza" is simply awesome, raw, throbbing Eurodisco at its finest.
Review:
Urban Warrior is the latest release on Alkalino's Audaz imprint and again sees him bring his vast DJ experience to the production sphere. "Fight For My Right" is punctuated by gurgling acid lines that shift up and down the frequency spectrum and are supported by loose tribal drums. It's an intoxicating combination and is made all the more distinctive through the use of a repetitive vocal sample. On "Tanuki", the veteran Portuguese DJ draws on a similar approach; on this occasion, the pace is quicker but the drums are just as effective, as they underpin an array of vocal samples. Closing out the release is "Storm", where Alaklino veers more towards a techno direction, the track's snaking bass leading the way.
Review:
Maybe it was his move to Munich that inspired his conversion to house, but whatever it was, Portuguese disco edit don Alkalino's original productions have got a lot more mechanical indeed. This is not a bad thing, it just means we get less disco for now. This latest two-tracker boasts a pair of tracks that presents deep and sparse robotic house grinder "Bang The Box" and the frankly superior spooky rhythmic riser, "Dementia".
Review:
Munich's Audaz imprint is back and it is label boss Alkalino is up this time delivering some of his latest explorations in quality house grooves. Firstly "Work That" is a killer electro house number with a gnarly buzzing bassline working with a tough rhythm groove that's reminiscent of Whirlpool Productions. The persistent "Work 'dat body" chant works a treat too. There's also "Tear The Club Up" which is more like the Alkalino we know on this deep and soulful cut with a funky bassline and just enough shuffle, add some dreamy keys combining with some sampled ghetto house vocals which strangely enough; work quite well!
Review:
On this latest two-track assault, Munich-based Portuguese producer Alkalino is back in re-edit mode. This time round, he's sidestepped the usual disco, Balearic, soul and funk influences in favour of two tracks that mine the dark, dub-informed worlds of post-punk and punk-funk. He begins with "Next Phase", a deliciously heavy blend of dub-punk bass, punk-funk attitude, trippy deep house touches and an annoyingly familiar, cowbell-laden sample. "Morph" begins with dense, African-influenced tribal drums, before building into a Liquid Liquid-style percussive banger with extra voodoo. Like the A-side, it's the kind of rolling, bass-heavy builder - with additional flashes of deep house wonkiness - that should keep dancefloors going in the wee small hours.
Review:
In a shock turnaround, house convert Alkalino has returned to his disco roots for the brazenly uplifting "Morgengrauen". There are two fizzy jams featured here: the euphoric musical fireworks of "Better Believe" and the hypnotic Afro-disco-house of "Lets Get Together". Sheer joy!
Review:
Portugal's Alkaline is back just where we left him, both in terms of label and ridiculously funky beat-making with a distinctive summer edge. Back on Audaz for yet another gorgeous two-tracker, the prodigious artist delivers a real dawn-on-the-back kinda lick in "Day To Day", a true head-spinner at the end of a long, explorative set of house music - SMQ's vocals are exactly up our avenue. The "Original Cut" is straighter, funkier and more deserving of a mid-evening dancefloor, but it's nonetheless impressive in terms of all-round good vibes.
Review:
Munich's finest and Audaz head honcho Alkalino is back at it again! This guy is really hitting his stride at the moment, so don't stop we say. The vocal mix of "Need Ya" is peak time house with a slick and bumping bassline plus diva vocals and cowbells: all you need really! The "Dub Mix" does exactly what it says on the cover, for those of you less keen on the vocals. Go Alkalino!
Review:
Munich-dwelling Portuguese producer Alkalino likes to switch from original productions to deftly executed scalpel edits all the time. However, lately his fingers have been doing more of their surgical ballet on old disco tracks than flicking the faders on his own tunes. Well here's something to redress the balance - "Portuguese Hustler" is an almost seven minute long, slinky afternoon pool party jazzy house joint: all soft chords, chiming piano keys and smooth, sunny vibes.
Review:
Portugese edit hitman Alkalino drops two new cuts on his home label Audaz, and it seems he's in the mood for some deep and mystical house servings this time around. "Dancing With Somebody" is a true groover, a chunky dance arrangement surrounded by loopy R&B vocals, while "Dance To The House" is distinctly old-school in flavour, a mid-90's joint that has been reworked and twisted into a more contemporary disguise.
Review:
Portugese tech deviant Alkalino makes his way back to Audaz with the second helping of the Now I Got Your Attention mini-series, a sub-sector of the man's catalogue reserved strictly for the funkier side of his skills. "Glad To Be A Man" is a chuggy, dusty house swinger complete with audacious vocal chops and beautifully delayed chords, while "Girls For Boys" opts for a deeper and more ethereal approach, giving you the finest in hip-swinging tech-house for floor action.
Review:
By day Portugal's Alkalino is a totally on fire disco-edit dude, but night he gets up to naughtier, house-led shenanigans. This is represented in his Now That Got Your Attention series, and this third installment is probably the best yet. "Far Away" is a sublime eight-minute slice of fizzy, cosmic chug-disco a la Ajello, complete with sleazy vocals and haunted by the spectre of the Human League. "Tonight" is even better: black and velvety melancholic electro-house sprinkled with hushed female vocals and new romantic synthlines.
Review:
Prolific Portuguese party pounder, Alkalino, appears to have fully released himself to house, delivering release after release of sizzling electronic jams that have little trace of his disco edit past. The New Light EP boasts two really strong productions, the slighty proggy tech-house mood enhancer "Beat Bons" and the EP highlight, "Mellow Biafra" - which is a totally cool accelerated retro housier with echoes of Ten City's famous laser-stab riffs.
Review:
Is it disco? Is it minimal? No, it's Alkalino's latest release. Drawing on the tripped out rhythms of minimal house and the sample heavy approach of the disco/edits scene, he delivers "El Che". It's not clear whether the title is a reference to the revered Latin American revolutionary, but the shuffling rhythm and 'French Kiss'-style riffs do provide the basis for Alkalino to sample an uplifting vocal rant en espanol. Whether it's a call to arms or just the meanderings of a random Spanish speaker is unclear. On "Roshna", he veers more towards the kind of jazz-inflected sound of Cadenza, with hollowed out drums and a sonorous bass guiding the way.
Review:
Munich Machine Alkalino is back with more well crafted grooves that you've come to expect from the man - courtesy of his always reliable Audaz imprint. Although more renowned for his edits in the past, the Portuguese producer has now made the transition to the studio proper - and producing his own creations to rather impressive effect. The most surprising thing is that it's not disco - as the slinky and hypnotic tech-house of "Flaucher" pleasantly demonstrates. Something reminiscent of the early noughties electroclash scene can he heard on the frantic groove of "Latest Joint" followed by some dirty boogie-down bounce on the tough closer "Storm 2"
Review:
For the time being, prolific Portuguese producer Alkalino has turned his back on the re-edit scene in which he made his name, preferring instead to focus on original productions. You'll find a trio of these on From Minga To The World. He begins with the pulsating, body-jacking throb of "Remodel", where throbbing synthesizer arpeggio lines, druggy riffs and spacey electronics catch the ear, before peppering a bustling, muscular house groove with chunky bass, creepy chords and meandering spoken word samples on peak-time workout "Sagan". You'll find more rambling, psychedelic-inspired speech on deeper and slower closer "Spiritual Awakenings", which benefits greatly from alien sounding electronics, undulating acid lines and jaunty, jammed-out electric piano riffs.
Review:
Scene stalwart Alkalino continues to serve up new material at a furious rate. A matter of days has passed since the release of his muscular, house and Italo-disco flavoured "From Minga To The World" EP, and he's already back with another trio of original productions. There's plenty of variety, too. So while "My Disco Passion (Beats Tool)" offers a chunky, bass-heavy, percussive and filter-rich take on "French Touch" style disco-house, "People Have Stopped" is a fine chunk of deep house/nu-disco fusion rich in jammed-out electric piano riffs, breathy female vocal samples and squidgy, acid style electronic motifs. Then there's relaxed and groovy EP opener "Simple Tune", a Balearic nu-disco bubbler fit for eyes-closed moments and seaside afternoon DJ sets.
Review:
If you're suffering from a post-Christmas slump and are keen to mix things up, this EP of varied edits from Berlin-based producer Alkalino could be right up your alley. Featuring six varied cuts that touch on electrofunk, P-funk, jazz and '80s electro, there's plenty of playable fodder for discerning DJs. Highlights include the talkbox funk and piano solo bizniz of "I Love It", the hustling disco-funk of "Silver Shot" (check the fabulous percussion break halfway through), the jazztime swing of "Janeiro" and the heavyweight Whodini re-cut "Something Funky". Also worth a look is the winding, cosmic oddness of "Warp" - a curious concoction that should appeal to those who like to drop a bit of leftfield disco.
Review:
Berlin-based Portugese producer Alkalino is rarely predictable, regularly jumping between straight-up deep house, Balearic oddities and disco re-edits. Here he's back on the latter tip, dropping a particularly upbeat chunk of hands-in-the-air action thanks to a couple of excellent scalpel jobs. "Get It" starts as a growling, distorted, fuzzy groove track, but soon turns into a joyous explosion of rubbery bass, clipped guitars, darting analogue synths and strobelight vocals. "Mega" predictably lives up to its name, playing around with a Patrick Cowley-ish high energy robo-disco groove, all shirts-off synths, appregiated groove and howling vocal samples. It's definitely one for the vests-aloft crew.
Review:
Lino 'Alkalino' Rodriguez is getting straight to the point with the title of the latest release on his own Audaz label. The music featured also has a similar no-nonsense attitude, being all attention grabbing party starters. "Love That Funk" is an excellent electro-disco-boogie banger with an underlying hi-NRG feel. Ronnie Law's classic, "Always There", is subtly retweaked in sensitive fashion and likewise for Mystic Merlin's storming "Just Can't Give You Up".
Review:
The re-edit route must be working out well for Lino 'Alkalino' Rodriguez, as he's back with another six! This time it's a total free-for-all regarding genres, with the EP covering pulsating, Bobby O-esque hi-NRG on "Angel Dust", retweaking Mr Scruff on "Groove On" and the immortal Alan Parsons Project on "Thought Control".
Review:
Munich-dwelling Lino 'Alkalino' Rodrigues is in a punky mood, well, for the theme his new EP at least. The music therein, however is pure funk, not punk, but there's still plenty of attitude amongst these expert re-edits. "Number One" is a vintage '70s funk anthem (a number one that never was?) in the vein of And The Beat Goes On. Elsewhere its less poppy, with "I Love" sounding like a particularly sparse grinder by Chic and "Break It" ends things with a huge Disco Inferno-style bassline and clattering drums breaks, pure dancefloor gold.
