Review: Prins Thomas' Full Pupp label seems to excel at finding hitherto unknown Norwegian disco talent. Here, it offers up the debut full-length from Oslo native Andre Bratten, who apparently shares studio space with Lindstrom and Todd Terje. Comparisons with both producers are understandable; Be A Man You Ant's shimmering vintage synths, stargazing melodies and chugging space disco grooves (particularly those on the intoxicating "Aegis") are reminiscent of both producers' early work. It's already been pointed out that "Libra" shares an aesthetic with Terje's "Inspector Norse", while the quirky "Still Sertie" and mutant funk oddity "I Am Square" bear all the hallmarks of a Six Cups of Rebel B-side. Clearly, Bratten is a talent to watch.
Prins Thomas, Echo Troopers, Deathprod, Yoshimi & Yuichiro Fujimoto - "Fred Astaire Session - Intro/Orgone Donor/Soundless Cries With Their Arms In The Air/Little Sun" - (7:07) 157 BPM
Prins Thomas, Bendik Giske, Supersilent, Biosphere, Elektro Nova & Bruce Russell - "Hole/13.1/Aura In The Kitchen/13.1/T03/The Movement Of The Free Spirit - The 1st Movement" - (12:47) 150 BPM
Prins Thomas & Carmen Villain & Alexander Rishaug - "Safe/Time & Place" - (2:58) 103 BPM
Prins Thomas, Stereolab & The High Llamas - "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" (Stereolab vs High Llamas remix) - (4:15) 130 BPM
Prins Thomas & 120 Days - "Sleepless Nights" - (0:22) 124 BPM
Prins Thomas, Carmen Villain, Continental Fruit, Mats Gustafsson & Sonic Youth - "The Moon Will Always Be There/The Moon Was My Only Witness/Art 3 - Contrabass Sax" - (6:16) 92 BPM
Prins Thomas, Erik Wollo, Alexander Rishaug & Sun Araw - "Ody At Sea/Satellites/B - Sun Araw Saddle Soap Remix" - (3:18) 156 BPM
Prins Thomas, Bjorn Torske, Mats Gustafsson, Sonic Youth, Serena-Maneesh & Sun Araw - "B - Sun Araw Saddle Soap Remix/Arthur's Return - Extended Version/Introspection/Leipziger Love Life - Ancient Mix/Part 4 - Voice" - (9:36) 159 BPM
Prins Thomas & Wildest Dreams - "Off The Lip" - (6:21) 112 BPM
Prins Thomas & Four Tet - "Lovesick" (Four Tet remix) - (4:40) 97 BPM
Prins Thomas & Bjorn Torske - "The Contemporary Fix" (Bjorn Torske remix) - (9:38) 119 BPM
Prins Thomas, Matt Karmil, Biosphere, Andre Bratten & Gigi Masin - "Morals/With Their Paddles In A Puddle/Minor Misconception/Planetarium - Gigi Masin Remix" - (4:56) 119 BPM
Prins Thomas, Andre Bratten, Brian Reitzell & Gigi Masin - "Minor Misconception/Planetarium - Gigi Masin Remix/Ozu Choral" - (5:30) 120 BPM
Prins Thomas, Mungolian Jetset, Bjorn Torske & Gigi Masin - "Planetarium - Gigi Masin Remix/Mush In The Bush/Langt Fra Afrika" - (5:53) 120 BPM
Prins Thomas & Kelly Lee Owens & Elektro Nova & Brian Reitzell - "CBM/Obedience - Bjorn Torske Remix/Phase One/Phase Two Part 3/Honeycomb" - (11:53) 120 BPM
Prins Thomas, Bendik Giske, Elektro Nova, Mungolian Jetset & Ricardo Villalobos - "C - Ricardo Villalobos King Crab Remix/Adjust/T03/C - Ricardo Villalobos Knadel Prince Dub/Shelton's On A Bender" - (8:36) 121 BPM
Prins Thomas, Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbrauer - "Everything Is Everything" (Villalobos & Loderbauer: Vilod High Blood Pressure mix) - (3:18) 126 BPM
Review: Cardini & Co. glance over the last few years of their discography over at Correspondant, serving up a finely curated selection of their trademark brand of dark disco on 'Collection Vol 1'. It features all the modern classics you could possibly need compiled in one package: from Gerd Janson's low slung remix of Yovav's "Caribbean Zen Mode", Julian Stetter's utterly mesmerising epic "Bushwick" and the neon-lit glory of Krystal Clear's reinterpretation of Terr's "Neuromancer" to more recent additions to the catalogue like Fideles' balearic tinged nu-disco groove "Brain Machine". Elsewhere, there are some proper anthems that couldn't possibly have been overlooked, such as Damon Jee's awe-inspiring "Charmaniac", Maceo Plex with the moody "Mutant Disco" (feat. Maars) and eclosing it out are label staples Red Axes with the very track which set them on course for success seven years ago - "Caminho De Dreyfus".
Review: Paper Recordings comes through with the absolute goods; a compilation that many true-school house heads wound dream of, especially to own it on digital formats. This is the Northern Disco Lights compilation, a total treasure chest of Scandinavian house jams that are going for serious amounts of money on the second-hand market. In short, this is your chance to own these beauties and mould them into your sets. Inside, you'll find timeless tunes from the likes of the great Bjorn Torske, Doc L Junior, and even the dearly missed Erot with the stone-cold classic "Song For Annie". But, there's more; Biosphere appears with that inimitable drone flair, and even Todd Terje features proudly, as per usual. An absolutely essential release. Warmly recommended.
