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Played by: Juno Recommends Disco
Review: We were rather impressed by Horixon's last collaboration with Else Born - September 2017's ambient pop workout "Hello" - so hopes are naturally high for this belated follow-up. This time round, the duo has opted to move closer to sun-kissed Balearic disco-pop territory, with Born's atmospheric vocal sitting atop bouncy pianos, colourful electronics and an unfussy nu-disco groove. It's naturally a little stronger in the Extended Mix form (which, to be fair, is still only four and a half minutes long). Also impressive is the Dubka Diskomix, which replaces Born's vocals with an un-credited male equivalent while peppering a chugging, Italo-disco style groove with eyes-closed guitar and keytar solos. It's an impressively different and dancefloor-friendly revision all told.
Played by: Hard Ton
Review: 'Hello' is a cool, calm ambient track with melancholic piano chords which occasionally move into glimmers of hope, there's a stunning vocal from Else Born which makes this track unmissable. The 'NTEIBINT remix' has the twangs of Midwest country, almost bringing the vocal into the realms of ballad, before breaking down to a more familiar funky sound for the chorus, and for us is the standout of track of the EP. The 'Area dub mix' is instrumental and minimal; so serene it's almost meditative, absolutely beautiful. The EP also comes with the 'extended mix' and the 'instrumental' which do exactly what they say on the tin.
Various
Review: Few labels have championed nu-disco and Balearic synth-pop quite as much as Belgium's Eskimo Recordings. Here they unveil another softly spun autumnal treat: a sumptuous combination of debutant Else Born's hazy, evocative vocals, and a tactile backing track that cannily combines undulating drums, stretched-out chords, nu-disco synth bass and attractive Balearic flourishes. Los Angeles-based French duo Blue Hotel provide solid remix support, making the most of the Norwegian songstress's vocals on an atmospheric, mid-tempo, nu-Balearic rework, before stripping back the beats and layering up glistening guitar flourishes on the sublime Chill Mix. All three versions are wonderfully melodious and picturesque.
