Review: Fresh from delivering a suitably intoxicating chunk of feverish tribal techno on their own Belly Dance Services stable, Hanzo & Yaman bring their trademark brand of percussive dance music to Tom Tom Disco. Title track "Tropicalas" is notably different to its predecessor, with the pair layering up wonky chants and South American style percussion over a looped synth bassline. It's hugely endearing and celebratory all told, and comes backed with two bonus cuts: the hypnotic ethno-techno throb of "Titaporn" and the quirky nu-disco/percussive house bounce of "Hola Hola". Of the trio of accompamying remixes, we're particularly enjoying the loose, acid-flecked breakbeat shuffle of Lily Haz's rework of "Titaporn" and Tony Disco's exotic, Middle Eastern disco revision of "Tropicala".
Review: Mexican imprint Duro may have walked steadfast down the left hand path of late, with their knack for moody industrial influenced music, but the first installment in their new 'Muy' compilation series sees them celebrate their 4th birthday in fine fashion - with the label and its cohorts returning to their nu-disco roots in delightful fashion. Kubebe delves deep into lo-slung territory on the mesmerizing groove of "Lagomar", Lithuanian Roe Deers offers up some cut-up classic house shenanigans on "Florida", Wolfstram does deep into the exotic (Disco Halal style) on "Ritual Of Nothing" and Hanzo & Yaman deliver the neon-lit body music of "Supergeil".
Review: Theus Mago's Duro label decides to look back on the last-half decade with glee in this Hard Five Retrospective bringing together a huge compilation to help remind us what life's gonna be like when we're allowed back on the dancefloor! Not just bells and whistles, Duro keeps its flavours deep with cuts from Rigopolar in the Jean Michel Jarre/coldwave vibes of "Espiral" matched by the heavy beats and juicy basslines of Max Jones's "Poche". Earlier on you'll find some rare Tyu jams - our pick being the Espacio remix to "Stephen Hawking" - next to a selection of choice Bufi cuts (we recommended the Mio remix), with Mago going deep himself in the groove-centric "Luna". Other dope jams include Bruha's 808-driven "Ladra", Sascha Funke's remix to Motel77 and Rina & Benji killer workout "Koshmaro".
