Review: Future Disco invites you poolside and guides you through the long hot summer days, where the parties begin early and finish late. Taking you from lounging by the pool under the clear blue sky to sunset house, this is perfect for any laidback occasion. an essential summer soundtrack that features key artists such as: Dutch trio Kraak & Smaak who present the sensual lo-slung disco of "Don't Want This To Be Over" (Jean Tonique Remix), U.S. artists David Marston & Life On Planets who team up for the evocative deep house groove of "Contortions" feat. Hannah Noelle & Dan Izco, and Berlin-by-way-of Vancouver artist Jayda G who serves up the hypnotic Detroit vibe of "Rishikesh". Elsewhere, the ever reliable Butch delivers the main room dancefloor drama of "Lale", and Brazilian techno legend Renato Cohen makes his comeback on "Sweet Nightmare" but makes a departure from what we're used to on this funky house anthem. Also comes with a continuous DJ mix.
Review: Kraak & Smaak singles are rarely anything less than party-starting treats, and this latest outing is no different. It helps, of course, that Eli Escobar - a producer known for delivering colourful, disco-and-boogie flavoured house hits - is on remix duty. His version of "U R Freak" is arguably a little dreamier and more musically intricate than his singles on Classic, but still packs a punch thanks to bustling organ stabs, bongo-laden beats and some on-point synth bass. The rest of the EP is taken up by Mood's modern boogie-meets-deep house remixes of "Prescription". Eric Biddiness makes his presence felt on the vocal version, rapping and singing over a squidgy, synth-laden backing track that perfectly tiptoes the fine line between club-ready fare and radio-friendly cheeriness.
Review: Dutch boogie house champs Kraak & Smaak knocked it outta the park last year with their Juicy fruit long player. Now they're putting out remixes of these two album cuts. "Stumble" is a sadness-tinged piano lament with soft, happy-sad summer day vibes. The Fhin Flip version retains Parcel's soulful vocals but adds slow, tough beats and low end rumbles. Elsewhere Richard Dorfmeister appears and delivers a spectacular "Cinematic Way" version and Blue Motel turn in a dreamy stonewashed synth rework. "So Clear" meanwhile is hazy deep house (Imagine a stoned Gypsy Woman) that gets remixed in an off-kilter funk direction by Memem.
Review: Kraak & Smaak, despite what you'd think going by their name; are in fact a trio and hail from the town of Leiden, Netherlands: consisting of Oscar de Jong, Mark Kneppers and Wim Plug. They've been at it since 2003 and their careers have gone from strength to strength; the bulk of their material devoted to this very imprint: Jalapeno out of Brighton UK that is also home to The Allergies, Skeewiff and Ian Britt. New single "Stumble" is a gorgeous serving of indie-dance-electronica featuring some bittersweet vocals atop and elevating chord progressions: an all round deep groove. Hit prediction right here!
Review: Razor 'N' Tape has been slowly expanding its' outlook in recent years, focusing on original productions just as much as re-edits. Here, they've pulled off something of a coup by snapping up two fresh cuts from Dutch heavyweights Kraak & Smaak. There's the clipped Chic guitars, jaunty analogue bass, undulating Syclops lead lines and gravelly soul vocals of "Way Back Home", and the filter-heavy disco-house throb of "Seb's Party". The package also includes two tasty re-rubs apiece from Ben Sun and Tiger & Woods. Sun offers up a smooth, nu-disco/deep house fusion, followed by a chunkier, classic house sounding affair, while Tiger & Woods offer two superb variants on the same throbbing, electrofunk-meets-Balearic piano house template.
Review: The bubbly JalapeNo imprint has been the main home to Kraak & Smaak's house-minded output over the years - although a few outings on the Spinnin' labels certainly help to cement their status as veritable nu-disco specialists - and this extensive new album Juicy Fruit feels like a natural place for them to be right now. We're talking about thirteen classy disco-leaning house gems here, all of them perfectly suitable for dancefloor domination and Saturday evening seduction. This is for the dancers, the swingers and party starters; it feels like the sort of ticket you don't get too often, an energetic and fun collection of great dance SONGS. Indulge.
