Review: At one end of the re-edit spectrum, you get 80s pop hits with a 4/4 kick shoved underneath; at the other, are fine collections that see a 21st Century makeover being given to the kind of ultra-obscure killers you only discover through years of obsessive digging. File this one firmly in the latter camp: the only source we can identify is Harlem Underground's barrio funk fave 'Smoking Cheeba Cheeba' from 1976, but whether you like it jazzy and replete with brushed snares and tinkling ivories ('Welcome...'), gangster-lean ('Cheeba Cheeba') or sunny and tropical ('Agosto D'Amor'), Lego Edit has you covered.
Review: All credit is due to Lego Edit here, because of the four re-edits featured we can identify the source material for only one - namely 'Movin', which revisits Brass Construction's 1975 Latin funk/disco classic. Elsewhere, 'Pman' is a rolling funk groover that builds with male soul vox and strings as it progresses, while 'Dis Is Nice' takes us into slightly deeper territory - think jazz-funk through a deep house filter. Perhaps the EP's most distinctive track, though, is 'Mystic Sahara', a midtempo concoction of pounding tribal drums and snake charmer flutes that's surely destined to kick off a thousand DJ mixes...
Review: With 23 tracks to choose from, there's no faulting the value for money offered by this summer compilation from London's Slightly Transformed label. Such an extensive tracklist also offers plenty of scope for stylistic variety, with tracks ranging from laidback, groovesome boogie/soul jams like opener 'What Are We Gonna Do' to the mellow Balearic haze of 'Summer In The City', via the strident 80s attitude of 'Edgy', the looping filter disco of 'Something About Love', the authentic-sounding Blaxploitation funk of 'Mac And Carly Go Uptown', the Zapp/Cameo-isms of 'Firebabe' and even a bossa nova cover of Bill Withers. Serve poolside, accompanied by several mojitos, for maximum impact!
Review: Two very serviceable funk/soul edits here, although what they're actually edits of we couldn't tell you: 'Soul Power' sounds like it should be obvious but has nothing to do with the James Brown classic, and 'M' doesn't talk about pop muzik either! Still, with a nagging, fluttering guitar riff that plays throughout, brass fanfares, soaring saxophone and an ass-shakin' bassline, 'Soul Power ('Lego Edit 5am)' will get 'em on the floor without a doubt, while 'M', with its shuffle-y drums and hazy bassline topped with a mournful violin line, has a more laidback, almost Balearic feel, and would sound fantastic lazing by a poolside.
Review: Three months after allowing DJs to rummage through the contents of his "Sample Bag", Lego Edit has decided to repeat the trick. Unzip the bag and you first find his "4am" edit of "Flash Back", a sax and flute-wielding revision of a colourful and bass-heavy funk outing underpinned by chunky house drums and tons of energetic handclaps. Reach further within the bag's velvet-lined interior and you'll come across his smooth, rolling and dancefloor take on Philadelphia Soul era classic "The Ghetto" - check the sweet jazz guitar solos, locked-in house beats and scat vocal sections - as well as the wild, loopy and insatiable heaviness of stomping Latin jazz-funk revision "Journey To The Old Town".
Review: Surrounded by piles of plastic bricks and merrily whistling "Everything Is Awesome", Lego Edit opens up his "Sample Bag" and offers up more hush-hush reworks from his seemingly endless collection. As usual, there are plenty of tried-and-tested treats to savour, from the tooled-up house take on Steely Dan classic "Do It Again" that is "Dee-Ly Stan" (see what he did there etc) and the filter-heavy disco-house thrust of "Jungle Track", to the hard-wired loop arrangements and booming bottom end of standout "Jazzy Track" and the sun-kissed afternoon pleasure of "Simply Jazz", a solos-laden romp through soul-jazz pastures tantalizingly tweaked to guarantee dancefloor pleasure.
Review: An all-Italian affair here, and given the EP title it's no surprise that Afro-flavoured vibes are the order of the day. 'Tribal Night' is up first, an irresistible concoction of lively African beats, an ass-shakin' funk bassline and, most importantly, some wild jazz trumpet work. 'Kela Futi' is obviously a tribute to the late Afrobeat legend and sports more fine trumpet action and chanted vox, while the EP's completed by two very different mixes of 'Hard Core', with the Re-Edit continuing in a similar Afro-jazz vein to the first two cuts while the Afro-Acid Dub breaks out the 303 for some proper small-hours jacking action.
Review: On his latest expansive collection of tastefully tooled-up scalpel cuts, construction toy enthusiast Lego Edit has turned his attention to the world of Rare Groove. The results are naturally on-point, from the lolloping loops, head-nodding grooves and echoing Curtis Mayfield style vocals of "Supa People", to the densely percussive disco mysticism of "Mondo Tibet", where Indian style strings and earthy vocal grunts rise above some suitably heavy drums. In between you'll encounter such highlights as the hypnotic, filter-heavy disco-house pump of "Funk Family", the sizzling Brazilian carnival celebration that is "A2" and the classic disco bounce of certified peak-time stomper "Love In (Lego Edit Disco Cut)".
Review: We may never get to see the Lego Edit Movie - a cheery animated tale about a scalpel-wielding mini-figure who builds dancefloor reworks out of brightly coloured building blocks - so instead we'll have to make do with the titular re-editor's latest two-track missive. First up is the non-stop house party that is "Platinum Funk", a heavyweight version of a horn-heavy disco-funk smasher underpinned by bombastic house drums and smothered in swirling filter effects. It's a weighty peak-time smasher all told, though there's an argument to be made that virtual flipside "Soul Patrol" is even better. Operating at a more chugging tempo, it sees the producer serve up a suitably loved up rendition of a piano-laden slab of dewy-eyed disco bliss.
Review: Every 12 months, Fingerman's prolific Hot Digits imprint serves up an epic compilation entirely made up of exclusive, previously unheard re-edits, reworks and original productions. They're invariably excellent and this year's edition - the fifth in total - is even more epic than usual. There's naturally plenty to set the pulse racing amongst the dancefloor focused 32-track selection, from the throbbing Italo-disco style electronic sleaziness of Peza's "I Gotta Little Love" and the bouncy, acid-flecked cheeriness of Limpdisco's "Rush Hour", to the angular nu-disco heaviness of Andy Kidd's "The Dope Cube", the sparkling 80s boogie goodness of LUP INO's "Don't Stop Fooling" and and disco-funk-goes-house pump of Fingerman's "Family Ties". Keep an eye out too for rock solid rubs by Dr Packer, Chuggin Edits, Rayko and Andy Buchan.
Review: Last summer, building blocks enthusiasts Lego Edit launched the "Original Vintage Edits" series via a tidy collection of fuzzy funk, Afrobeat, soul and disco revisions. So what's on offer on this sequel? Another mixed bag of tightened-up revisions, that's what. Check, for example, the Plantlife-esque purple funk and chunky drums of "Supa People (Lego Classic Edit)", the rubbery bass guitars and insatiable cowbell hits of "Straight To The Bank (Lego Instrumental Edit)" and "Dubby Nassau (Lego Afro Dub)", which delivers a thumping, stripped-back Afro-disco revision of all time classic "Funky Nassau". Arguably best of all, though, is the filter-heavy tribal drum dub that is "Pof (Lego Classic Edit)".
Review: Those pesky plastic brick enthusiasts are at it again, as the Lego Editors take their rusty scalpels to the amusingly titled Delay Lama's "Funky Tibet". Their "Lego ReFunk" comes in three parts, with the main (EP-opening) version offering the tightest, peak-time ready revision - all jaunty horns, crispy funk drums, rubbery bass, foreboding backing vocals and razor sharp guitars - and "Part 3" playing around with effects in a dancefloor disco dub style. The headline revision comes from pal Vito Lalinga, who opts for a smoother beat, greater use of jazz-funk style trumpet and sax solos (buried a little in the Lego Edit mixes), and lashings of wonderfully warm Fender Rhodes electric piano.
Review: Under the Lego Edit alias, Diego Lelli has a penchant for serving up expansive collections of tooled-up reworks that offer excellent value for money. He's at it again here, offering up 18 finger-lickin' "Chicken Edits" that are far more tasty and satisfying than your average 3am fast food takeaway. Naturally, the material on offer is largely peak-time focused, with highlights including the glassy-eyed, filter-heavy disco-house of "Paris By Night", the wiggling, Maceo Parker style funk fun of "Gnomo Gnomo (Lego Re-Funk)", the breezy Brazilian samba-disco bliss of "Latin Maria (Lego dub 5am)", the sweaty loop-house heaviness of "A (BraziLego Edit)" and the percussive, organ-heavy, jazz-wise stomp of "The Crickets (Lego Classic Edit)".
Review: Lego Edit is known for his funky vibrant creations, usually centring around breakbeat-ready musical themes coupled with futuristic funk sampling and soulful blends. This release goes by the name 'A Tribute To Afro Funk' and is a fantastic piece of composition, bringing together oldschool soulful vocal choruses, smooth drum rolls and bouncy basslines for an awesome final product. This one also comes complete with the completed instrumental mix, courtesy of Lego Edit.
Review: Breaks is yet again on the tip of everyone's tongues as the genre becomes more and more synchronised with modern bass music. This one from Lego Edit entitled 'Fonky Guitar' however ploughs directly back into the roots of breakbeat, bringing together expertly treated soul vocals with groovy guitar licks and of course a slick drum pattern. This one also comes complete with an instrumental edit!
Review: Under his Lego Edit moniker, Italy's Diego Lelli seems to be on an unstoppable run of form. He is literally giving people what they want - puristic Brazilian vibes for the dancefloor. The Lego dub of "Brazilian Sun" is impossible not to like, thanks to its hypnotic flutes, piano crescendos, and beautifully melancholic sax notes - a winner! The second dub involves "Santa Maria", more of a dance bomb, guided and driven by tough house beats merging wonderfully with soulful pop vocals for the lovers. Bravo!
Review: Lego Edit is Italian Diego Lelli who returns to his eponymous edit imprint and two more soulful scorchers on Dancefloor Edits Original Disco Cuts. "Always" is a respectful edit of a certain legend - a wonder of Motown, if you will, and this timeless anthem gets wonderful resplice by Leali here. Next up "Nightlife" (Lego Classic edit) is another disco classic from the late seventies that will appeal to all those lo-slung crusaders out there. We said it last time and it must be stated again that this guy from Bologna has been in overdrive throughout the last year, hammering out a few dozen releases already in 2017. How this guy can ever sleep between all the edits and DJing is anyone's guess: but keep 'em coming pal!
Review: Lego Edit is Italian Diego Lelli, who has been in overdrive the last year: hammering out a few dozen releases already. Does this guy ever sleep between all the edits and DJing? What's your secret pal? On Dancefloor Edits Hot Barbecue, hear that inspirational Martin Luther King Jr speech over an uplifting lo-slung disco groove that is "Billy Groove" (Lego dub 5 AM). Next up, hear the drummer get wicked on the funk explosion of "Hot Stone" (Lego ReFunk) and finally just to provide some variety: we have got some good ol' fashioned funky R&B in the form of a right classic (spliced to perfection!) for modern audiences on "Link Ollins" (Lego dub). All killer no filler right here kids!
Review: It was high time for a new instalment of Lego Edits, the new frontrunner in our favourite disco reincarnations, and this is especially true when the tunes in questions are already among our ist of absolute classics! The infamous "African Rhythms", by a certain artist that we can't specify on here, is reworked into a tasty, jazzy sort of stepper carrying a chunky groove full of sweet, kinetic percussion for the dancefloor. The Lego Funk Touch version is reserved for the "Yeah Alright" edit, a more intricate funk nugget taking into account everything from samba through to jazz and even a little bit of that house edge that we all need right about now. Party tools for all!
