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Manolo
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Review: Whether under his own name or as Manolo, Helsinki's Roberto Rodriguez has chalked up over 50 releases - including outings on the likes of Compost, Plastic City, Lazy Days and Freerange - and now comes to Rare Wiri with a new offering that's available in two quite different mixes. The Original rides a rock-solid midtempo 4/4 kick and a fat, squelchy analogue synth bassline, augmenting same with sci-fi synths and brass stabs, and is a sure bet for peaktime nu-disco stomping. The analogue drums, bass guitar and reggae-ish guitar chops of the Paper Street Soul remix, on the other hand, bring a mellower vibe altogether.
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Review: A quick trawl of social media and music sites reveals little about Manolo's true identity - assuming he/she is neither a beauty salon in Swansea, nor Mr Blahnik taking a day off from cobbling! - but here the mystery producer comes to Rayko's Rare Wiri with an unhurried throbber that sits right on the nu-disco/Balearic cusp. With resonant bass, a sparkling top line and dreamy male vox it's plenty playable, but if pushed my money would be on Sauco's remix, which adds a little dancefloor oomph and, dropped at the right moment, could well inspire a few hands-in-the-air moments...
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Review: With a title like 'Cosmic Memories' your middle name doesn't need to be Sherlock to work out what's going on here, as Rare Wiri bring us a nine-track collection that pays homage to the trippy, synth-fuelled disco of early 80s Italy. Who better to kick things off, then, than cosmic disco originator Daniel Baldelli, with his and DJ Rocca's remix of Manolo's 'Amalfi Drive'? That sets the tone nicely for an album that's long on glacial synths, 80s-sounding electronic drum beats, Euro-style vox and dramatic magenta blusher... okay, you can only actually HEAR the first three of those, but you get the idea! Phoreski's 'Slow Down' stands out for yours truly, packing as it does a little more of Da Funk.
Clef & Canberra feat Manolo
Review: Rare Wiri bring us remixes of four tracks culled from two previous Manolo EPs, March's 'Amalfi Drive' and May's 'Paseo Maritimo'. Ilya Santana gets the ball rolling with a typically spangly, 80s-inspired take on 'Phobos', before another Mediterranean disco legend - label boss Rayko, of course - steps up with a dark, broody and chuggin' take on 'Paseo Maritimo'. Sauco's remix of 'Amalfi Drive' stands out for the decidedly Yellow Magic Orchestra-esque otherworldly synth that shimmers along at the top throughout, before finally Super Fu's remix of 'Away' drops the tempo considerably to play us out on a hazy, Balearic note.
Review: Four synth-y nu-disco jams make up Helsinki-based Roberto Rodriguez AKA Manolo's new EP for Rare Wiri. 'Amalfi Drive' sets the tone, a druggy, chuggy affair that blends Balearic and Italo influences with a hint of jazz-funk, then tops the lot with a soulful male vocal loop. 'Phobos' and 'Paseo Maritimo' are both in a similar vein but a little more obviously floor-friendly, and would have sounded right at home in Rimini or Ibiza Town circa 1989-90, before closer 'Away (For Too Long)' drops the tempo to a crawl - definitely one for those post-club chillin' sessions.
Review: Make no mistake, the Italo/cosmic Force is strong in this one! In its Original form, 'Amalfi Drive' is a fairly straightforward nu-disco cut, albeit with the aforesaid 80s influences clearly in evidence. But it's when it's handed over to cosmic pioneer Daniele Baldelli and partner-in-crime DJ Rocca for remixing that the magic happens: hardcore Italo/cosmic lovers will fiend for their Iosso Remix, but it's their Arda Remix, which has hints of both progressive/melodic house and (if you listen closely) Ozric Tentacles-ish rock guitar wails, that's probably got the broadest dancefloor appeal.
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Crazibiza/Chris Willis - "Lonely One" (feat Crazibiza/Chris Willis - Max/Sims remix) - (6:45) 122 BPM
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Review: Re-working a smash hit such as 1994's "Rhythm Of The Night" from Corona (originally inspired by 1987's "Save Me" from Say When) is very brave indeed; and it's exactly what Roberto Rodriguez as Manolo has done with a little help from Daniel Solar and Andi De Luxe undertaking the remixes. Four versions of the newly titled "Night Rhythm" span the double sided vinyl with Manolo's mix tweaking the original with a sultrier bassline, disco guitar licks and pitched down vocal. Remixed by German duo Daniel Solar & Andi De Luxe, "Night Rhythm" is transformed again to expose another feel altogether via an electro tinged melody . Manolo's chilled out, groovy and deep Dub version is the pick of the bunch, and comes remixed by Daniel and Andi.
Played by: Homegroove Project
Review: In the space of less than a year, Roberto Rodriguez' Serenades label has seen its releases receive admiration from the like of Tensnake and Maya Jane Coles, and this compilation release offers the label a chance to reflect on a successful year, and win themselves some new fans in the process. Label head Rodriguez contributes the Balearic boogie-funk of "Has Been", whilst the Nacho Marco remix of "Ishama" takes a more cosmic path, dancing round a handbag made entirely out of the plastic casing from vintage early 80s BBC Micro computers. Johnwaynes contribute "Never Enough", featuring relentless synths and a tight bass "n' drums combo, taking things up and down beautifully, whilst Volta Cab finish with the slo-mo soul of "I Don't Want Love", its bumping rhythm brought to life with a staccato piano sample that takes things into a housier realm.
Played by: Alfred Azzetto
