Review: Eskimo's long-running series of colour-coded compilations continues via "The White Collection", the label's first multi-artist extravaganza for two years. Featuring an attractive, ear-pleasing collection of cuts that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face, the compilation jogs between colourful nu-disco, hazy house, sun-drenched Balearic beats, late night Italo-disco chuggers and the kind of happy-go-lucky 21st century synth-pop that Eskimo does so well. Highlights include, but are no way limited to, the melodious bubbliness of Michoacan's "I Can See", the cowbell-laden Scandolearic space disco throb of Cavego's "Alfred (Og Venene Hans)", the low-slung new wave sleaziness of Eliezer and Rina's |San Sebastian", and the fluttering, hypnotic Balearic bliss of Middle Sky Booming's drowsy "Dreamy Route".
Review: Last year's Pink Collection, the first in Eskimo's Colour Series of compilations, delivered a sumptuous blend of baggy Balearica, synth-heavy nu-disco, electronic deep house and wide-eyed indie-dance. Here, the long-running Belgian label repeats the formula, serving up 12 new and recent cuts from a wide-range of artists. Highlights come thick and fast, from the touchy-feely goodness of Freeform Five's Roisin Murphy hook-up "Levinthian" and the atmospheric nu-disco-goes-acid of Volta Cab's subdued "Smoke Some Kill", to the guitar-laden Balearic house of Peak Oak and company's "Nova", and Elke Kleijn's sensual, string-laden deep house epic "A Tale of Two Lovers".
Review: It's fair to say that the Italo-disco revival has had its day, but that doesn't mean we can't afford the occasional foray into its sun-kissed world of Euro glamour (if the right tune comes along). Eskimo have always loved their pop and this tune is a lo-fi gem that sounds like a quirky early 80s new wave dance single. The Dubka remix goes all-out Euro-disco evoking the likes of Modern Talking, Kasper Bjorke delivers a velvety, piano-led electro-house version but our fave here is Tiger Stripes' raw and increasingly hypnotic take.
