Review: Veteran Berlin outfit Modeselektor take their "selektion" very seriously indeed. Perhaps this is why each instalment of Modeselektion, their painstakingly curated compilation series, takes so long to arrive. Here we finally have another sampler from part three. Highlights of these four tracks include the blissful synth fest of Alex Banks' "Be The One", the quirky, live electro-pop of Heinrik Schwarz's "We Are Bankrupt" and the off-kilter, acidic soulful hip-hop of "Jungle Love". Looks like the full-length album will be worth the wait.
Review: The first slab of tracks curated by Modeselektor for Modeselektion Vol. 3 may have been on a more introspective tip, but there's no such holding back to be found on Part 2 as bold colours and tough rhythms abound for the party-starting side to the German duos repertoire. L-Vis 1990 brings the heavyweight boogie influence while Illum Sphere marches forth with an electro urgency, Onra drops some cosmic '80s flourishes, and Brandt Brauer Frick link up with OmMas Keith and Vic Mensa for a mad intersection between broken beat, techno, R&B and plenty more besides. As ever eclecticism and a taste for the unusual define Modeselektor's choices, and they pull it off with style.
Review: French ambassador for future funk Onra has been a little quiet of late, but now he steps up with this new collection for Fools Gold and it's clear to see his output is no less booty friendly. In fact on the likes of "LOVE" he seems to be moving ever deeper towards the authentic 80s boogie sound, as the glossy synth flourishes meet with rock-solid beats and the end-of-bar edits nag at your hips. "After Hours" is bolstered by T3's dextrous flow and cheeky lyrics, but when fixed on to the dazzling impact of Onra's production, peak-time radio play surely beckons.
Review: Ooh la la! Those saucy Frenchies can't help injecting their disco with a bit of funky fornication. Think back to the '70s and Emmanuelle and all that Moog-drenched soft Euro porn, it's the kind of thing Sebastian Tellier has been digging for years. Here's some more Gallic explorations of this vintage world where handlebar moustaches and lipglossed lips (amongst other things) collide. Highlights include the dizzy analogue grind "Porn", the distorted almost -neo soul jam "Sexy Soul", the Timotei advert vibes of "Goodbye Lullaby" and the George-McRae-on-ludes-isms of "Don't Outstay Outside 2 Night". Foxy!
Review: France's Favourite Records gives us the fourth instalment of their series that marries lost classics with contemporary productions. Either way it's all top quality vintage-sounding stuff at work here from funk staples like The Melton Brothers Band's "I'll Take You There" to the radio friendly vibes of Lee McDonald's "Gotta Get Home", Cleon & Jazzy Pidjay's fret-blistering Latino workout "Samba A L'Aeroport" and Mr Day's enchanting "Queen Of The Minstrels".
Mr President - "The Best Is Yet To Come" - (4:32) 70 BPM
The Melton Brothers Band & Alfie Moss - "Livin' The City" - (3:21) 103 BPM
The Dynamics - "I Know She Cares" - (4:39) 90 BPM
Mr Day - "Both Sides" - (4:53) 86 BPM
Buddy Sativa - "Peace Of Art" - (4:59) 120 BPM
Hazel - "Playground" (feat Eyo) - (4:01) 95 BPM
Walter Mecca - "Gaab Squad" - (2:22) 98 BPM
Hawa - "So Wrong" - (4:02) 98 BPM
The Funk League - "The Boogie Down Bombers" (Main mix) - (3:24) 91 BPM
Onra - "Clap Clap" - (2:16) 95 BPM
The Dynamics - "Can You Handle This Dub?" - (4:42) 80 BPM
Hawa - "My Little Green Box" (Taggy Matcher remix) - (4:20) 81 BPM
Mr President - "Meet Again" - (4:06) 123 BPM
The Real Fake MC - "Hunt Ya Sunshine" - (3:35) 108 BPM
Mr President - "It's Christmas Time" - (4:14) 123 BPM
Review: French label Favourite has always been a reliable source of warm and comfy goodtime grooves, from floor-friendly modern soul and heartening jazz-funk to dub reggae and contemporary disco. This third label compilation mines their rich back catalogue to present an enjoyable selection of sounds from their roster. Highlights are, naturally, plentiful, from the deep piano jazz of Buddy Sativa and smooth neo-soul of Hazel to the dubwise strut of The Dynamics, Mr President's afro-tinged floorfillers and the synth boogie revivalism of Walter Mecca. There's also a typically sparse hip-hop outing from Onra that's well worth a gander.
