Review: As his pseudonym makes clear, Sudi Wachspress has long been an exponent of ultra-deep, intergalactic - and increasingly retro-futurist - deep house. He continues this trend on his latest album, which sees him pop up on Canadian imprint Pacific Rhythm for the very first time. After opening with some superb, deep space ambient ('Virtual Age'), he pays tribute to the tactile, turn-of-the-90s New Jersey deep house of Dream 2 Science ('Inner Focus'), before flitting between new age ambient warmth ('Save Point', 'New Day'), sunrise-ready ambient house ('Sounds of Peace'), piano-sporting Italian dream house revivalism (the utterly gorgeous 'Time Station'), drifting electronica ('Heal') and loved-up street soul beats ('Private Paradise').
Review: There's plenty to set the pulse racing on Dance Planet, Sudi Wachspress's third album as Space Ghost. In keeping with the Oakland native's career to date, much of the material showcases a colourful, retro-futurist sound that variously doffs a cap to Alton Miller, Larry Heard and Blaze. He begins in confident mood with 'Emotional Healer', a sun-soaked, piano-sporting treat, before giddily skipping between street soul influenced grooves (the gorgeous 'Deep (Vibes Mix)'), pitched-down ambient house ('UFO' and the beatless wonder that is 'After Glow'), heady downtempo numbers ('Dream Weaver') and Burrell Brothers style dancefloor lusciousness ('Back To The Source', Soul Shower'). Throughout, the album is atmospheric, warming and melodically rich. In other words, it's a triumph.
Review: After celebrating their landmark 40th anniversary last year, long running Ibiza-based institution Cafe Del Mar are back for the next annual compilation in their series. Cafe Del Mar Chillhouse Mix XII does exactly what it says on the tin, and quite frankly no one else quite does it better. Highlights come from: legend Ian Pooley on the bumpin' late night groove of "Puzzled", Montreal staple Fred Everything getting the remix treatment by the ever reliable I:cube on the ultra deep sleaze of "Barbarella" and British nu-disco heroes Bent also getting a low slung rework by the mighty Ashley Beedle on "Friends". Elsewhere, Kiwi duo Chaos In The CBD keep "Cool But So.." by Detroit first wave pioneer Alton Miller in a typically soulful and emotive form with their perspective, while Chicago staple JT Donaldson delivers perfect mood music as always with his remix of Dirtytwo's "Hopeless" and Ron Trent showing us all exactly just what 'deepness' really is all about on his stunning version of Tevo Howard's classic "Without Me" feat Tracey Thorn - an oldie but still a goodie!
Review: Keeping its head above water in 2020 with releases by Space Ghost, Glenn Astro, Nelson Of The East and the reformation of late-70s Danish group Graesrodderne, Tartelet pull together a new compilation to welcome in 2021. Featuring the aforementioned in parts, Medusozoa is described as a compilation for introspective, downtempo and ambient leaning tracks for quieter moments. Be that the sound of rain in Space Ghost's playful night drive synth tune "Tropical Pavilion" to the soft percussion, finger clacks and Wayne Snow vocals of Max Graef's "Jane". Henry Wu & Tito Wun chip in with the ambient vocal and percussion-led number "Andre The Giant Vs Bob Sapp" to some slow renegade funk in Uffe's "Fridge Magnet Radio Theme 1" and the wozzy rhode tones and R&B shutters of Abunai's "Peace Sign".
Review: Oakland, California's Space Ghost, AKA Sudi Wachspress, returns to his semi-regular home of Tartelet. 'Time To Dance' itself, in its Original form, channels Chi-town deepness in the Heard/Trent/Damier tradition with perhaps a hint, too, of deep Jersey garage, while the Together Mix adds panpipes to give it a more tribal feel. 'New World Energy' is an early 90s-sounding house instrumental accompanied by a smoother, bassier Sunset Mix, while the ambient 'Forest Dub' and 'Mood Research' (the latter more of an interlude at just 2:08) complete an EP which will suit those who like their deep house on the cerebral side.
Review: Sudi Wachspress, AKA Space Ghost, delivers his eighth long-player in just 10 years. The Oakland, California native has carved out a sound that draws on house, disco, R&B and disco as well as strong influences from the LA beats scene, and the result is an album that operates largely at a walking pace, and as such is probably best appreciated in a home listening setting, with 'Feeling Real Good' and 'Prayer For You' providing the only obvious dancefloor moments. Standouts include the haunting 'Love Beam' with its haunting, looped vocal and bruk beat-y bass squelch, the druggy, slo-mo jazz-funk of 'Mystery Angel' and the sultry, soulful 'I'll Be Yours'.
Review: Three years ago Tartelet offered up a tasty compilation of previously unheard cuts, with all sales revenue going to charity. "The Second Best Time Is Now" follows the same formula, with sales income going to the Natural Resource Defence Council. Musically there's much to admire throughout, from the hazy reggae/blues/trip-hop fusion flex of Wayne Snow and Digitaluc's "Worrying State", to the deep intergalactic electronica of Glenn Astro's "Taking Care of Business", via the dreamy, synth-heavy jazz-funk of Space Ghost's "Groovin" and the Orb circa 1991 goodness of Dirk 81 and N.O.T.E's brilliant "Cosmic Plastic". Great music for a good cause: what more excuse do you need to stick it in your cart?
Review: Hailing from California's Bay Area, Sudi Wachspress AKA Space Ghost should need little introduction to lovers of downtempo beats by now: this is his seventh long-player. More importantly, though, it's an album that's worth checking even if you're NOT normally a big fan of the style, because there's a much stronger dancefloor sensibility in evidence than on previous output. Opener 'Sea Snake Island', for instance, could easily slot into an early-doors deep house set, as could the vaguely melancholic 'Lavender Oil', while the title track has something of jazz fusion air about it. It all adds up to 50 minutes of really very pleasant listening indeed...
Review: Oakland-based Tartelet regular Space Ghost is a hard man to pin down, musically at least. As this fine album proves, his trademark sound has many notable reference points - the slipped synth-boogie of Dam Funk, the dusty synthesizer ambient and sticky rainforest samples of the 1980s new age movement, the starry futurism of Detroit techno and the kaleidoscopic synth-bass fusion of Lone, for starters - but also occupies a sonic space all of its own. Naturally, the album is impeccably produced, draws on all manner of beats and basslines, and is the kind of set you'll never tire of hearing. Melodious, picturesque and atmospheric from start to finish, Endless Light is an unassuming triumph.
