Review: Munich-based Permanent Vacation perform their usual yearly ritual by serving up a bunch of essentials, with their seventh edition here including a whopping 25 tracks. Kicking things off in style is Madrilian producer Pional's uplifting anthem "Tempest", label chief Benjamin Froehlich appears with "Drawn From Memory" which receives an evocative rework by French legend I:Cube, while German nu-disco heroine Perel is on point as always with the neon-lit "Angelika". Elsewhere, Irish duo New Jackson present the glassy-eyed and bittersweet "Romancecar", label co-head Tom Bioly gives us the deep Italo vibe of "Night Heat", label staple Fort Romeau shows off his usual knack for emotive dancefloor drama on "Heaven & Earth", plus the worthy addition of Terr's dark disco delight "Have You Ever" (Dub Version).
Review: Cardini & Co. glance over the last few years of their discography over at Correspondant, serving up a finely curated selection of their trademark brand of dark disco on 'Collection Vol 1'. It features all the modern classics you could possibly need compiled in one package: from Gerd Janson's low slung remix of Yovav's "Caribbean Zen Mode", Julian Stetter's utterly mesmerising epic "Bushwick" and the neon-lit glory of Krystal Clear's reinterpretation of Terr's "Neuromancer" to more recent additions to the catalogue like Fideles' balearic tinged nu-disco groove "Brain Machine". Elsewhere, there are some proper anthems that couldn't possibly have been overlooked, such as Damon Jee's awe-inspiring "Charmaniac", Maceo Plex with the moody "Mutant Disco" (feat. Maars) and eclosing it out are label staples Red Axes with the very track which set them on course for success seven years ago - "Caminho De Dreyfus".
Review: Yor Kultura is the trio of Danny Odenkirchen, Raymon den Hartogh and Kris van Aalst. While travelling the world the last few years, they were inspired by the diversity of music the world has to offer. They channel the feelings of global music into their musical project - melding cultures, people and their sounds. After releases and remixes on Multi Culti, The Magic Movement and Laut & Luise, they step up with some prime material for top Munich label Permanent Vacation on these two new tracks. First up is "Shimming" with its deep, mysterious and arcane vibe which will take you deep into the rainforest with its magical aesthetic. This is followed by the shamanic trance of "Cosmic Tribal" which like the name suggests will will lock you into its spell via its sublime arrangement of polyrhythms.
Review: Dutch trio Yor Kultura head up the Laut & Luise imprint and are well regarded within mainland Europe's festival circuit - with appearances at some of the most respected events such as Garbicz Festival, Amsterdam Dance Event and of course America's infamous Burning Man. These guys can truly bring the goods! Beginning with the entrancing cosmo-balearica of "Lotus" with its woozy arpeggios and lazy rhythm patterns. On "Oak" they're then into some sleazy and slinky tech house (on the depper tip) that's perfect for the afterhours. The EP's true standout is the slo-mo tribalism of "Willow" with its smooth polyrhythms and hypnotic atmosphere, which you could imagine played live to much fanfare. It also gets a series of wicked remixes: Fleeting Wax main man Mehmet Aslan delivers a rendition that nails that indie-dance vibe, as heard by him on labels like Emotional Especial and Huntleys + Palmers. The dub mix by Aslan also features next and forgoes the wacky vocals for a more woozy and trance inducing version: that we were well into!
Review: Dutch production trio Yor Kultura are becoming rather well known on the European festival circuit for their dynamic live shows, in addition to releases on a who's who of labels such as Multi Culti , Earthly Delights, Lump Records and Sol Selectas. Now for Berlin based Laut & Luise we have the gorgeous Hypnosis EP and it's a fitting title, as first two cuts "Aurora" and the title track prove. These esoteric and polyrhythmic journeys are optimised for major trance induction - the latter employing a captivating Afro vibe. "Youtan" employs the same sensibilities on this lo-slung effort that is reminiscent of Toto Chiavetta or Bodhi Satva. Finally the lovely "Zagora" goes for a deep and cosmic flavoured vibe, rounding off this EP nicely.
