The Lost Orchestra (ambient version) - (8:12) 123 BPM
Bona Fide - "Lepeza" - (6:41) 121 BPM
Bona Fide - "Euphoria" (ambient version) - (8:37) 120 BPM
Review: The latest missive from the quietly impressive In Waves imprint offers a double-header of sorts, with Bona Fide and Luka Sambe both providing club-ready and ambient versions of a track apiece. Bona Fide's 'The Lost Orchestra' is a sparkling, uplifting treat, with glistening, brightly coloured lead lines and cascading synth strings rising above a rubbery progressive house groove. The accompanying beat-free version is simply stunning too and provides a neat snapshot of Bona Fide's complex composition and interlocking musical motifs Luka Sambe's 'Lapeza' meanwhile is a deeper, chunkier and more contemplative affair, whose tough and chunky drums give way to warming chords, simmering synth-strings and twinkling pianos on the alternative ambient version.
Martin Buttrich - "Meeting Dave Dish" - (6:37) 121 BPM
James Holden & The Animal Spirits - "The Neverending" - (4:28) 103 BPM
Review: 27 years after volume one helped to establish Compost Records as the go-to source for nu-jazz, the Future Sounds of Jazz compilation series notches up its 15th release. While this edition is not as packed with quite as many exclusives as some of its predecessors, there are six previously unreleased cuts on show, while compiler Michael Reinboth's other selections are typically diverse and on-point. Highlights of the pleasingly varied collection include DJ Nature's soft-touch, string-laden house rework of Type Sun's stunning 'Last Home', the drowsy electro-soul of Marine's 'Floor of Soul', Toshio Matsura Group's glistening jazz cover of Innerzone Orchetsra's 'At Les', the stunning electronica/jazz fusion of 'The Neverending' by7 James Holden and The Animal Spirits, and the Afro-funk-meets-Afro-Jazz flex of Shina Williams and His Afro Percussionists.
Static (Cinthie remix radio edit) - (3:36) 127 BPM
Review: Almost three years after Dusky released the first of two Life Signs EPs, Running Back has decided to release a swathe of new reworks of tracks from the series. The most high-profile revisions come from Cinthie, who brilliantly re-frames 'Static' as a dreamy and attractive fusion of high-quality synth-pop and driving deep house complete with wavy vocalisations, undulating lead lines, gorgeous chords and sturdy beats. Elsewhere, KiNK re-wires 'Fridge' as a driving, rave-igniting techno roller full of retro-futurist organ stabs and old school house vocal snippets, while Rumu's version of 'Lea Valley' peppers a sturdy electro-breaks rhythm with glassy-eyed vocal samples, bold synth-bass, sparkling electronics and immersive pads.
David Morales & Ultra Nate - "I Can Dream" (extended mix) - (7:02) 120 BPM
David Morales & Michelle Perera - "Life Is A Song" (Ol' Skool extended mix) - (6:31) 110 BPM
Review: On this surprisingly speedy sequel to 2021 album Parkside Avenue, David Morales has returned to his vocal house roots, aided and abetted by a strong of guest vocalists and producers.For those who enjoy the more positive end of New York house, there's much to enjoy, including a basement-ready cover of Donna Summer classic 'I Feel Love', a swathe of Philly Soul and disco-influenced numbers (Michelle Perrera collabs 'Life is a Song' and Never Give Up' chief amongst them), a deep, Red Zone style future classic ('The Feels') and a pitched-up deep house gem made in cahoots with similarly long-serving producer/artist Blakkat ('Can't Get Enough').
Review: Late last year, Tom Bucher returned to Plastic City for the first time in nearly eight years. Following the release of a trio of quietly confident singles, the German producer is now ready to deliver his debut album, Restart. Beginning with the gorgeously intergalactic, mid-tempo deep house twinkle of 'Lost in Space, Bucher offers up a mixture of attractive and melodious deep house workouts ('Samantha', 'Lipstick', the All Day I Dream style 'Drumdrop'), colourful and emotive fusions of tech-house and bubbly nu-disco ('Restart'), warehouse-ready rollers ('Jupiter'), nods to Orbital's mid 1990s work ('Hymless') and stunning, string-laden peak-time treats ('Stellar').
Review: Dutch producer Beau Zwart is not a name many will recognise, but in the past he's proved adept at blurring the boundaries between kaleidoscopic synth-funk, jazz-funk and deep house. That's the vibe he's opted for on this fine EP for Lazy Days Recordings. This exciting, squelchy, rubbery and vibrant sound is best exemplified by the title track, which sits somewhere between P-funk and piano house but can also be heard on the deeper and jazzier 'Bambino Breaks', the more electro-inspired, TB-303 flecked warmth of 'No Exit' and the picturesque, post deep-house shimmer of 'Safe Shave'. Art of Tones steps up to remix 'Rusty Lewis', turning it into even more of a synth-splashed P-funk treat.
