Eskimo Recordings is a label based in Ghent, Belgium, and was founded in 2000. Eskimo has always approached the divide between electronic and indie music with a reckless abandon that suggests that there is no divide at all. A mix of Indie Dance / House / Cosmic & Balearic Disco / Nu Disco and more.
The label grew out of the eclectic parties that took place during the late nineties in the Eskimo Fabriek in Ghent. These underground parties got famous for mixing synthpop, new wave, acid house, funk and rock ‘n’ roll into a new and fresh sound, setting new standards for the Belgian club culture. International as well as local talented DJs such as Mo & Benoelie (later to be The Glimmers) and The Flying Dewale Brothers (later to become 2 Many DJs) were usual guests at the turntables. As the Eskimo Fabriek needed refurbishment at the turn of the century, the Eskimo parties moved on to the Culture Club, and the temporary Belmondo concept at the S.M.A.K museum.
However, the vibe of these parties kept going through a new label that was founded in 2000 by Stefaan Vandenberghe and Dirk De Ruyck: Eskimo Recordings. From the very start, timeless quality and originality were the key values upon which the label was based. Old and new music were carefully combined into a fancy fresh sound, with the releases bringing a wide array of mix compilations by established selectors and original music signed to Eskimo. Since 2012, the label is run by Stefaan Vandenberghe and Nadiem Shah, aka Captain E. The very same year 'Eskimonde', a luxurious 5CD box set, was released to celebrate the first decade. Over the years there have been landmark releases from Aeroplane, The Glimmers, Optimo, Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas, Freeform Five, Satin Jackets, NTEIBINT, Psychemagik, Transistorcake, Aili and many more.
In 2013, Eskimo Recordings launched a new concept: The Colour Collections. These collections contain each a set of carefully selected songs that were all produced exclusively for this concept. Recent 'diggers' compilations were curated by musical authorities such as Prins Thomas, Psychemagik, Bill Brewster and Curses. Eskimo has helped break many of the names that have gone on to become electronic music’s best regarded performers, and holds a unique stake within the indie dance world.
Through The Night (feat David Harks) - (4:17) 105 BPM
Review: Under the Satin Jackets alias, German nu-disco don Tim Bernhardt has released a swathe of synth-pop influenced singles, but only one album. "Solar Nights", his delayed follow-up to 2016 debut LP "Panorma Pacifico", has the feel of a crossover hit in the making, with Bernhardt once again showcasing his ability to graft gorgeous, sun-kissed and synth-heavy Balearic pop that's as comforting and life-affirming as a loved-up hug from your nearest and dearest. There are, of course, plenty of club-focused cuts to enjoy too, with highlights including the colourful, piano-heavy nu-disco/Balearic house fusion of "String It Again", dreamy chugger "Still Not Forgotten" and almost overwhelmingly gorgeous "All For You" standing out.
Review: Chanteuse Niya Wells stars as German nu-disco don Tim Bernhardt once again slips on his Satin Jackets and gets "Lost In Japan". Wells is naturally in fine form on the title track, delivering strong and sultry vocals over a breezy and attractive blend of rich pianos, fluttering electronics, deep melodies and a huggable nu-disco groove. As ever with Bernhardt's work, the song is just as radio-friendly as it is dancefloor-focused. Speaking of which, some DJs may prefer the accompanying Dub revision, in which snippets of Wells' vocals drift across a deeper, echo-laden bed of Balearic disco goodness.
Review: German nu-disco duo Satin Jackets is back on Eskimo Recordings with a tasty collection of cuts from the vaults. The majority of the material on Diamonds Are Forever - save for a couple of unreleased exclusives and reworks - originally came out on various obscure compilations and EPs earlier in the decade. There's natural plenty to enjoy, from the swirling, sun-kissed dreaminess of opener "Latin Jackets" and the sparkling, loved-up synth-pop-goes-Balearic-house brilliance of "Hollywood", to the breezy, beach-friendly cheeriness of EP standout "How Long Can I Wait For You". The EP also offers a chance to own two sought-after Satin Jackets remixes, with their nu-disco/deep house fusion re-make of Novika's "Miss Mood" standing out.
Northern Lights (Carl Louis remix) - (4:31) 111 BPM
Review: Belgium's Eskimo label have long since been champions of retro electro-pop and house. Here Germany's Satin Jackets see their recent yacht rock hit Northern Lights remixed into sublime and dreamy pop-trance by Carl Louis. With the original's tougher edges now smoothed out, the song becomes something else, that something else being a slow motion widescreen Euro anthem, drenched in summery synth riffs and yearning vocals courtesy of David Harks who sounds uncannily like Jake Sheers in ballad mode. A fitting end of the summer epic.
Review: While relatively under-appreciated in the UK, Satin Jackets are one of Europe's most successful nu-disco outfits. The German duo impressed last year with their breezy debut album, Panorama Pacifico, which effortlessly joined the dots between nu-disco, Balearica and radio-friendly synth-pop. Here they return to Eskimo Recordings with a new chunk of sun-kissed goodness: the gentle warmth of 'Never Enough', where Niya Wells' ear-catching vocals ride a backing track rich with colourful synths, tumbling piano lines, crisp guitars and toasty electric bass. Fellow German producer Cassara provides the accompanying remix, smartly emphasizing the more organic elements of the duo's original productions to ensure a looser, classic disco feel.
Review: Although they've never really broken through in the UK, Satin Jackets are one of the most successful nu-disco outfits in Europe. Feel Good, featuring the woozy vocal talents of Scavenger Hunt, was one of the standout cuts on their recent album, Panorama Pacifico. The dreamy, eyes-closed, Balearic pop vibe of the original version is hard to beat, but a trio of remixers steps up to have a go. Cavego goes first, delivering a near perfect blend of sun-kissed nu-disco bliss full of clipped guitars, dreamy pads and rolling, Balearic disco grooves. Kaljet reaches for the pianos on a bold and beautiful interpretation, before In Limbo slows things down on a drowsy, late night version that's as picturesque as a leisurely drive through the Black Forest at sunrise.
Review: (Mr) Satin Jackets is both the name of duo Tim Bernhardt and Den Ishu and the fictional protagonist of their songs (depicted here on the cover of their debut album as a Money For Nothing-style computer graphic). The 80s influences continue way beyond the sleeve as the music is pure white linen suit, palm tree and breezy ocean territory. There are 12 smooth FM synth gems on here including hit singles "You Make Me Feel Good", "Shine On You" and "We Can Talk". If a neon-tinged pop-house update of vintage synthpop is your thing, then this is most definitely your album!
Review: Aside from putting out a number of releases on Nu Indee and Whiskey Disco, Satin Jackets is a regular for Eskimo Recordings too. "We Can Talk" features the vocals of Emma Brammer, and it's a fine disco number with a distinctive pop edge. There's a housier reinterpretation by Moullinex too, and Larse chucks in a weighty, mystical dub.
Review: Few do nu-disco quite as well as Satin Jackets. The German producer has an impressive discography to prove it, with previous releases appearing on such labels as Deep & Disco, Whiskey Disco and Eskimo. Here, he returns to the latter - with British vocalist Esser in tow - with the shimmering, summery goodness of "Shine On You". The previously hyped - but recently surprisingly quiet - Mighty Mouse contributes a headline-grabbing mix, in which he turns the cheery original into a driving chunk of synth-propelled disco-house. Ben Macklin goes in the opposite direction on his two reworks, diving deeper into the world of sun-flecked Balearic electronics and soft-focus nu-disco.
Review: Nu-disco may be on the wane a little, but thankfully there a still a few acts capable of delivering deliciously dreamy and floor-friendly electronic disco jams. German duo Satin Jackets is one of those acts. This three-tracker for Belgium's Eskimo Recordings is full of enveloping chords, shuffling grooves and bright-eyed melodies. Opener "Sunrise In Paradise" sounds like classic Aeroplane with a dash of hazy, horizontal pop thrown in, while "Galee Royale" is so effortlessly sun-kissed that you want to grab your sunnies and head for the beach. Closer "Fall Apart", meanwhile, is almost thrillingly dreamy, with Patrick Barber's guitar and vocal drifting from the speakers as if it was a plastic bag caught in a humid summer breeze.
Review: German duo Satin Jackets excel at making the kind of glossy, feelgood fodder that sits somewhere between groovy nu-disco and beach-friendly deep house. Having already impressed, they're now ready to drop arguably their biggest production yet, "You Make Me Feel Good". It's a decidedly Balearic jam, offering spine-tingling vocal samples over a smooth, tactile groove that should sound good at outdoor parties and musical festivals this summer. The package also includes the Deep Mix, a shuffling deep house mix that sounds like a nu-disco era take on the luscious Naked Music sound of the early 2000s. As it's already appearing on big compilations, you can expect it to be massive.
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