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.
Review: We were rather impressed by Horixon's last collaboration with Else Born - September 2017's ambient pop workout "Hello" - so hopes are naturally high for this belated follow-up. This time round, the duo has opted to move closer to sun-kissed Balearic disco-pop territory, with Born's atmospheric vocal sitting atop bouncy pianos, colourful electronics and an unfussy nu-disco groove. It's naturally a little stronger in the Extended Mix form (which, to be fair, is still only four and a half minutes long). Also impressive is the Dubka Diskomix, which replaces Born's vocals with an un-credited male equivalent while peppering a chugging, Italo-disco style groove with eyes-closed guitar and keytar solos. It's an impressively different and dancefloor-friendly revision all told.
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: The original of this first saw the light back in autumn 2013, and it remains a dynamically built nu-disco track boasting early Aeroplane style piano licks and an arresting vocal from Kristina Train. It's Blamma Blamma at their most stately and stunning. Here we find it in remix form; Psychemagik provide a liquid, bulbous bass facelift, Cato re-emphasises the nude beauty with a few edit sparkles, Wolf + Lamb go deeper with a synth heavy late-night floor stomper while Kiani vs Red D close the show with a sunset-minded slice of modern euphoria. Each twist adding a whole new chapter to the Blamma Blamma story, the only problem is working out which rub to add in your next set.
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