Review: After a couple of recent releases ('Evolution' and 'B-Movie') that mined Gil Scott-Heron for some piquant socio-political commentary, this latest single release finds Fabiolous Barker back in a more party-hearty kinda mood. Topping a loop from Michael Jackson's 'Don't Stop Till You Get Enough' with not one but two sampled female vocals - one from Costa Mee's 'Around The World', the other unidentified - 'Wanna Move My Body' was first released back in May in simple Vocal and stripped-back 3am Mood mixes; these four new rubs are essentially just variations on those two themes, but should extend the cut's dancefloor longevity. Hell, it's such an irresistible groove, we wouldn't even rule out crossover commercial success.
Review: Re-edit king Fabiolous Barker turns his attention to a Gil Scott-Heron classic, though you'd probably guessed that already! A dancefloor cert thanks to that much-sampled intro ("Now the first thing I wanna say is, mandate my ass"), the Mandate My Mix is a very light-touch and respectful rework, and as such is mostly notable for how relevant the early 80s lyric is to America's current political climate. The Mandate My Dub, meanwhile, strips out most of that vocal and lets Robert Gordon's sleaze-tastic slap bassline shine through in all its glory. The original's still very playable, but these new rubs offer a viable alternative.
Review: A track here that's both highly topical, and potentially controversial. Topical because the spoken vocal is lifted from the Gil Scott-Heron track of the same name, a hard-hitting rant about the USA's slow progress towards true racial equality that holds as true in 2020 as it did when first released a full 50 years ago; potentially controversial, because said vocal makes extensive use of the N-word. So if in doubt, you might wanna head for the accompanying instrumental, wherein the languid disco-funk backdrop really shines through with its echoing guitar chops, exuberant trumpet parps and ponderous, unhurried walking bassline.
Review: Fabiolous Barker has been on fire this year. Predictably his tenth solo single of 2020 is similarly strong, and in our opinion his best release to date. It comprises two rock-solid versions of "I Had A Dream", an ear-catching chunk of Balearic house-meets-dub disco pleasantness full of ear-catching elements. As the title suggests, the vocal version makes extensive use of Martin Luther King Jr's legendary "I have a dream" speech. While that adds an inspiring, ear-catching focal point, it's the quality of the warm and groovy music below - think low-slung bass guitar, sun-bright bogie synth sounds, clipped guitars, hazy trumpet solos and clipped guitar riffs - that males the cut so essential. For proof, check out the equally as essential accompanying instrumental mix.
Review: Since the start of 2020, Argentinian disco dude Fabiolous Barker has released no less than six singles on Ganbatte, all of which have been rather good. Predictably, EP number seven, a tight two-track affair, is also rock solid. Barker hits the ground running with "2Much", a vibrant, all-action edit of a superb disco-funk number that was once reworked by the Unabombers for their "Elecrtic Souls" series of 12" singles. It's a rubbery affair, where female lead vocals, Chic-style guitars and punchy horns rise above a slap-bass-propelled disco groove. Just as impressive is "Get A Life (Slow Instrumental)", which despite not actually being that slow is wonderfully laidback, loved-up, string-laden and piano heavy. It's a sun-kissed slice of musical bliss.
Review: Argentinian disco stu Fabiolous Barker is back with his new one for Ganbatte Records - a label born in the heart of London, dedicated to nu-disco, re-edits, funk, disco and house. Entitled "Coco Loco", there's definitely a familiar hook from a classic on this one, but we can ascertain that this very low slung, so funky and absolutely infectious. Next up is the late night sensuality of "Give Me That Beat" (instrumental) on which you can catch a glorious midnight sunset, occasionally illuminated by those odd flourishes on bright neon love. Following up some great material recently on Masterworks Music, Katakana Edits and Nang - this guy's on a roll!
Review: If you like to throw the odd curveball in your sets, then reach for this! Because for the first two minutes of its life, 'Wanna Move My Body' fools you into thinking it's a simple re-edit of MJ classic 'Don't Stop Till You Get Enough' - until in comes the sultry vocal from Costa Mee's 'Around The World', which is soon joined by a second, unidentified female "We came here to party/there ain't no stopping us" loop. With Vocal and more stripped-back 3am Mood mixes to choose from, it may be "just a mash-up" but it's superbly executed and all really rather lovely.
Review: Phat bass and disco walking all the way down the line in Henderson's Groove courtesy of everyone's favourite Argentianin in London, Fabiolous Barker! Notching up this two-track burner for your next clandestine weekender with the fam, Barker slips the slightest of comedic touches to the percussion and vocal edits of "Spanish Delight" while all the hallmarks of disco are given a fiesta vibe in this EP's title track. Get your funk on.
Review: The Fabiolous Barker boy is back on Ganbatte, the label on which he's released many of his most potent productions. This time he's on a mid-tempo tip, delivering three tracks that bob along at a groovy 113 BPM. First up is the vocal mix of "Wrap It Up", a lightly touched-up, rolling revision of the Touche track of the same name with a wise emphasis on the track's killer bassline, squidgy electrofunk synths and chiming melodies. He delivers an "Instrumental Dub" revision too, which naturally strips out the vocal chants and instead makes more of the track's killer grooves. To round off the EP he adds his touch to a dusty old chunk of P-funk rich in fast-fingered bass guitar, strobe-lit synths and "work that sucker to death" vocal snippets.
Review: 'Alone' Part 1, released just a month ago, centred around the Hall Mix, which lifted the bassline from Hall & Oates classic 'I Can't Go For That'. So we won't insult your intelligence by explaining which 80s pop survivors Part 2's Pet Shop Mix pays tribute to in similar fashion! What we will tell you is that, as per Part 1, there's an accompanying vocal-free pass for the more underground floors, while bonus cut 'Midnight Cocktail also returns, here remixed by Limpodisco in a wonkier nu-disco style compared to the boogie nouveau vibes of Part 1's original mix.
Review: Fabiolous Barker's London-based Ganbatte bring us a second collection of Kraftwerk re-edits/remixes/reworkings, following on the heels of 'Pt 1' a few weeks ago. What we said then still applies: there'll be plenty of Kraftwerk lovers who'll tut, shake their heads and mutter darkly that this should never have happened, but those involved have all made a decent fist of things, so they'll just have to live with it! Barker's 'Computerized Love' is the more radical of two reworks of 'Computer Love' but the standout to our ears is Dim Zach's 'The Super Model', although that's possibly because it's not really that different from the original...
Review: Fabiolous Barker's latest opens with a bassline that's reminiscent of Hall & Oates classic 'I Can't Go For That', then drops some lovely garage-y organs and a mellow piano line. The female vocal, when it arrives, errs towards the pop side of things and won't suit everyone, but don't worry because there's an accompanying instrumental, essentially giving you one mix for the commercial floors and one for everywhere else. Completing the package is 'Midnight Cocktail', a funked-up contemporary boogie jam that's underpinned by a breakbeat rhythm and that sports wukka-wukking guitars, lively horns and some subtle, wigged-out Rhodes work.
Review: Here's an EP that might ruffle a few feathers... the four tracks are all re-edits of classic Kraftwerk cuts, and there'll no doubt be many purists out there who'd say that was a job that didn't really need doing, but generally speaking the four producers concerned have done a pretty good job. Dim Zach's 'The Super Model (Dub)' nudges ahead of the pack, while Gatto's progressive house-leaning 'Computer Love (Vocal Mix)' is probably the most radical in approach. But the other two reworks from Fabiolous Barker and Don Dayglow are also perfectly serviceable, so if you dig Florian, Ralf and co and can get past the "sacred cows" thing, check it out.
Review: As the matter-or-fact title makes clear, Fabiolous Barker's latest EP for Ganbatte offers up a quartet of cuts that have previously only been available to his nearest and dearest. As you'd expect, there's plenty to set the pulse racing, from the piano-driven, turn-of-the-90s Euro-house rush of "Let Me Be (Promo Instrumental)" to the pitched-down Balearic nu-disco warmth of "Sorry (Uni Instrumental)" - all whistling synthesizer motifs, Pet Shop Boys melodies and Johnny Marr style guitar - via the driving, fretless bass-propelled cheeriness of "Dancefloor (Unpaid Instrumental)". The track sandwiched in between, the "Radio Instrumental Edit" of glassy-eyed 80s synth-pop number "Dance Dance Dance", is also rather good.
Review: Ganbatte's latest affair may be all-star affair, but Fabiolous Barker rightly takes top billing thanks to delivering two takes on his latest track, "The Expert". He opens the EP with a hybrid electro/disco flavoured "Old Skool Re-Master" full of whispered vocals, crunchy guitars, throbbing synth-bass and tight horn blasts, before returning at the end with a "Funka-Masta-House" version that underpins the music with a head-nodding house style beat. In between you'll find the bouncy, Hi-NRG era Latin disco-house insanity of Dim Zach's "La Habernaro", the dreamy harmony vocals and ear-pleasing nu-disco grooves of Carlos Gatto's "Call It Love" and the alien funk masterclass that is Don Dayglow's "Gotta Say Yes", a suitably throbbing revision of an old Yello favourite.
Review: Fresh from causing a commotion on nu-disco dancefloors with his suitably heavy "Grip My Hips" single, Fabiolous Barker offers up a belated sequel to his 2017 EP "Burning Bridges". This time round, he's in full-on funky re-edit mode, serving up reworks of a trio of little-known cuts. Opener "Get Down" is a rubbery, bass guitar dominated slab of synth-laden disco-boogie business rich in quirky female vocals and spacey chords, while "Camenergy" is a sax-laden stroll through chunky disco-funk territory in the company of a restless drummer and wired lead guitarist. Arguably best of all though is "Jam It", a multi-coloured P-funk romp tailor made for writhing dancefloors and suitably celebratory house parties.
Review: Curiously, we'll have to wait a while to hear the original version of Fabiolous Barker's latest release, "Grip My Hips", as it's not scheduled to appear in stores until late September 2019. Instead, the London-based Argentine producer has decided to serve up a remix package first. He kicks things off with a throbbing "Dub" mix that sees flash-fried, rush-inducing vocal samples and Nile Rodgers style disco guitar riffs rise above a masculine groove reminiscent of Lipps Inc classic "Funky Town". Fray Bentos takes over and offers up a fine disco-acid take full of psychedelic TB-303 lines, before RobJamWeb delivers a deeper, Italo-disco style take that's deliciously warm and woozy. Arguably best of all though is the mind-altering disco-tech stomp of Disco Funk Spinner's all-action "Club Mix".
Review: Ganbatte Records are a nu-disco / funk / re-edits label. Next up for the London based imprint is Argentinian act Ultratango, with a tremendous full length which explores the many shades of jazz music - both modern and classic using variety of musical approaches whether it be with skillful live execution or electronically alla Italo disco style. Beginning with the jazzy broken beat balearica of "Ojos Claros" (extended remix), the sexy samba derived aesthetic of "Tertulia" (extended remix) to the liquid drum & bass of "Hiphope" and the even the new jack swing influenced "Piccadilly". This fine chill-out opus will surely appeal to fans of top labels at the moment like Music For Dreams or Balearic.
Review: Fabio Barker's back on the boisterous Ganbatte imprint after that sweet, sweet LP he put out not too long ago; much to our appreciation, they've decided to launch a remix attack of the wonderful "Dance Dance Dance" number. The radio edit kicks off with a smooth cut of that lovely boogie swing at the core of the original - a true vintage disco revival piece - but there's much more old-school resurrection here, starting off with Evil Smaty's lovely piano house take, followed by Sare Havlicek's gnarly electro bass uplift which gives the tune even more fervour on the dancefloor. Slync's version is our favourite of the four remixes, a magnificent blend of melodic house and synth-heavy boogie, but Phil Disco's much dubbier take is certainly not to be underestimated either. A full-blown dance frenzy!
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