Filter
Gomma
Browse the latest digital releases on Gomma
Review: On this second volume in their ongoing Disco Jams series, Gomma has decided to focus on tracks that ripple with the synthesizer-heavy sunshine sheen of nu-disco. Of course, there are still nods towards low-slung dub disco - see he spiraling synthesizers, electric bass and trippy electronics of the GB's "Lucky in Vichy" - but for the most part it's a rubbery, positive and heavily electronic affair. We're particularly enjoying the warehouse nu-disco strut of Pete Herbert and Tristan da Cunha's remix of the Glimmers "U Rocked My World" and authentic '80s P-funk bounce of Munk's "Down in L.A" (as remixed by Shazam), though the slow and spacey synth-pop of Nancy Whang and Etienne de Crecy's "Comme Un Aigle" is almost as impressive.
Played by: Dicky Trisco, Juno Recommends Disco, In Flagranti, BRENDON P, CHEWY RUBS, Hober Mallow, LEGO EDIT, Hard Ton, Stephen Richards (DiscoDaze), Sould Out
Review: While more often associated with punk-funk and dirty Italo style dancefloor workouts, Gomma's vast back catalogue contains a string of disco and boogie-inspired gems. To highlight the fact, the label has decided to release a series of EPs featuring some of its finest "Disco Jams". This first installment begins with a fine WhoMadeWho interpretation of Munk and LCD Soundsystem founder James Murphy's Sly Stone style growler, "Kick Out The Chairs", before charging into dub disco-meets-proto-house territory via In Flagranti's "In The Silver White Box". There's another chance to admire Dimitri From Paris and DJ Rocca's Prelude Records tribute, "Eros Disco Theme", while original NYC disco don Nicky Siano channels the spirit of Loose Joints on his fantastic rework of KDMS's "Never Stop Believing".
Played by: Dicky Trisco, Mirror People, Don Dayglow, Juno Recommends Disco, DIONIGI, Limpodisco, 80's Child, Somerville & Wilson
Review: Here's something to cheer: the first EP from Dimitri From Paris and DJ Rocca's collaborative Erodiscotique project following the release of last year's superb debut album on BBQ Japan. As usual, their inspirations and musical reference points tend towards the vintage. Opener "One For Frankie", for example, smothers a vintage Chicago house groove with the kind of dreamy, positive and melodious musical flourishes that were a hall mark of Frankie Knuckles best productions, while "Zanzibar" pays tribute to the bustling, percussive, synth-heavy pressure of early '80s NYC and NJ "proto-house" productions. "Don't You Feel The Same", on the other hand, wraps sweet Balearic synth lines around a chunky, "French Touch" style disco-house groove.
Review: Any release from Munich's mighty Gomma label requires the listener to sit up and listen at the very least. This release requires the listener to hop on the nearest table and dance! Okidoki (a duo comprising Jesse Rogg and Rob Rox) has enlisted the talents of disco singer Gavin Turek for "I Want You", a slick, smooth and elegantly produced slice of 80s boogie inspired goodness. Jont joins them for "Got Milk", a way deeper excursion into synth-drenched disco-house. If edgier sounds are more your thing, check Xinobi's cool and moody electro house rework of the lead track.
Review: According to Gomma's PR blurb, Barotti is a "much talked about multimedia artist based in Berlin". While well known in Europe for his performance art and sound instillations, this is his debut single. There's something classically beautiful about the atmospheric, ultra-deep house of "She Might Know", which expertly combines analogue gear, sinewy orchestration and his own hazy, occasionally gruff vocals. There's a more broken, alien feel to "She Might", where glitch-tronica influences rub shoulders with twinkling pianos and more clandestine vocals. A quietly impressive package is completed by a rough, acid-laden rework of "She Might Know" by Ostgut Ton and Live at Robert Johnson regular Massimiliano Pagliara.
Review: On Bearsong, Gomma label bosses Munk and Telonious have decided to commission new remixes of two tracks from experienced Danish producer Hess Is More's 2014 album Myheadisaballroom/Whoneedsaplaceanyway. Given that it was recorded with a full band, and rooted in jazz and leftfield disco, there's plenty for remixers Dimitri From Paris, Pollyester and Lorna Dune to work with. Dimitri offers two disco-heavy takes on the cheery "Iamnotaprimate", with the percussive, spaced-out Dubwise version impressing most. Pollyester's take on the same track - all bubbling electrofunk synths, rubbery disco bass and eccentric vocals - is, if anything, even better. A solid package is completed by Dune's deep, woozy and pleasingly sweet synth-pop remake of "Bearsong".
Played by: Jay Ru
Played by: Disco Doubles
Played by: Juno Recommends Minimal Tech
Played by: Borgie
Review: Has there ever been an instance with pop duos of the moody, out-of-focus-bloke-at-the-back actually being the singer and the pouting glamour puss female being the socially uncomfortable producer boffin? We doubt it, but some rules aren't meant to be broken. Hotlane know this and just get on with the music instead. "On My Own" is a lovely slice of deeply seductive Europop and appears in many remixed guises too, the best of which being DJ Steef's off-kilter Balearic groover and Ricardo Baez's pristine glacial house effort.
Played by: Chris Massey
Munk feat Mona Lazette
Played by: Tronik Youth
Played by: In Flagranti
Played by: Jeremy Glenn
Review: Ever a reliable outlet for the newest of nu-disco, Gomma once again come up trumps with this record from Justin Robertson's more synth-wave influenced project. The original is a dynamic and immaculately realised pop jaunt fit for early Depeche Mode, not least in the stoutly English vocals. Ewan Pearson gets a snappy house framework around the key elements of the track, never so in his element as reworking a bombastic vocal tune. The "Club" mix focuses on a serious dose of acid intent with a hint of electro house a la Tiefschwarz, and Disco Bloodbath turn out an unbeatable slice of Chicago precision.
Played by: Tad Wily
Review: Gomma has already exceled at inhabiting the grey area between underground dance music and pop. Mercury proves adept at following this proud tradition; "Man" starts with heavy, clanging drums and a dark, sinewy bassline, but then out of nowhere a soulful vocal appears to proclaim "I'm a man, that's all I am", before Mercury sends the arrangement back underground with the niggling bass. "Born Happy" is of a similar disposition; the underlying rhythm is more rolling and is infused with infectious disco filter, but it'll really stand out thanks to the black vocal sample that intones: "I'm happy, I'm carefree, I was born this way". It could be Gomma's own maxim.
Review: Munich-based studio boffin Moullinex quietly impressed with his recent debut album, the jaunty and synth-heavy Flora. Here, he delivers extended, club-friendly versions of six album staples. His style - bubbling, smile-inducing nu-disco with just the right balance between electrofunk revivalism and synth-heavy house - is best expressed on the chunky "Deja vu", but there are plenty more reasons to be cheerful. The snappy, loose-limbed "Let Your Feet (Do The Extra Work)" is a cheery, stab-laden delight, while "Flora" is almost unbelievably upbeat (and all the better for it). There's also some joyous, piano-laden house shuffle in the shape of the grinning "Sunflare", and a rubbery chunk of cheeky synth-funk ("Hypnotize") that's almost impossible to dislike.
Played by: Marco Febbraro, Spiller, Kid Who, Max Riolo, Kelvin Andrews, DIONIGI, Salon Acapulco, Kono Vidovic, Meggy
Review: To date, Italian wonky disco revivalists The Barking Dogs have released a serious amount of material in a relatively short space of time. This four-tracker for Gomma, though, is arguably their strongest to date. While it still bears the sonic hallmarks of their Italo-fixated work, it sits somewhere between analogue disco and shuffling deep house. Amsterdam producer Tom Trago contributes barely audible vocals to the dubbed-out analogue deep house shuffle of "Your High", while fellow Dutchman Young Marco adds some excellent keys to the late night oddness of the EP's standout track, the epic, alien-sounding "Margherita". There's also some ragging, mutated strangeness in the shape of electro-disco weird-out "Ebony".
Played by: Pat Lok (Homebreakin/On The Fruit)
Review: For reasons not made clear, the esteemed Gomma label collared Peaches and decided to record some cover versions of tracks from the back catalogue of the iconic Casablanca Records label. Purists might sneer at the mere idea of this concept but the end products are undeniably fun (and its refreshing to hear Ms Nisker actually sing as opposed to, you know, act like Peaches). Moullineux step up first with a burning punk funk rendition of Flashdance's "Maniac", whilst Telonius' take on Donna Summer's "Our Love" gets bonus points for having Mr Harold Faltemeyer on keys! Other highlights in the eight track include Munk's chunky disco funk take on the Stephanie Mills classic "You Can't Run From My Love" whilst the ever excellent Phenomenal Handclap Band embellish the Halloween standard "Walk The Night" with their own distinct brand of loose limbed funk.
Played by: 4T4, Combo (Bangana/Sumo), Irregular Disco Workers, Martin Brodin, LA ROYALE, THINGS HAPPEN
Review: Morgan Geist's remixes usually hit the spot, and they're a surefire way to prick our attention. Here, he offers similar vocal and instrumental takes of The KDMS's "Tonight", a chunky, string-laden nu-disco effort that sounds like a European take on Escort at their most electronic. MG's mixes bring out the synth-pop elements of the original, successfully layering up vintage synths, analogue basslines and just the right amount of disco guitar. They're more "Double Night Time" than "Muira" or "Look Right Through", but that's no bad thing. Felix Martin also remixes, delivering a straight-up nu-disco workout that should appeal to synth-inclined house DJs.
