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Kraak
Review: An all-German release here from Greek label Kraak, as veteran funk/breaks/disco producer Quincy Jointz teams up with fellow countrymen Lenny Cesar and, on remix duties, Marc Spieler. 'Boogie Down', in its Original form, is a pleasingly chunky nu-disco/disco-house jam with an M1-like lead synth riff, strings and barely-there snatches of diva vocal, all underpinned by a rock-solid 4/4 kick and an understated walking bassline. Spieler then gets seriously piano-tastic on his rerub, so you end up with one mix (Spieler's) for those peaktime moments and one that's more of a builder. Job done.
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KRK 162
16 Feb 24
Disco/Nu-Disco
16 Feb 24
Disco/Nu-Disco
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
Review: UK-based Gallic twosome OR return with a single release on Greek label Kraak. 'Driving By Your Side' is presented in two quite different mixes. In its Original form, it's a laidback, lilting Balearic groover that's in no hurry to go anywhere very much, but is tailor-made for stretching out and closing your eyes against the sunshine. The accompanying Dance Mix, meanwhile, ups the tempo a few notches and introduces some pleasingly squelchy and 'Shaft'-ish funk guitar chops: again, a slow build-and-ebb approach is favoured over big room drama, but there's still enough energy here to get 'em moving without a doubt.
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KRK 161
20 Oct 23
Balearic/Downtempo
20 Oct 23
Balearic/Downtempo
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KRK 157
09 Jun 23
Balearic/Downtempo
09 Jun 23
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: With the Ibiza summer season just getting underway, the timing couldn't be better for this debut album from Radamant and McTo, which has 'Balearic' stamped through it like a stick of rock. 'Icaro Sessions' contains all three of the publicity-shy duo's previous three singles for Kraak - the Spanish guitar-flecked, Middle Eastern-tinged 'Camel Caravane Dance Moves', the headnoddin', skunked-out 'Dub Foggy Thoughts' and the dreamy late-night radiance of 'Footprints In The Sky' - and suffice to say if you were digging any of those, the full-length they come from should prove equally satisfactory. From the haunted Massive Attack-isms of 'Bad Spirits Go Away' to the soft focus ambience of 'Forest Brain' and the Morricone-esque 'Happy People Riding Horses', it's a downtempo lover's delight.
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KRK 158
09 Jun 23
Balearic/Downtempo
09 Jun 23
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Vito Lalinga, the mastermind behind Vi Mode Inc. Project, drops Storm featuring six tracks that blend a variety of musical styles, including tropical, Afro, funk, downtempo, and jazz. The album weaves together African and Latin American elements with western instrumentation, creating an authentic and innovative sound. With memorable melodies and percussive rhythms on every track, the organic quality of the release shines through, and the warm brass sections stand out as a highlight. Lalinga's ability to blend musical styles shines through, resulting in a unique and captivating release.
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KRK 154
07 Apr 23
Balearic/Downtempo
07 Apr 23
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Last year Greek label Kraak brought us 'Back In Time', a collection of eight of the best tracks produced for the label over the years by Heraklion-based Yiannis Mihelinakis AKA Lego Boy, and now here comes a second installment. 'Back In Time II' is sitting in our Balearic/Downtempo section and, yes, cuts like 'Sea Of Sadness' or 'Flying In A Mercedes Benz' capture that sundown-at-Mambo vibe perfectly. But several of the tracks would be equally at home on the Broken Beat/Nu-Jazz pages - notably 'Shadow Or Not', which has a blues-y trip-hop feel, and the more lounge-y 'One Step Away' - while there are excursions, too, into leftfield hip-hop (see 'Free') and into groovier, housier pastures (see 'Let The Spirit')... all of which adds up to one very pleasant hour of chilled listening.
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KRK 153
10 Mar 23
Balearic/Downtempo
10 Mar 23
Balearic/Downtempo
DJ Laurel feat Georges Perin
Review: Belarusian producer Lavr Berzhanin, AKA Dj Laurel, comes to Athens' Kraak label with a track starring Greek vocalist Georges Perin. The fruits of their labours are sitting on our Disco pages but would play just as well on soulful house floors, with 'What We Gonna Do' a midtempo chugger in which Perin's vocal sits atop a dense soundbed powered by piano chords and funk guitar chops. Jack Tennis turns up the brightness on the ivories and adds space disco stabs to give the track an uplifting, Ibiza-esque feel, before the EP's rounded out by 'Disco Toy', a struttier cut with more of an authentic 70s glitterball vibe.
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KRK 152
09 Dec 22
Disco/Nu-Disco
09 Dec 22
Disco/Nu-Disco
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
Review: An aptly titled EP here from Croatian producer Umbo, because the three featured tracks do indeed evidence a significant degree of stylistic variation. 'So Different' itself is an unhurried affair centering around a dusty funk loop, atop which are placed gently shimmering keys, understated brass and lightly fluttering guitars. 'Balkan Sunrise' rides a livelier backbeat but is otherwise a mellower cut with a distinct Mediterranean feel, while 'This Is The Way' features sonorous, slow-moving hand percussion, a looped female "this is the way it's gonna be" vocal and layers of Middle Eastern/Indian sounds. It all adds up to 19 solid minutes of very pleasant chilled listening indeed.
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KRK 150
07 Oct 22
Balearic/Downtempo
07 Oct 22
Balearic/Downtempo
Timewarp / Various
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
Review: Greek label Kraak brings us another collection of lower-paced electronic grooves. As it's the fifth volume, fans of the label will have a pretty good idea what to expect already, but for anyone who's new to the series, contained herein you'll find plenty for ammunition for your Balearic and post-club sets - think muted, ponderous beats, dusty old jazz samples, hazy synths, fluttering Spanish guitars, birdsong and ocean sounds. Things do pick up a little tempo-wise towards the end of the album, though, to the extent that DJ Mas Corazon's 'A Better Day' could even find its way onto soulful house floors.
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KRK 149
23 Sep 22
Balearic/Downtempo
23 Sep 22
Balearic/Downtempo
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KRK 148
24 Jun 22
Deep House
24 Jun 22
Deep House
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
Review: London-based French producer Olivier Garth is no stranger to the scene - his production career spans back 15 years or more, operating mostly in the tech-house, progressive and electro-house arenas. Here, though, Kraak re-issue a far more summery, housey-housey excursion alongside vocalist Lorena Dale that first came out back in 2016. The original track and its dub have been remastered for 2022, but perhaps the bigger news is the inclusion of two new downtempo rubs from OR that sit somewhere between Balearica, trip-hop and slo-mo early 80s electrofunk - expect to hear this muchly should you happen to be in the vicinity of any Iberican beach bars this summer...
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KRK 147
03 Jun 22
Balearic/Downtempo
03 Jun 22
Balearic/Downtempo
Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House
Review: Mellow Men are a loose musical collective headed up by Amor and Amir Jashari, better known as deep house stalwarts Kiano & Below Bangkok, and fellow Croatian DJ/producer Davor Osuskok. They've already had tracks and mixes out on such respected labels as Ready Mix Records, Haute Musique and DeepWit, and now they come to Greek imprint Kraak with a suitably laidback and, yes, mellow number that'd be tailor-made for poolside loungin' in Ibiza (or even on a deckchair on Bacvice Beach), and that comes accompanied by an even mellower rerub courtesy of label boss Angelos Stoumpos AKA Timewarp Inc.
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KRK 146
06 May 22
Balearic/Downtempo
06 May 22
Balearic/Downtempo
Played by: Juno Recommends Disco
Review: Following his impressive debut on Metronomic a couple of years back, DJ Mas Corazon makes his debut appearance on Greek label Kraak Records with the balearic nu-disco vibes of "Love Construction" and its gorgeous vocal throughout. Second offering "A Better Day" sees the New York City-based producer head poolside for more sun in the fun, on this low slung boogie-funk number that'll have you dancing well after sunset.
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KRK 145
15 Apr 22
Disco/Nu-Disco
15 Apr 22
Disco/Nu-Disco
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
Review: It may have taken 13 years, but Kraak regular Sundayman has finally delivered a sequel to his Balearic-minded 2009 debut album, Outerland. Packed with ear-catching contributions from guest vocalists and musicians, it's an album rich in both loose-limbed organic instrumentation (drums, bass, guitars) and heady, immersive electronics. This is downtempo music to close your eyes and get lost in, with highlights including the slow-burn symphonic shimmer of opener 'Circles', the warming synthesizer cycles and sub-bright melodies of 'Purple', the shuffling electronica Americana of 'A Little Little' and the ghostly, heart-breaking ambience of 'Microcosm'.
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KRKVL 001
18 Feb 22
Balearic/Downtempo
18 Feb 22
Balearic/Downtempo
Sundayman feat Anastasia Basta
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
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KRK 144
11 Feb 22
Balearic/Downtempo
11 Feb 22
Balearic/Downtempo
OR feat Andy Touch
Played by: Juno Recommends Disco, Juno Recommends Funk, Stephen Richards (DiscoDaze), Andy Buchan, Or
Review: Olivier and Roland, two French producers who've been based in London since 2000, team up once more with regular vocal collaborator Andy Touch. 'What Can I Say', in its Original form, has 'lazy Ibiza afternoon' written all over it, being a languid, laidback groove, a little spangled around the edges and featuring some fine jazz-funk guitar work and horns as well as Touch's vaguely indie-ish male vocal. The accompanying Dub essentially just strips out the latter, allowing the six-string and brass to come further to the fore and making it the pick for this reviewer. Nice n' easy does it...
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KRK 142
12 Nov 21
Disco/Nu-Disco
12 Nov 21
Disco/Nu-Disco
Review: A diamond within the expansive catalogue of labels like Timewarp and in particular, Kraak, the downtempo and exotic sounds of Medras return! Delivering an 11-track LP that delves into a classic '90s and early 2000s sound of chill electronica, deep Baelerica, trip hop and left-field house inspirations. A particular call out is the deep and melodic dancefloor jam that is "Lost" that appears next to more effervescent house numbers made for Ibiza like "Play With Me". With super-charged hip hop and IDM colliding in "This Is My Life", more disco-powered new wave sessions come through "Religion". Real name Christos Christogiorgos, aka Medras, also dives into a world of ethic timbres, rock, funk, folk and psychedelia influences that come through in album tracks like "I Wanna See You", "Mellow" and "Life Goes On".
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KRK 141
15 Oct 21
Balearic/Downtempo
15 Oct 21
Balearic/Downtempo
OR feat Manuela Hofer
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
Review: House, trip hop and funk in the mix with OR's Keep On Trying single for Kraak! Throwing down some warehouse beats, chugging grooves and badass bass licks in the house mix, slight tinges of disco push at the stratospheres of atmospheric house. Heavier broken beats and upfront synths give an edgier vibe to the Trip Hop mix with Manuela Hofer's breathy vocals adding that serine Cafe Del Mar touch. And for something a little more broken-beat with some '70s funk basslines, orchestral disco strings and layered keys, head on down to funky town.
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KRK 140
10 Sep 21
Balearic/Downtempo
10 Sep 21
Balearic/Downtempo
Played by: Juno Recommends Broken Beat Nu Jazz
Review: Kraak delivers a third and final archival release of Greg Vickers legendary Afternoons In Stereo project from back in the day. Backed by his jazz, ambient, breakbeat and trip hop influences, The City Is Sleeping gets downright adventurous on tracks like "The Road To Damascus", with its desert tuareg vibe conveyed perfectly by Arabic percussion and an otherworldly oud. "Sea Of Cortez" harkens to the Sergio Leone side of cinematica, all acoustic guitars and a dramatic solo that would make Morricone proud. Album centerpiece "How Does It Feel?" brings a huge beat and insistent funkiness, not to mention a sublime guitar solo courtesy of Oliver Schraa. Album closer "Waltz Of The Fellaheen" is a genuine waltz, set around ethereal brass and a haunting violin, and complemented by vibraphone and gorgeous french horn and flute solos!
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KRK 139
16 Jul 21
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
16 Jul 21
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
Review: Greek label Kraak bring us two downtempo cuts from OR, a French duo who are based in London. To say the title track is a languid, moody affair would be understating the case - imagine you're in a brooding 40s noir thriller, only everyone's on downers and wading through treacle, and you'll get the idea. 'Portobello' is definitely one for the headnodders and herbablists, then, but its pleasingly understated geetar histrionics do hint as what's to come on the accompanying 'Sunrise' - think Sabres Of Paradise or Nightmares On Wax dabbling in late 70s west coast jazz-fusion. None of which is a bad thing, by the way!
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KRK 138
02 Jul 21
Balearic/Downtempo
02 Jul 21
Balearic/Downtempo
Played by: Juno Recommends Disco
Review: Having previously contributed a number of killer cuts to Timewarp Music compilations, DJ Color C2 has been awarded the chance to showcase his productions via debut EP on the Greek label's Kraak Records offshoot. There's much to enjoy across the deliciously sunny and summery selection, from the glistening guitars and heady Mediterranean beats of 'New Paths' (which is also available in the sax-laden, slightly more house style 'Remix 21' form), to the flanged disco-funk excitement of 'Freak Day', the Italo disco/80s synth-pop influenced cheeriness of 'High Tight' and the bubbly Balearic electronica of 'Flight To Light'. Also worth a listen is the producer's collaboration with Luciano Nunes, a deep broken beat affair rich in heavenly keys, distant seagull calls and hard-wired Clavinet lines.
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KRK 136
04 Jun 21
Disco/Nu-Disco
04 Jun 21
Disco/Nu-Disco
Review: He first came to public notice in the early 00s serving up tuff, tribal house under his own name, but since then Canada's Greg Vickers has been turning out a neat line in funk, jazz-funk and soul as Afternoons In Stereo, under which alias he's released at least eight long-players to date. Here, Greek label Kraak reissue his AIS debut album 'Aural Pleasure', which first came out as self release in 2004, all digitally remastered and now with a couple of bonus tracks thrown in for good measure. If you're a fan of mellow grooves replete with brushed snares, jazz-funk geetar, mournful 80s sax and parping Hammonds, it really is the bomb - so if you missed it first time around, don't sleep now!
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KRK 135
14 May 21
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
14 May 21
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
Review: Olivier Cohen & Roland Vongo are OR - landing on Kraak with Le Funk. A French duo who met in London whilst roving the city's vibrant disco scene. Now the two combine in a wealth of knowledge and dancefloor experience which they show off in Le Funk De Demain. The original burns like disco should only to be kept at a simmer through sheer coolness! Furthermore, there's the chill mix that throws down some ice cold bassline funk, ad-lib percussion and clap tracks for that extra Kraak and smack effect.
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KRK 134
09 Apr 21
Funk
09 Apr 21
Funk
Review: Jazz, funk, house, disco, soul, afrobeat, swing, techno and broken rhythms: Vito Lalinga outta Italy does it all in this eight-track swipe at Kraak records. Bringing sweet Spanish guitar to numbers like "Khartum" or some undeniable jazz-funk to "Murder In Casablanca", you'll find a heavier riff and rhythm tracks in "In The Jungle". With a subtle touch of dub added to the walking bassline of "Sax Street", filter house without the filter makes it into "Scream & Shout" next to something overtly electronic and '90s lounge style in "Traveling At Night". Sweet broken beat numbers in "Suspense Time" too. Check it out!
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KRK 133
19 Mar 21
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
19 Mar 21
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
Review: Based in Suffolk, ActRaiser goes by Rob Sayles in real life, and until quite recently he was best known for a string of liquid funk releases on labels such as Fokuz, Celsius and Influenza Media. His fourth album, however, finds him back in the downtempo/chill-out territory where he started out - his 2011 debut album came out on Cold Busted. 'Short Stories' may be sitting in our Broken Beat/Nu-Jazz pages but you won't find too many 7/13 time signatures or pointless flute noodles here - instead think dreamy, soulful instrumental vibes from the Balearic side of the street. It's a little 'polite' in places, maybe, but easy on the ear all the same.
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KRK 132
19 Feb 21
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
19 Feb 21
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
Played by: Juno Download
Review: 2021 may have started as 2020 ended - I.E in a frighteningly dystopian manner - but Kraak Records regular Voodoo Child is in as cheery and positive form as ever, musically speaking at least. The producer's latest EP is breezy and attractive, offering a range of tracks that draw influence from both house and nu-disco. Check first the rolling riffs, sustained chords, ear-pleasing synthesizer flourishes and warehouse-ready house beats of 'Dub Me High', before backtracking to revel in the shimmering electronics and funk-fuelled nu-disco grooves of opener 'Transient Access'. Elsewhere, he reaches for bold synth stabs, bustling Afro-house beats and drowsy chords on '2 The Bone', while '2 Trumpets & A Beat' is a warm, woozy and undeniably huggable slab of nu-disco drowsiness.
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KRK 131
15 Jan 21
Deep House
15 Jan 21
Deep House
Review: Emanouil Kourtikakis's mCurtis project presents a second full length album called Faro following the artist's debut long player Yomi of 2018 (which was sweetly remixed by a Kraaking cast of producers in 2019). Delving into deeper beat making territory in tracks worth highlighting like "Hofn Giak" and the subdued yet groovy nu-jazz number "Blue Penguin", easier vibes like "Bane" go down like smooth cognac next to the smokey sounds of "Draw A New Picture" feat Serbian vocalist Nina De Lianin. Find some extra bass pops and spritzy atmospheres in "L Agua" alongside the hip hop and funk experimentations of "Spark" with vocals from US rapper Lost Poet and live trumpets from Lunar Moods. And for some sidewinding free electro and ambient jazz sessions head straight to "Defiled Panacea".
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KRK 130
04 Dec 20
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
04 Dec 20
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
Review: Indulging in forms of dancehall and reggae to lovers rock, deep house, balearic strings and downtempo grooves, New Yorker Ted Ganung arrives on Kraak with Instrumental Insight. Turning in a solid four-track dose for the Greek label, Ganung throws down some mean strides of urban street and hip hop flavours in "New Kicks" next to some rhode-driven and summer, tropical twang in "Oracle". Feel the breeze. Subtle R&B elements next to some wobble dubstep bass make it into "Truthfulness" with tougher two step vibes in lead track "Instrumental Insight". Get some.
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KRK 128
23 Oct 20
Balearic/Downtempo
23 Oct 20
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Kraak outta Greece introduces new artist Mosek to its roster with a set of dubbed out minimal beats and loops thanks to a sweet cast of remixers that help interpret the ambient, jazz and bliss vibes of the original. Across the single Mosek's "Soulitude" receives touches of footwork in Foenix's version with some higher tempo percussion and two step rhythms boosting Fokus' hook. Lazy Los Angeles summer vibes in Lego Boy's remix with Funky Boy going deep and atmospheric with a slice of space cowboy twang to his mix.
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KRK 127
31 Jul 20
Balearic/Downtempo
31 Jul 20
Balearic/Downtempo
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
Review: Based in Heraklion, Crete, Lego Boy goes by the name of John Mihelinakis in real life. In his Lego Boy guise, though, he specialises in laidback, leftfield grooves that draw on a wide range of influences, from world music to electronica. 'Free' is a looping, Lemon Jelly-esque affair that marries a sitar (or slide guitar?) to a rap-style female vocal, 'Across The World' sits somewhere between Burial and art-pop, 'Fly Away' is a blissed-out, summery affair with deceptively uptempo percussion, and 'Loneliness Can Make You Feel Empty' veers towards prog-breaks territory while sporting an Indian-style vocal. An eclectic and engaging listen.
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KRK 126
26 Jun 20
Balearic/Downtempo
26 Jun 20
Balearic/Downtempo
Various / Timewarp
Review: The ever reliable balearic, downtempo, deep house and acoustic ambiance connoisseurs Kraak outta Greece deliver Downtempo Vol 4! Standout tracks include the shake and crackle percussion of Stiko's remix to MCurtis, to the dubbed-out, uptempo and piano driven ambient house of "Galaxy Groove". Pablo Mat delivers two slower, cool electro-jazz and guitar sessions with some Afro-inspirations coming from the vocal loops and polyrhythms of Timewarp's 'Iboga Ritual". Look to Medras' "Sound In My Head" for some extra guitars and folk elements alongside two slow burning disco numbers from Vito Lalinga (Vi Mode Inc. Project). Snap, Krakkle 'n' pop.
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KRK 125
17 Apr 20
Balearic/Downtempo
17 Apr 20
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Vito Lalinga delivers his third record to 2020 already with this four-track EP for Greek label Kraak. It was 2018 when Lalinga made his debut on Kraak's parent label Timewarp and since then the artist has given his jazzier, soulful and percussive take on music to labels like Legofunk and Sound Exhibitions. For Kraak he sends in Black Spirit Planet, a record that dives into funky and ambient jazz territory that reach their peak in lead track "Spiritual Space" alongside the flute and samba sessions of "Brazilectro", the rhode and strings driven "Walk My Way", and the mellow tribalisms of "No Future".
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KRK 124
28 Feb 20
Balearic/Downtempo
28 Feb 20
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: In the beginning, as we all know, there was Jack. Yes, it's another run-out here for Chuck Roberts' famous acapella from 1987, with 'In The Beginning' served up in four mixes which, being titled Disco Mix, House Mix, Instrumental Mix and Percapella Dub, are by and large fairly self-explanatory! It's the Disco Mix that stands out, though, with its 'Funky Town'-like bassline, Rodgers-esque guitars and happy hands-in-the-air Italo-house pianos, while oddly titled bonus cut 'Funk Off It All 2019' recalls the punk-funk likes of A Certain Ratio, ESQ or Liquid Liquid at their intense, claustrophobic best.
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KRK 123
15 Nov 19
Disco/Nu-Disco
15 Nov 19
Disco/Nu-Disco
Review: Ever-prolific Italian producer Laligna (Sound Exhibitions/Timewarp) comes to Greece's Kraak stable with this seven-track long-player. Recent EPs from Laligna have variously explored Afro-house, nu jazz and straight-up retro funk territories, so it's unsurprising that for this 'album proper' he's serving up a blend of all those influences and more. The dark, rumbling 'Galaxy Groove', for instance, fuses deep house and jazz-funk, while 'Alien Love' brings the Latin-tinged Balearica and the lively 'In The Fire' would work on soulful house and funk floors alike. Overall it's an enjoyable, largely instrumental listen, particularly for those who don't like to get stuck in any one groove for too long.
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KRK 121
20 Sep 19
Funk
20 Sep 19
Funk
Review: Timewarp man Angelos Stoumpus is a hard man to second-guess. He has a passion for turning his hand to different - if complimentary - styles, regularly switching from electro, funk breaks and disco to deep house, downtempo grooves and even dusty ambient. On his latest album-length excursion, Stoumpos effortlessly joins the dots between warming house, intergalactic jazz-funk, dark and spacey percussion workouts, acid-fired techno-jazz, trance-inducing space disco and grandiose ambient techno. It's an unusual but hugely entertaining fusion of sounds and styles, with highlights including "Into The Drum (Fast Version)", "Hukuro" and the sweaty "Morning Drums (Remix)".
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KRK 120
23 Aug 19
Deep House
23 Aug 19
Deep House
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
Review: Argentina's Pablo Mat comes to Greek label Kraak with his debut long-player. The album opens with the ambient 'Orbita' before taking a left turn into Balearic funk territory with 'Voyager' (think Willie Hutch remixed by ALFOS), which sets the tone for the whole album. 'Windows', for instance, alternates melancholy beats-less passages and complex jazz drums, while title track 'Gravedad' itself is essentially a straight-up jazzer with ambient overtones and closer 'Calling Dream' takes us into deep prog territory. Despite the interesting melange of styles there's nothing hugely ground-breaking going on, but fans of downtempo Balearica will find much to enjoy all the same.
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KRK 119
19 Jul 19
Balearic/Downtempo
19 Jul 19
Balearic/Downtempo
Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House
Review: Since dropping his last solo EP on Kraak five years ago, Voodoo Child has been releasing "nu-disco, nu-funk, downtempo and abstract hip-hop" under another "top secret" alias. This return to action under his original alias is therefore well overdue. There's plenty to set the pulse racing throughout the four tracks. Check first melodious Afro-house opener "Iboga Ritual", where attractive Kalimba lines and whistling synthesizer motifs wrap around a bouncy, polyrhythmic drum machine groove, before moving on to the Afro-fired nu-disco dreaminess of "Ogun (Part 1)". Elsewhere, "Up To No Good" sees the producer pepper a matter-or-fect electronic house groove with chanted vocal snippets and trance-like synthesizer motifs, while title track "H.O.P.E" is a bubbly and bouncy electronic house cut with colourful synthesizer riffs and a genuinely glassy-eyed lead vocal.
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KRK 117
24 May 19
Deep House
24 May 19
Deep House
Review: Vi Mode Inc Project main man Vito Lalinga doesn't like to get tied down musically. In the last six months alone he's released expansive EPs that variously touch on Cuban music, fiery funk breaks, nu-jazz and disco. It's the latter sound that he returns to on this sequel to summer 2018's "Black Spirit Project". There's plenty to get the juices flowing throughout, from the jazz-funk tinged warmth of opener "Attack On Earth" and Clavinet-sporting "Ethnic Deep" (a mid-tempo fusion of reggae and disco with plenty of other World music references), to the harmonica-heavy swamp funk chug of "Blues In The Sky" and Chic-influenced bounce of "The Right Time".
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KRK 114
22 Mar 19
Disco/Nu-Disco
22 Mar 19
Disco/Nu-Disco
Review: With a back catalogue that goes back two decades, Timewarp aka Angelos Stoumpos is a hugely experienced producer. However, for his latest release, he has sifted through his old tapes to deliver unreleased material from the late 90s. Despite the passage of time, these tracks have aged well; "DarkOff" is a dusty break beat affair, littered with repetitive vocal samples, while on "Phatmatic", he explores the kind of loose beats and low-slung bass that would previously been called trip-hop. Further showcasing his versatility, "Second Quest" is a moody, tranced out breaker, while on "Jazzpie", he delivers a chugging, Rhodes-heavy groove.
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KRK 113
08 Feb 19
Electro
08 Feb 19
Electro
Various
Review: Greek label Kraak, part of the Timewarp family, serve up a third collection of laidback grooves for your post-club chilling pleasure. Thankfully there's a bit more variety on offer than your standard-issue 'Ibiza chill-out' comp, with tracks ranging from the epic, mournful southern soul of MCurtis's opener 'Kiboo' (feat Hugo Kant & Daphne Bluebird) to the lazy, jazz-inspired deep house of Kiano & Below Bangkok's 'Now', via the sundown bliss of North Coast Vibes' 'Soul Time', the Blaxploitation funk of Vito Lalinga's 'Bitter Taste', the drifty Balearic prog of Jay Papa's 'A Touch Of You' and more. Dive in!
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KRK 112
04 Jan 19
Disco/Nu-Disco
04 Jan 19
Disco/Nu-Disco
Review: After digging through his old backup files, Mister Timewarp (aka Angelos Timewarp Stoumpos) managed to recover these unreleased gems he made back in 1995 - 1998, and he now presents a new volume with another five deep/dirty techno grooves on Minimal Trippin. They finally see the light of day more than 20 years later. Highlights on this extended EP include the old school rave energy of "Back Age Techno", the adrenalised trance energy of "Techno Freak" (KickME mix) or the darkened warehouse stomp of "Techno Freak" that is perfect for those heads down moments on the dancefloor.
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KRK 111
07 Dec 18
Minimal/Tech House
07 Dec 18
Minimal/Tech House
Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House
Review: Like its two predecessors, this third volume in Angelo "Timewarp" Stoumpos's "Deep Diggin Grooves" series gathers together more unheard cuts produced by the Greek party-starter during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It's an action-packed eight-tracker, with Stoumpos flitting between breakbeat-driven tooled-up deep house ("Tea" parts one and two), psychedelic breakbeat-house ("Tea - Dynamo Mix"), spacey, techno-tempo tech-house ("008"), Italo and freestyle influenced main room house ("Hypertouch" one and two) and particularly potent San Francisco style dub house ("Green Tea"). It's all pretty good, to be honest, with all eight archive tracks sounding fresh despite their relative vintage.
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KRK 110
09 Nov 18
Deep House
09 Nov 18
Deep House
Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House
Review: Kraak Records offers up a second selection of "Deep Diggin Grooves" by Timewarp, AKA long-serving Greek producer Angelos Stoumpos. Like its predecessor, the eight-track set is entirely made up of previously unheard cuts produced by the multi-talented DJ and musician during the late 1990s and early 2000s. There's naturally plenty to enjoy, from the funk-fuelled acid bass and shimmering early UK tech house chords of opener "Where Da Funk", and the mind-altering dancefloor psychedelia of rolling deep house number "Deep At The Hole", to the snappy drum machine hits and Motor City techno influences of "4Fun". The drowsy, slowly shifting late night bliss of "Xamos O" is also worth a listen.
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KRK 109
05 Oct 18
Deep House
05 Oct 18
Deep House
Played by: DJ Lukas
Review: Athens based Kraak Records present Angelos Stoumpos aka Timewarp: a veteran producer who has been super busy producing music since the late '80s. His first releases took place a decade later in 1999. He has been experimenting with various forms of electronic music - from techno and house, to ambient, trance and drum and bass. After finding old tracks on his computer, he managed to recover these unreleased gems he made back in the day. Most of these tracks a definitely a zeitgeist of the period, when electronica and breaks were the trend - and of course UK tech house. It's the latter where he really excelled - as best heard on the dynamic opener "Warm Before Get Cold" or the fluid and hypnotic "Something New For U", while "My House Is This" goes for a deep and minimal vibe instead.
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KRK 107
24 Aug 18
Deep House
24 Aug 18
Deep House
Review: This year Vito Lalinga has been somewhat prolific, releasing a string of solid EPs on Timewarp and Sound Exhibitions. This time round, he pops up on Greece's Kraak label for the very first time. Highlights are plentiful throughout, from the slap bass propelled nu-funk-meets-jazz-funk sunshine of "I'll Be Good To You Baby" and solo-laden Bob James tribute "Bitter Taste", to the rich, mid-tempo nu-disco bounce of "Chill Speech" and constantly rising Afro-disco/nu-funk fusion of heavy-hitting workout "Afroinvasion". Elsewhere, "Ghetto Space" is a deliciously positive, piano-sporting disco-funk roller underpinned by rolling house drums, and "I Got To" is a Clavinet-sporting peak-time workout rich in lapsed hip-hop vocals and jammed-out solos.
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KRK 106
10 Aug 18
Disco/Nu-Disco
10 Aug 18
Disco/Nu-Disco
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KRK 104
25 Jun 18
Funky/Club House
25 Jun 18
Funky/Club House
Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo
Review: Kraak Records is a sublabel of Greek label Timewarp, that aims to explore new forms of modern electronica. Their mission statement: electronic sounds without limits, borders and musical styles! Athens based Medras is back with a full length album here. Soft and Tough is deeply entrenched in the downtempo genre, but when you listen to it in its entirety, you realise he is influenced by a great variety of music styles. From trip hop and chillout electronica, to rock, soul, dub and house. From the bittersweet trip hop of "Believe In Me", the hazy/dubby soul funk of "Dubwise" to the ethereal blunted beat journey of "Around The World" and the sultry deep house groove of "As My House", there's a wide variety of mood and grooves to keep you enthralled throughout its entirety.
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KRK 102
06 Apr 18
Balearic/Downtempo
06 Apr 18
Balearic/Downtempo
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KRK 100
15 Dec 17
Deep House
15 Dec 17
Deep House
Review: There's no need to rush things in January, it's a grim time so best to take it slow, stay in bed. Greece's Beat Ride have the right idea - release these four trip-hop infused jams that sound like they were recorded from underneath the duvet. "Wake Up" is a lazy roller with a rap from The Mage, "Another Bad Day" boasts Bassey-esque vocals from Antigoni Kostala, "People" is all cinematic strings and epic beats, but it's the perky easy listening stomper "Dreamers" that's the most likely to get your feet back on to the floor.
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KRK 090
11 Jan 16
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
11 Jan 16
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
Timewarp / Various
Review: As the matter-of-fact title suggests, Mixing & Remixing gathers together a selection of the finest reworks from hard-working Grecian producer Angelos "Timewarp" Stoumpos. He stamps his now familiar 'nu-disco meets deep house' style over tracks from Quiet Fire, Noetic Nega and Gabriel Rocca, occasionally diverting to pay tribute to funk-fuelled hip-hop (the slick, synth-heavy old skool revivalism of his take on Morlack's "Let's Go Jamming"), and lay down some tougher, more obviously house-centric reworks. Of these, it's his version of "Hr Tichy" by Shanti Roots and Scheibosan - a dubby tech-house chugger full of exotic, Middle Eastern strings - that really hits the spot.
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KRK 089
23 Nov 15
Disco/Nu-Disco
23 Nov 15
Disco/Nu-Disco
Review: Grecian nu-disco/funk fusion sort DJ Steevo has long been a familiar part of the Athens scene, both as a DJ and a producer. This, though, marks his solo debut for the Kraak label after providing remixes and additional production for releases on Timewarp and Pump The Cat. First up, he joins forces with Soundshaker on "Funk Lover", a pleasingly bubbly, cheery and melodious fusion of shuffling house rhythms, bright nu-disco synths and subtle funk guitars. He doffs a cap to P-funk on the synth-laden hustle of "Sunset Groove", before sauntering into more classic nu-disco territory on the sparkling, deep house influenced "Black Revolution".
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KRK 088
30 Oct 15
Disco/Nu-Disco
30 Oct 15
Disco/Nu-Disco
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KRK 081
29 Dec 14
Deep House
29 Dec 14
Deep House
Review: After a string of freebies on Cold Busted, Russian duo Bar F6 step over to Timewarp associates Kraak with their first full EP. Three originals, two remixes, myriad vibes, A Photo Frame certainly establishes the duo's abilities with more clarity than anything they've done before; the title track is a sludgy, dubby gem that struts and breezes with star-gazing pensiveness, "Over & Over Again" is a choppier, jazzier sunshine vibe while "Dancefloor" sees the Russians in a slinkier, shimmering peaktime mode. Remix highlights include Quincy Jointz sultry swing on "Over & Over" and Jazz K Lipa's slick D&B repurpose of the title track. Those pianos!
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KRK 078
15 Sep 14
Funky/Club House
15 Sep 14
Funky/Club House
Review: Hot on the heels of the Down To The Music package and the Revolution Is The Only Solution album, Funky Destination lay down more sun-kissed originals. "The Sweetest Sin" is an upbeat, jack-happy funky house gem that's soaked in organic elements. Big organs and bigger strings, it's an audio injection of concentrated feel good. Further on, we hit three big remixes of the loopy, guitar-twanging party-packer "Come On Now" and end on the slower, G-funk style "La Di Da". Surged with west coast, Funkadelic flavours, it will liven any party you play this summer. Guaranteed.
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KRK 075
12 May 14
Funky/Club House
12 May 14
Funky/Club House
Review: There's something quite old school about Athenian chillout producer Aris Kokou. Maybe it's the '90s Mediterranean sounds on the azure synth sheen of "Sweet N Low" which is undeniably blissful. These calming vibes continue on the xylophone-led trop-hop of "Earth Glow" but elsewhere we get blazed on the mellow '90s RnB of "Out Of Control" and also get a glimpse of his classical training on the jazzy "Untitled".
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KRK 074
31 Mar 14
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
31 Mar 14
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
Played by: Alessandro Otiz
Review: Greek label Kraak is fast becoming a label to watch. Its blends of electrofunk, nu-disco, funk and deep house are rarely less than enjoyable. There's certainly much to admire about this three-track release from longtime friend of the label Alessando Oritz (aside from the title, which is a little bit naff). Opener "Everywhere I Go" sets the tone, layering sublime P-funk synths over a chunky, saxophone sporting nu-funk groove - all heavy bass and swinging house beats. "I Got Your Back" moves further towards deep disco house territory, making great use of live instrumentation and some extra-soulful vocal samples. Finally, Stefan L lends a hand of the jaunty, disco-house saxophone wig-out "Make Me Feel".
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KRK 072
27 Jan 14
Disco/Nu-Disco
27 Jan 14
Disco/Nu-Disco
Review: De Riguer is the current alter ego of veteran chillout guy Mike Reger. This Brooklynite has been recording under various names since beginning in Washington back in the '90s. Here he delivers five delicious slices of cool pie, highlights of which include the hazy '60s jazz-out of "A Break For Monday", the shuffling, dreamy, vocodered funk of "Give It To Me Niceup" and the eccentric Afro/bleep/dub hybrid "Dubbleys 10 Steps To Redubbery".
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KRK 069
28 Oct 13
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
28 Oct 13
Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
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KRK 068
14 Oct 13
Dub
14 Oct 13
Dub
Review: With a wider artistic remit than its re-edit/nu-disco oriented parent label Timewarp, Athens' Kraak Records have snapped up mysterious producer Rey B for four slices of electronic disco. They over-riding vibe here is of glossy, immaculate sunkissed Eurodisco. Layers of glistening synths wash over tough electro-house beats like sun cream over tanned hardbodies, with retro 80s-style melodies cascading like poolside cocktails. All four tracks will have you pining for a phantom holiday you never actually had, but it's the open-topped sports car ride thrill of "Pretend" that does it for us.
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KRK 067
30 Sep 13
Disco/Nu-Disco
30 Sep 13
Disco/Nu-Disco
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KRK 062
04 Feb 13
Disco/Nu-Disco
04 Feb 13
Disco/Nu-Disco
Various
Played by: George Kelly, Timewarp, Valique, Trotter, Alessandro Otiz, Dynamicron (Los Grandes/Our Nights)
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KRK 055
06 Aug 12
Disco/Nu-Disco
06 Aug 12
Disco/Nu-Disco
