Review: Whether under his own name or as Manolo, Helsinki's Roberto Rodriguez has chalked up over 50 releases - including outings on the likes of Compost, Plastic City, Lazy Days and Freerange - and now comes to Rare Wiri with a new offering that's available in two quite different mixes. The Original rides a rock-solid midtempo 4/4 kick and a fat, squelchy analogue synth bassline, augmenting same with sci-fi synths and brass stabs, and is a sure bet for peaktime nu-disco stomping. The analogue drums, bass guitar and reggae-ish guitar chops of the Paper Street Soul remix, on the other hand, bring a mellower vibe altogether.
Review: A quick trawl of social media and music sites reveals little about Manolo's true identity - assuming he/she is neither a beauty salon in Swansea, nor Mr Blahnik taking a day off from cobbling! - but here the mystery producer comes to Rayko's Rare Wiri with an unhurried throbber that sits right on the nu-disco/Balearic cusp. With resonant bass, a sparkling top line and dreamy male vox it's plenty playable, but if pushed my money would be on Sauco's remix, which adds a little dancefloor oomph and, dropped at the right moment, could well inspire a few hands-in-the-air moments...
Review: Rare Wiri bring us remixes of four tracks culled from two previous Manolo EPs, March's 'Amalfi Drive' and May's 'Paseo Maritimo'. Ilya Santana gets the ball rolling with a typically spangly, 80s-inspired take on 'Phobos', before another Mediterranean disco legend - label boss Rayko, of course - steps up with a dark, broody and chuggin' take on 'Paseo Maritimo'. Sauco's remix of 'Amalfi Drive' stands out for the decidedly Yellow Magic Orchestra-esque otherworldly synth that shimmers along at the top throughout, before finally Super Fu's remix of 'Away' drops the tempo considerably to play us out on a hazy, Balearic note.
Review: Four synth-y nu-disco jams make up Helsinki-based Roberto Rodriguez AKA Manolo's new EP for Rare Wiri. 'Amalfi Drive' sets the tone, a druggy, chuggy affair that blends Balearic and Italo influences with a hint of jazz-funk, then tops the lot with a soulful male vocal loop. 'Phobos' and 'Paseo Maritimo' are both in a similar vein but a little more obviously floor-friendly, and would have sounded right at home in Rimini or Ibiza Town circa 1989-90, before closer 'Away (For Too Long)' drops the tempo to a crawl - definitely one for those post-club chillin' sessions.
Review: Make no mistake, the Italo/cosmic Force is strong in this one! In its Original form, 'Amalfi Drive' is a fairly straightforward nu-disco cut, albeit with the aforesaid 80s influences clearly in evidence. But it's when it's handed over to cosmic pioneer Daniele Baldelli and partner-in-crime DJ Rocca for remixing that the magic happens: hardcore Italo/cosmic lovers will fiend for their Iosso Remix, but it's their Arda Remix, which has hints of both progressive/melodic house and (if you listen closely) Ozric Tentacles-ish rock guitar wails, that's probably got the broadest dancefloor appeal.
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