Review: From post punk new wave kids to lawyers with surfboards, Passion Theatre is originally a group that peaked out of a mid-80s synth pop scene. Passion Theatre only ever released the two EPs which Spacetalk Records have exhumed from legend to spoil on a new generation. With long desired sleeper hits by Passion Theatre receiving new light through remasters of tracks like "Vacation Day", the band's sound can be described as something between Devo and No More with a slight Balearic, tropical touch. Undeniably '80s if you're thirsting for that original taste of the day, and, fun fact: "One of the nicest things about the renewed interest in our music," Passion Theatre says, is, "we can now enjoy it for what it is - back then we were a bit too worried about succeeding."
Review: The latest must-have compilation from crate-digging label Spacetalk comes courtesy of little-known record collector and DJ Ilan Pdahtzur, a man who enjoys nothing more than strolling around the City of London at night listening to obscure Italo-disco, synth-heavy Balearic beats and dusty, hard-to-find synth-pop cuts. The tracks on "Night City Life" are some of his night-stroll favourites and, as you'd expect, are uniformly superb. Our highlights - and you may have others - include the rubbery instrumental boogie business of 1 Plus 1's "Coming Up For Air", the late night NYC freestyle brilliance of Jarmaz's "Night City Life (Dub)", the low-slung boogie-funk/synth-pop fusion of Mac & Monica's "You're So Good To Me" and the insanely intergalactic, synth-laden thrills of Brian Tatcher's "Hot Love (Instrumental Dub Mix)".
Review: Crown Ruler Records co-founder Jeremy Spellacey is highly regarded within the crate-digging community, primarily for his ability to sniff out copies of obscure - but, naturally, high quality - boogie-era disco records from Africa and the Caribbean. On this fine compilation, Spacetalk has offered the New Zealander the opportunity to showcase some of those finds, alongside a smattering of better-known favourites and more recent cuts (see Mike Fabulous's overlooked modern boogie gem "Wang East"). Predictably, Spellacey has delivered the goods, serving up humid, exotic and loved-up gems galore, including the fluttering brilliance of Stimela's "I Love You", the marimba-laden Balearic boogie of Feladey's "Forest Music" and Devon Russell's impeccable reggae-soul cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up".
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