Review: Chicago soul vocalist Donnell Pitman made his recording debut in 1969 and for a long time was best known for a couple of sought-after boogie rarities released in the early 80s. In recent years, though, his team-up with Wings Of Sunshine and the Star Creature label has seen his star shining brighter than ever before - so much so that his debut album 'Brand New Funk' will be with us in May. But for now, there's this four-track sampler. Slick, soulful 80s boogie stylings are the order of the day generally, though the standout to these ears is 'Joog With Me', which rocks a slightly rawer, Rick James-like funk vibe.
Review: A three-way team-up here between Windy City disco/funk/boogie veteran Donnell Pitman, whose career stretches back to the early 80s, and comparative upstarts Wings Of Sunshine and Liquid Pegasus, who hail from Chicago and California respectively. First out in 2018, 'Joog With Me' has the feel of classic early 80s funk from the likes of Cameo or Defunkt but with modern production values, and so should slot into DJ sets alongside vintage or contemporary cuts with equal ease. To ensure maximum playability it comes accompanied by a matching instrumental, while the package is completed by the more smoochy and soulful 'Do You Wanna'.
Review: Russian Balearic beats specialist A Vision of Panorama (real name Mikhail Khvasko) has recorded deliciously sun-soaked music for plenty of labels over the years, though he seems to save his best for boogie and synth-funk revivalists Star Creature. Here he drops his third EP for the popular imprint, and predictably it's another very strong showing. Opener 'Piano Sunset' is simply sublime: a colourful, sun-bright slab of Balearic boogie brilliance smothered in colourful FM synthesiser melodies, jaunty keyboard riffs and mazy piano solos. 'Lost In Palms', meanwhile, sees the St Petersburg-based producer effortlessly join the dots between Balearica, jazz-fusion and jazz-house via loose-limbed jazz breaks, warming bass, kaleidoscopic synth stabs and snaking solos aplenty.
Review: Given the label's love of 1980s dancefloor culture, we shouldn't be surprised to see them present Saucy Lady's latest must-check missive as a 'Giant Maxi Single'. In practice, that means presenting the Boston-based Japanese artist's latest chunk of colourful '80s soul nostalgia in a range of different mixes. Her original mix - gorgeous, summery, colourful and full of mid-80s FM synth sounds - is accompanied by a trio of reworks. E-Live steps up first, opting for a subtly funkier take marked out by thicker synth-bass and more spacey-sounding melodies, before Saucy Lady delivers the 'Dreamix' - a more driving, proto-house-influenced affair with heavier drums and echoing synth sounds. An instrumental pass of the same version completes a rock-solid 'maxi single'.
Review: A five-tracker from Giovanni Damico here that, as tends to be his wont when he's not making straight-up house tracks, draws on a melting pot of influences - Afro, 80s boogie, Italodisco, pop and electro, to name but five - to come up with something that's truly original and unique-sounding. It might take a few listens to sink in, but stick with it because there's a definite infectiousness to the grooves contained herein. Boogie lovers should head for 'Night Time', while if you're more into all things Afro then 'More Cowbells' would be a good place to start.
Review: Brooklyn boy JKriv teams up with Japanese-born, Boston-based vocalist Saucy Lady for this accessible slice of pop-flavoured nu-disco. Atop crisp beats and a pleasingly warm and full electronic bassline, the synths sparkle and shimmer while Saucy Lady brings us a lyrical message of positivity and hope - "we can make that change/love rather than hate". It's all superbly crafted, but if the original's too poppy for you then let me politely point you in the direction of the B-side's dub, where some fine brass comes further to the fore, along with some very light-touch Levan-esque wonk.
Review: Definitely the poppiest release in this writer's reviews pile this week, but don't let that put you off because 'pop' isn't inherently a dirty word, is it? Not when it's done well, at least, and this most certainly is. In terms of overall mood we're somewhere between 'Balearic' and 'dream pop' territory here, with sugar-sweet, almost PC Music-ish fem vox and lots of sweeping, soothing synth washes, with the sing-song vocal phrasing on 'Throwaway' nudging it just ahead of the pack to these ears. Haters gonna hate, no doubt, but listen without prejudice and you'll find some delicate gems tucked away herein!
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