Teach You (Erobique remix extended version) - (5:39) 123 BPM
Come On (Piano mix) - (5:06) 126 BPM
Electric Boulevard - (5:55) 131 BPM
Review: Thanks to a righteous debut EP that brilliantly joined the dots between Moroder style machine-disco and shirts-off Italo-disco, hopes are sky-high for this speedy sequel from rising star Gome (real name Stefan Lindblom). Interestingly, he's altered the blueprint a touch this time round, mining boogie and piano house for inspiration. He kicks things off with the pleasingly sleazy, P-funk fuelled electrofunk workout 'Teach You', whose risqu? spoken word vocals are as seductive as they come, before following it up with the sparser, slap-bass sporting 'Erobique Remix'. Elsewhere, 'Come On (Piano Mix)' is a giddy and rushing slab of old school piano house/acid house fusion, while 'Electric Boulevard' is a deep, TB-303 and vocoder-sporting electro number.
Review: There's plenty to get excited about on this selection of 'lost mixes' from the vast back catalogue of Toy Tonics' parent label, Gomma. Check first Pete Herbert and Tristan Dan Cunha's retro-futurist, proto-house-meets-Balearic nu-disco rework of The Glimmers' 'U Rocked My World', before moving on to In Flagranti's all-action, peak-time ready take on Golden Bug's 'LookLookLook'. The Ep continues via a now 22 year-old rework of Leroy Hanghofer's 'Pin' by Jacques Lu Cont and John Burillo - a brilliantly low-slung house workout featuring punk-funk bass and colourful boogie synth flourishes - before concluding with a killer dub disco take on the KDMS' 'Never Stop Believing' courtesy of NYC disco original Nicky Siano.
Review: At 21 years old, Digital Inval is one of the youngest producers to release on Toy Tonics to date. There's much to enjoy on the Moscow-based artist's debut EP, with highlights including 1980s synth-pop-influenced opener 'I Want To Dance' - all Behaviour-era Pet Shop Boys chords, Bobby Orlando arpeggio bass, stylish lead vocals and smooth drum machine beats - the hard-wired old school piano house meats nu-disco sparkle of 'Muzyka (Extended Mix)' and the shimmering, synth-laden dancefloor throb-job 'Motion'. Good Timin' main man Jex Opolis provides two stunning remixes of 'I Want To Dance': a bubbly, acid-flecked, Fairlight stab-sporting fusion of freestyle and Shep Pettibone style dance-pop (the '89 Mix') and a throbbing, trance-tinged take (the '99 Mix').
Review: Session Victim's last couple of vinyl-only releases have been blissfully Balearic affairs. While undeniably impressive and well worth checking, their latest EP - a rare outing on Toy Tonics - is a much more club-ready affair. They start in typically confident fashion with 'Chunky Dip', a constantly-building house loop jam crafted from various disco samples (think Soundstream, and you're close), before opting for a warmer, looser and more organic, Afrobeat-influenced sound on the warm and sunny 'MPFree Now' (which also boasts some superb old blues-rock samples). 'Hide & Seek' is an ultra-deep chunk of smoky late-night jazz-house/deep house fusion, while 'House In The Hills' is a drowsy mid-tempo number that joins the dots between Balearica, heady ambience and loved-up deep house. Quality... as usual!
Review: Toy Tonics latest signing, Gome, is a Hamburg-based duo who make, in their own words, "good mood music inspired by the 1980 Italo and Munich disco vibe". In practice, that means cheery and colourful cuts that combine electronic instrumentation with jammed-out electric piano riffs, rubbery bass guitar and the odd dash of funk guitar. It's a winning formula all told, with highlights including the jazz-funk-goes-nu-disco warmth of opener 'Fever (of the Night)', the sub-heavy, beatbox electro flavours of 'Bier and Gold (Vocoder Jam)' (not to mention its accompanying extended take with added German rap) and the proto-house-meets-late-80s smoothness of 'Shrimp Cocktail Part 2'. Classy and colourful... what's not to like?
Review: Sam Ruffillo has barely put a foot wrong since debuting on Irma Dancefloor back in 2018, with fine contributions to Boogie Caf?'s Bologna on the Move EP being followed by a string of releases on Toy Tonics. His latest missive is naturally rather impressive too, mixing his usual jazz-funk-tinged house colour with nods aplenty to turn-of-the-90s Italian house. 'Danca Organica' is a breezy, feelgood piano house number straight from the top drawer, 'Es Buena' is a slick and soulful slab of Mediterranean house warmth and 'Perfetta Cosi' is as bold, beautiful and colourful as you'd expect while retaining the artist's famed bottom-end strength. The EP also boasts two remixes: a jazzy nu-disco-goes-deep house tweak of 'Perfetta Cosi' by Gome, and a throbbing, Italo-disco style Musumeci re-wire pf 'Danca Organica'.
Review: There's much to enjoy about the ninth volume in Toy Tonics' ongoing Top Tracks series, which showcases much played, sought-after highlights from the label's rapidly growing catalogue. The standard of material on show is uniformly excellent, from the warming and organic broken dancefloor soul of Cody Currie's compilation opening 'Moves' and the sparkling piano house retro-futurism of COEO's 'I Can Never Be Yours', to the Amp Fildder-esque deep house soul of Rhode, Brown & Kosmo Kint's 'Through The Night', and the good-time, carnival-ready dancefloor sunshine of Sam Ruffilo's disco-tinged 'Es Buena'. Throw in a couple of killer cuts from jazz pianist-turned-deep house don Joel Holmes, and you have a seriously good compilation.
Review: One of the main selling points of Athlete Whippet's first Toy Tonics outing is the pair's distinctive trademark sound, which combines elements of Berlin deep house/tech house with interestingly programmed beats and heaps of UK jazz-funk/jazz fusion instrumentation. For proof, check out the two collaborations with vocalist Aphty Khea, the deep, bouncy and soul-soaked 'Yesterday' and the dreamy broken beat/Balearic boogie fusion of 'Can't Make My Mind Up'. Elsewhere, title track 'Vesta' brilliantly joins the dots between kaleidoscopic synth-funk, driving dub disco and fluid deep house, while 'Fanfa' is a heavily percussive deep broken beat number with a strong Brazilian flavour. In a word: superb.
Review: Martinique-raised, France-based producer Fenyan is a genuine rising star with a deep, soulful sound that impressively joins the dots between broken beat, dusty house, Zouk, Afro-house and tropical beats. For his debut EP following a few contributions to compilations, the sometime professional dancer has joined forces with enough talented artist on the up, Berlin-based American soul vocalist Kosmo Kint. The results are deep, soulful and rhythmically impressive, with warming instrumentation, punchy beats, toast bass and emotive lead vocals catching the ear. Our pick of a very impressive bunch is bouncy, ultra-deep workout 'Break Your Rules', though broken house bomb 'Take Of' and the effortlessly groovy 'Da Real' are also top-notch.
Review: Kapote's first Mushroom House compilation for Toy Tonics, released last year, did an admirable job gathering together some of the most cosmic, psychedelic and Balearic-tinged nuggets in the vast Toy Tonics catalogue. This "indie-Afro-weirdo" focused sequel (as they put it) follows a similar script, though this time the percentage of unreleased tracks is far greater. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, from the drowsy, Afro-influenced deep house jazziness of Harry Wolfman's 'Upstream (2021 Version)' and the chunky, Marimba-laden Afro-house bounce of 'Night Masquerade' by Vito & Druzzi, to the slo-mo disco haze of Kapote's own 'Besamo Fly (2021 Version)' and the feverish, percussion-rich quirkiness of Art Alfie's 'Do the Conga'. Throw in some killer remixes by Joe Clausell, Red Axes and DJ Sprinkles, and you have a genuinely essential compilation.
Review: Having previously worked alongside Cody Currie on two terrific EPs, GRAMMY-nominated pianist and producer Joel Holmes has gone solo on this latest outing for Toy Tonics. As you'd expect given his credentials, Osmosis really is a fantastic collection of cuts. Check first opener 'It Feels Good', a fluid, warm and effortlessly soulful number that brilliantly joins the dots between Detroit deep house (think Moodymann, Theo Parrish and Amp Fiddler) and chunkier NYC flavours, before turning your attention to the deep, woozy and fluid 'Playing With My Mind', which boasts some great Kaidi Tatham style keys and synths. 'Pose' boasts a more bass-heavy and thickset groove alongside Holmes usual starry synths, while 'Got To Survive' is a sparkling slab of jazz-funk/soulful house fusion.
Review: Following his recent trans-Atlantic collaboration with Felipe Gordon on Shall Not Fade, Cody Currie returns to Toy Tonics with a swathe of guest musicians and vocalists in tow. Perhaps the most notable number - and given the quality on show, that's saying something - is 'Moves', a deliciously deep and jazzy vocal broken beat number featuring Eliza Rose that Currie later re-imagines as a Latin-tinged chunk of jazz-house heat (track five). There's plenty to get the pulse racing elsewhere across the EP though, with highlights including 'LS Anthem', another musically rich bruk-up workout featuring Andy K and Ally McMahon, and the toasty deep house soul of 'When The Time Is Right'. Impeccable.
Review: Last year, Kapote joined forces with regular home Toy Tonics to release Teutonik Disaster, a compilation of his own re-edits of late '70s and early '80s, "German new wave funk". 12 months on he returns to the same label with a new collection, Mushroom House, which boasts a mixture of Balearic, Afro and cosmic-influenced cuts from the imprint's vaults. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, from the rubbery, dubbed-out Afro-house bounce of Ponty Mython's 'Slippin' Into Darkness' and the dusty Afro-disco haziness of Munk's 'Nigerian Jam', to the intergalactic electro trip of the Asphodells' killer remix of 'The Circular Path' by the Deadstock 33s, and the deep space Italo-disco chug of Baldelli's sparkling 'Phobos (2020 Version)'.
Review: As the title suggests, this wonderful EP from COEO pays tribute to the glory days of early '90s piano house. If you've been struggling through the current global pandemic, we guarantee that all four tracks will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Our pick of a very strong bunch is 'Hyperactive', where bold piano stabs, style synth-sax motifs, New Jersey garage style organ chords and a rubbery, all-action bassline ride a sweaty and chunky, hip-house style rhythm. There is of course much to set the pulse racing elsewhere across the EP, from the deliciously deep, loved-up and glassy-eyed wonder that is 'I Can Never Be Yours', to the acid-fired bustle of breakbeat-driven closing cut 'Bliss'.
Review: Four tracks by the mighty Phenomenal Handclap Band get remixed by the great and the good of the disco scene. Danny Krivit's Edit and Instrumental Edit of 'Let Out On The Loose' have a synth-y, epic feel, while Ray Mang's take on 'Judge Not' is the rumpshaking order-to-dance it was always gonna be. Cooper Saver's breakbeat house remix of 'Riot' is perhaps the most dramatic of the reworks on offer, while David Bay's Remix and Extended Remix of 'Do What You Like' are the most faithful to the original - but as that track was one of the strongest songs on the band's recent album, that's not a problem.
Review: Young Italian DJ/producer Sam Ruffillo recently staked his claim to being "one to watch" by contributing two brilliant, musically expansive tracks to Boogie Caf? Records' essential "Bologna On The Move" EP. Here he provides further proof of his "rising star" status via a debut EP on Toy Tonics. It's an assured and surprisingly mature EP, with Ruffillo adding all manner of neat, often jazz-funk-influenced musical touches to a thickset deep house groove on opener "Ride My Bike" and the jazzier, more percussive dancefloor bliss of "Midnight Funk". "Playa Bola" is a dreamy and drowsy slab of organic deep house soul rich in electric piano solos, while "Surf Ways" sees him pepper a seductive house groove with warm chords and playful flute solos. In a word: superb.
Review: They've been teasing it for a while, but finally New York disco fusionists Phenomenal Handclap Band have finally released the new album we've been promised for some time. Somewhat remarkably, "PHB" is their first full-length excursion for nine years. Bringing together recent club hits ("Remain Silent", "Judge Not" and "Jail") with a string of similarly ear-pleasing songs, the set's 11 tracks mix a loose-limbed NYC disco sensibility with nods towards arpeggio-driven nu-disco, chunky funk-rock, summery electrofunk (see the rather delicious "Do What You Like"), dreamy pitched-down pop ("Travellers Prayer"), gospel and Daft Punk-ish cheeriness (the radio-friendly goodness of "Riot"). As you'd expect, the arrangements, performances and production are all top notch, with even the more sanguine songs coming laden with DJ-friendly percussion breaks and heavyweight sections guaranteed to rock dancefloors.
Review: Magou is apparently a new alias for a producer who is "very well known in the contemporary disco scene". We've no idea who it may be, but we can safely say that all four tracks are luscious blends of 1980s synth sounds, the loved-up colour of Italian dream house, and the rolling grooves of deep house. Opener "Sample Dream" lives up to its title by turning a saucer-eyed 80s soul gem into a chopped-up synth-house masterclass, while "Clockwork Lemon" joins the dots between acid, tactile synth-pop and electronic disco while retaining a suitably loved-up vibe. Elsewhere, "More More More"is a slap-bass heavy loop-house gem in the style of Tiger & Woods, and "Heather's Body" is a bubbly, electro-sampling treat.
Review: London producer Cody Currie and American jazz pianist Joel Holmes first joined forces on 2019's "New Chapter", a brilliant EP that effortlessly joined the dots between dusty deep house, jazz-funk and Kaidi Tatham style broken beat. This speedy follow-up is arguably even better. They begin with the organic deep house soulfulness of "Love We Feel", where Holmes' wonderful vocals and keys-work rides loose-limbed beats and a warm bassline, before inviting a cast-list of guest vocalists and musicians to lend a hand on the futuristic, spoken word-sporting deep house/jazz-funk fusion of EP highlight "Metropolis". Elsewhere, "Shitz Cool" is a glassy-eyed shuffle through spacey, ultra-deep house dreaminess, while closing cut "Direction" is a deliciously positive, rich and life-affirming dance through musically expansive soulful house goodness.
Review: Since last appearing on Toy Tonics two years ago, Felipe Gordon's profile has risen considerably, thanks in no small part to well received outings on Black Jukebox, Quintessentials and Razor 'N' Tape Reserve. His return to the popular imprint is of course a successful one, with each of the four tracks proving particularly alluring. He begins with the drowsy, blues-sampling cut-up deep house bump of "Wait On Me", before reaching for the crunchy disco drums, cowbells and funky bass guitar on the Holy Ghost-goes-house vibes of "El Meloncito". Elsewhere, "The Semimodular Bird of Jazz" is a fine bit of dusty deep house/jazz-house fusion, while "Definitely and Completely Mayor" is a slightly off-kilter dancefloor work out rich in poignant pianos and quirkily swung drums.
Review: French outfit Mangabey team up with New York vocalist Kosmo Kint on two tracks that blur the boundaries between deep house, Balearica and neo-soul. On 'Time No More', Kint's R&B vocal, which recalls the likes of Usher or Shaun Escoffery, tops a languid, west coast-tinged deep house groove, while 'Get Lost' is a more laidback, summery affair with echoes of 80s pop. And if the vocals are a step too far into R&B pastures for you, don't worry, because both tracks also come complete with instrumental mixes, allowing the arps on 'Time No More', in particular, to really shine through.
Review: Since joining Toy Tonics last year, the Phenomenal Handclap Band has served up some of their greatest material to date. Predictably, their third outing for the label is another winner. You'll find the band's original mix of "Remain Silent" - a wonderful slab of off-kilter revivalist disco rich in attractive lead vocals, authentic instrumentation and spacey synths - tucked away at the end of the EP. The headline-grabbing remixes once again come from Ray Mang, whose "Extended Mix" and "Instrumental Mix" both offer a slightly tighter, polished-up feel that's arguably more suitable for club spins. The EP also contains rather good "Remix" and "Dub" takes from Superpitcher which subtly strip the track back and give it a more spaced-out dub disco feel.
Review: For the uninitiated, Joel Holmes is a GRAMMY Awards-nominated American jazz pianist. It's somewhat of a surprise, then, to see him collaborating with deep house rising star Cody Currie on Toy Tonics. We're glad the collaboration has happened, though, because the resulting EP is exceptionally good. Check, for example, "Beyond The Stars", a wonderfully warm, loose and organic deep house cut rich in improvised scat vocals, hot-to-trot electric piano solos and heady jazz-funk bass, and the ambidextrous broken beat bustle of "A New Chapter", which is every bit as inspired as anything made by Kaidi Tatham or Dego. Elsewhere, "Blue TV Screen" is a deliciously jazzy deep house bumper and "Theme One" is an even deeper and warmer dancefloor excursion with tons of great solos from the effervescent Holmes.
