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Toy Tonics
Browse the latest digital releases on Toy Tonics
Played by: Fouk
Review: Gee Labe won plenty of plaudits for his Toy Tonics label debut, 'Metamorphosis', when the EP dropped back in October 2023. Hopes are naturally high then for the Barcelona-based Venezuelan's speedy sequel. She hits the ground running with Mabreezee hook-up 'Monkeys', where squelchy synth-bass, dreamy chords and even more soulful vocals wrap around an extra-percussive mid-tempo house groove. New York combo Musclecars join forces with Kamaal to deliver vocal and instrumental takes that successfully re-cast the track as a slab of broken beat/Italian dream house fusion. Completing a fine package is bonus cut 'The Fourth', where Lane rushes off on a 1989 style piano-sporting, breakbeat-driven house tip.
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TOYT 159
19 Apr 24
Deep House
19 Apr 24
Deep House
Review: Last time we heard from Toy Tonics boss Kapote (real name Matthias Modica), he was offering up a updated and reworked version of his 2019 debut album, What It Is. 'Electric Slide', his latest EP, showcases his first all-new original solo music for almost five years. Our pick of the bunch is energetic opener 'The Party', a percussion rich romp rich in heady party atmos, densely layered drums, addictive electric piano hooks and a propulsive bassline. Naturally, there's plenty to set the pulse racing elsewhere across the EP, from the subtly proto house-influenced, hands-in-the-air joy of 'The See Me' and the thickset deep disco house flex of 'The Come On', to the kaleidoscopic nu-disco elasticity of 'The Slide'.
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TOYT 161
29 Mar 24
Deep House
29 Mar 24
Deep House
Review: After a run of rather impressive releases late last decade - including a fine album on Dekmantel - Stump Valley ceased releasing music around the time of the Pandemic. Here the Italian-Ukrainian duo return to action via a Toy Tonics label debut. They begin in confident fashion via Ready In LED hook-up 'Everytime', a suitably sunny, piano-and-organ rich slab of early '90s Italo-house revivalism topped up with lusciously loved-up vocals, before joining forces with vocalist L Renee on the mid-90s MIK-influenced garage-house excellence of 'A Bun Dance'. To complete the package, we're treated to some kaleidoscopic and melodious deep house joy ('Lunatica') and instrumental mixes of 'Everytime' and 'A Bun Dance'.
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TOYT 158
16 Feb 24
Deep House
16 Feb 24
Deep House
Review: Hot on the heels of their self-titled debut LP, a riot of punk-funk, mutant synth-pop and post-punk dancefloor workouts, Amsterdam outfit Baby's Beserk have been given the remix treatment. It's an interesting and highly entertaining collection all told, with Nikolas Wandt's inspired 80s Italo-goes-acid house revision of 'Eat Your Dollar' being followed by an excitable 80s electrofunk style interpretation of 'Rum 'N' Kola' courtesy of label regular Sam Ruffillo and a throbbing dark synth-pop re-wire of 'Rum 'N' Kola' by Each Other. To round off the EP, Kris Baha goes all angular, analogue and new wave on a stylish version of 'Glassy Towers', while Nicolini provides a delightfully low-slung, dub disco-meets-punk funk tweak of 'Eat Your Dollar'.
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TOYT 149
08 Dec 23
Disco/Nu-Disco
08 Dec 23
Disco/Nu-Disco
Review: South Londoners Athlete Whippet find their way back to Toy Tonics following a collaborative drop with Amy Dabbs on Aus Music earlier this year. Turning in something polished and produced with soaring synth lines, massive walking basslines and 909 kick drums with weight, "Release Me" features beautiful, multilayered vocals by Allysha Joy, known for her solo work on labels like Gondwana and First Word but also for being the voice of Australian cult outfit 30/70. Cut from a similar cloth is "U Look At Me" with its vocal hook, live synthstrumentation and starry arpeggios. Known for exploring the more playful side of house music and those genres around it - Athlete Whippet's serve the tonic.
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TOYT 154D
10 Nov 23
Deep House
10 Nov 23
Deep House
Various
Played by: FINGERMAN, Juno Recommends Disco, Juno Recommends Deep House, G-Blaster (Memorie Cluster), Detroit Rising
Review: Toy Tonics' latest release is a captivating collection of tracks originally introduced to the world via the German Gomma Records label during the years 2001 to 2010. Back then, Gomma stood as a pivotal figure in the Y2K indie dance movement, alongside luminaries such as James Murphy's DFA and Trevor Jackson's OUTPUT Records. Toy Tonics has taken it upon themselves to revive these early 2000s gems, with tracks encapsulating the raw, indie disco and punk-funk vibes that were the lifeblood of the party scene during those vibrant days. Gomma's influence was profoundly felt in off-location clubs like SCALA and RIO in Berlin, London's TRASH and 333 parties, to iconic Parisian clubs like Kill The DJ and Paris Social Club.
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TOYT141X
27 Oct 23
Disco/Nu-Disco
27 Oct 23
Disco/Nu-Disco
Played by: Juno Recommends Disco
Review: Toy Tonics may be renowned for delivering delicious deep house and kaleidoscopic nu-disco, but the label is not averse to mixing things up - as their championing of Baby's Beserk, a contemporary four-piece inspired by a mixture of 1980s new wave, 90s indie-dance and post-punk posturing, emphatically proves. The band's self-titled debut album does a great job in setting out their sonic vision, where stylised male and female vocals rise above a mixture of low-slung bass guitar, sharp analogue synth sounds, delay-laden drums, proto-house pianos, woozy drum machine rhythms and dark, clandestine electronic textures. It sounds like it could have been made at some point between 1979 and '83, which of course is entirely the point, but with enough freshness to dispel any thoughts of hollow nostalgia or 21st century revivalism.
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TOYT 147
29 Sep 23
Disco/Nu-Disco
29 Sep 23
Disco/Nu-Disco
Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House
Review: It's hard to find a more original mid-west American sound than that of the don Kai Alce. Responsible for the NDATL Muzik label, and with records on FXHE and Mahogani Music across his career - he now lands in mainland Europe for a fully fledged release on Munich originating label Toy Tonics! Getting wavey with Rhodes and synthy sax in "Slide It In", Alce keeps it spacey, jazzy and sketchy in "Space Skat N Dat". Dryer keys make it to the front of some shuffling percussion in "New Life Livin", with heavier deep house vibes landing in "Rough Sands". And for that bonus rhythm section, check out the instrumental that is "Strollin Thru Barcelona".
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TOYT 152
08 Sep 23
Deep House
08 Sep 23
Deep House
Various
Review: Toy Tonics' self-explanatory 'Top Tracks' compilations are not only a great way of keeping track of what the label has been up to over the previous 12 months, but also a superb source of guaranteed floor-fillers and underground anthems. Volume 11 in the series is naturally packed to the rafters with high-grade treats, with our picks of a super-strong bunch including the sun-soaked disco-not-disco brilliance of Art of Tones' remix of Sam Ruffillo's rap-sporting Italian house gem 'Mind & Soul', the bumpin', mid-90s NYC house style excellence of 'Work 2 It' by Sound Support, the low-slung, jazz-funk tinged brilliance of Kapote's 'The Body Move', a thrillingly bouncy Dan Shake rub of his Cody Currie collaboration, 'Cash', and Esa's melodious, early '90s South African house-inspired 'Club Dub' of his own 'Brigada', featuring Barbara Boeing.
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TOYT 155
18 Aug 23
Deep House
18 Aug 23
Deep House
Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House
Review: Julian Marks and Robin Townshend, the duo behind the Gome project, are back on Toy Tonics with a new EP. The EP features the title track, "Elevator Man", which is a wonderfully warming and infectious chunk of samba-tinged deep house/Balearic nu-disco fusion. The track is piled high with attractive synth sounds, loose-limbed Latin house drums, and evocative spoken word vocals. Mike Dunn and Telephones take their turn to revisit "Elevator Man" with some big remixes. Mike Dunn's remix is a rolling, piano-sporting Chicago deep house tweak, while Telephones' remix is a kaleidoscopic take that joins the dots between vintage Italian dream house and tactile Balearic house. The Gome EP is a must-have for fans of deep house, Balearic nu-disco, and anything in between.
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TOYT 137
28 Jul 23
Deep House
28 Jul 23
Deep House
Review: Guiseppe Fimiani may be best known for his excellent re-edits as BPlan, but he's also released original material under that alias too. Here, though, he's decided to release music under his given surname for the first time, pitching up on Toy Tonics with an EP that joins the dots between American, Latin and Italian house sounds of the 1990s. This hybrid sound is exemplified by the piano-powered, Spanish vocal-sporting peak-time deep house release of opener 'Believe In Yourself' and the salsa-soaked joy of 'Amore Latino', where fluid piano solos ride a chunky house groove. Elsewhere, 'Melana' is a more percussion-laden excursion with live bass and a breathy, 'Sueno Latino' style spoken word vocal, 'Jungle Trouble' is a fine fusion of booming bass, bustling beats and sparkling piano riffs, and 'Vita Lenta' is a pitched-down, jazz-funk influenced disco jam.
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TOYT 151
21 Jul 23
Deep House
21 Jul 23
Deep House
Review: Following a string of collaborative EPs, Kosmo Kint goes solo to deliver a debut album piled high with effortlessly soulful vocals and colourful, synth-powered musicality. Of course, joint productions still feature - Sam Ruffilo makes his presence felt on two tracks (including the sparkling deep house synth-soul of 'Invincible', which also features Kapote), while Zac Tenebaum stamps his authority on 'Magic' and 'The Formula' - but there are far more solo works amongst our bulging list of album highlights. These include the deep, drowsy and soulful two-step garage brilliance of 'Only Gets Better', the seductive R&B/neo-soul wonder of 'Happy Ever After' and the subtly disco-influenced vocal house of 'Fake Love'.
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TOYT 140
26 May 23
Deep House
26 May 23
Deep House
Review: Don't be misled by the title here... this EP from Curitiba-based Barbara Boeing proudly displays her Brazilian musical heritage for sure, but wishy-washy sambas and lounge-y bossa novas are conspicuous by their absence, with all of the EP's three tracks and five mixes rooted firmly in house music. Opener 'Brigada', for instance, pairs shakers and maracas to a hefty dark garage organ line, then gets sprinkled liberally with piano. 'Brasiliana' itself is a dreamier affair with something of an 'E2-E4'/'Sueno Latino' kinda feel, before 'Bailo De Silencio' marries exuberant sax to pounding drum machine beats that nod to favela funk.
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TOYT 148
26 May 23
Deep House
26 May 23
Deep House
Review: Cody Currie has established himself in the music scene with notable labels such as Razor N Tape, Classic, Shall Not Fade, and Toy Tonics. His Lucas LP from last year showcased his talent, and now the label has released a feel-good remix package featuring renowned artists. Dan Shake's remix of "Cash" delivers a tough-bumpin' version, while Sam Ruffillo and Kapote amp up the funky elements of the track. Following is the British multi-instrumentalist Kaidi Thatham delivering a soul-charged rendition of "Money," while Jamie 3:26 takes the track deeper with a sweet Moog bassline that is sure to get the crowd grooving.
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TOYT 143
21 Apr 23
Deep House
21 Apr 23
Deep House
Played by: C. Da Afro, DJ LAUREL, FINGERMAN, ROMANTO (YSR / DISCO MACHINE), Disco Tech (DiscoDat), Juno Recommends Deep House, Tonbe, J&M BROTHERS, Rayko, Fred Everything, Philippa, Thrills, G-Blaster (Memorie Cluster), Shaka Loves You, BRENDON P, VIGI, Andy Buchan, Saint-Loup-en-Bray
Review: Lorenz Rhode and Dam Swindle's Lars Dale have joined forces to create Sound Support, a brand new collaborative project. Their debut release is a must-have for house music enthusiasts, featuring an impressive collection of peak-time ready tracks that will get you moving. The title track, 'Higher,' seamlessly blends chunky disco-house loops with warm, jazzy-funk flavors, reminiscent of the Sound Stream era. 'Bump Into You' is a stirring disco-house anthem with an epic string arrangement that's just waiting to take center stage. 'Work 2 It' offers a nostalgic, bassline-driven, warehouse-ready track that will transport you back in time. 'The Rock' rounds off the release with a fusion of boogie synths, electro-funk basslines, deep house chords, and rolling drums.
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TOYT 146
07 Apr 23
Deep House
07 Apr 23
Deep House
Review: It's not often that a popular album returns in lightly tweaked and re-edited form, but that's exactly what's on offer here. The original 2019 version of Kapote's debut album, 'What It Is', was a genuine gem, but this 'lightly reworked' new edition is, we believe, even better. For proof, checked the hushed, TB-303 sporting jazz-funk-goes-loop-house flavours of 'Jaas Func Haus'' the carnival-ready, electric-piano sporting dancefloor sunshine of 'Brasiliko', the bouncy and loose-limbed excellence of 'Salvation' (whose rubbery bassline is an addictive delight), the organic 21st century jazz-funk-goes-electrofunk headiness of 'Fusion 79' and the wonderfully warming organic house delight that is 'LOVE'.
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TOYT090-2DL
10 Mar 23
Deep House
10 Mar 23
Deep House
Played by: Darren Clark, ROMANTO (YSR / DISCO MACHINE), Juno Recommends Deep House, Rayko, Fred Everything, Todd Terry, G-Blaster (Memorie Cluster), BRENDON P, The Magic Track
Review: Italian house and disco producer Sam Ruffillo has three EPs for Toy Tonics under his belt, and now here come the remixes of 2022's 'Brooklyn Tapes'. The standout for yours truly is Art Of Tones' Extended Remix of 'Mind & Soul', which tops a jaunty, nagging keys riff with a Tyree Cooper-esque rap vocal, while Eli Escobar's take on 'Just Fine' vaguely recalls the more soulful end of UKG circa 1999. But in Ruffillo's own words, "these tracks are house and electronic funk but they're also rap, R&B and disco," so if any of that sounds like your bag, dive on in!
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TOYT136RMX
17 Feb 23
Deep House
17 Feb 23
Deep House
Review: We generally shy away from tipping artists for great things - it can be a curse - but it's a safe bet to say that Sam Ruffillo will make an impact in 2023. The young Italian producer has not a put foot wrong on his earlier releases, and this expansive EP - which further defines a trademark sound that blends references to classic Italian and American house with nods to jazz-funk, broken beat, soul and boogie - is his best work yet. There are original and instrumental mixes of four cuts: the boogie bass and kaleidoscopic house colour of 'Just Fine', the electrofunk-meets-Italo-disco excellence of 'Mind & Soul (Italo Version)'. Elsewhere, Ash Lauryn turns unreleased cut 'Don't Think Twice' into a subtly disco-tinged deep house body-warmer, while Art of Tones delivers two passes on 'Mind & Soul' - a glistening, sun-bright vocal version that sounds like a classic Dave Lee production, and an equally as impressive, vocal-free Dub Mix.
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TOYT 136
20 Jan 23
Deep House
20 Jan 23
Deep House
Review: Kapote and Kosmo Kint's various collaborative tracks on Toy Tonics are all top-drawer, so hopes are naturally high for his epic, action-packed remix EP. The headline reworks come from Detroit deep house legend Andres, who delivers vocal and instrumental takes on 'Misbehave' that place Kint's slick, soulful lead vocal atop an attractive bed of rubbery bass guitar, crunchy mid-tempo house drums, lilting lead lines and colourful chords. Elsewhere, Tom Jarmey offers a funky, shuffling, post-electro nu-disco rework of the same track, while Coeo drops vocal and instrumental versions of two distinctive mixes of 'Strangers': a rolling, retro-futurist 'House' take (all fluid and jazzy synth bass, sustained synth-strings and warming electric piano riffs) and a 'Garage Mix' underpinned by an Armand Van Helden style 'dark garage' bassline.
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TOYT 139
18 Nov 22
Deep House
18 Nov 22
Deep House
Review: Cody Currie has been a rising star for some time, so it's about time he released a significant sonic statement. Hotly anticipated debut album Lucas is just that: a musically expansive, collaboration-heavy full-length that neatly showcases his distinctive blends of deep house, disco, jazz-funk, broken beat and soul. It's a hugely impressive and enjoyable set all told, with our picks including the organic, spoken word-sporting bruk-up business of 'Voyage' (with Andreas Kon and Ally McMahon), deep and dope slow jam 'That Slick', breezy piano-house goes organic soul number 'Cash' (with MiK), the Kaidi Tatham-esque 'D?j? vu', sturdy vocal house number 'Danger' (with Eliza Rose) and squelchy, synth-sporting deep house bubbler 'Night Visions'.
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TOYT 135
28 Oct 22
Deep House
28 Oct 22
Deep House
Review: This is an undeniably epic selection of remixes of cuts from Kosmo Kint's Toy Tonics releases, some of which are eye-catching collaborations. The headline-grabbing reworks come from US house legend David Morales, who serves up three different revisions of Sam Ruffilo and Kapote collab 'Invincible': a classic sounding, piano-laden house revision; the deeper and smoother 'NYC Remix' and a vocal free instrumental version of his main mix. Elsewhere, Atjazz provides extended and instrumental takes on his joyously jazzy, analogue-rich collaboration with Kint ('Too Big'), while The Checkup mix of 'What Love Can Do' is a rolling, atmospheric, sub-heavy deep house delight. Finally, Kai Alce provides a suite a rubs of his Kint collaboration, 'Feel Love', with the jazzy, sun-splashed 'Dub' mix our pick of a very strong bunch.
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TOYT138X
07 Oct 22
Deep House
07 Oct 22
Deep House
Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House
Review: One-man musical whirlwind Felipe Gordon has been one of the deep house sensations of the last few years, notching up a formidable catalogue of subtly jazz-funk flavoured treats for all manner of labels. This EP for Toy Tonics marks something of a departure for the talented Colombian, as it marks the first time he's worked with a vocalist - fellow countryman Daniel Pardo AKA Bob The Egotist. The latter makes a big impression on title track 'Freedom', a weighty, wobble-bass propelled chunk of ultra-atmospheric, '90s-influenced deep house brilliance. The other four tracks on the EP are equally as impressive to be honest, with highlights including the flute-sporting, deliciously percussive 'Don't Try It', the shuffling, jazz-funk flavoured mid-tempo warmth of 'Time' (featuring marc Bianco) and the Georg Levin-esque brilliance of 'Expandable'.
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TOYT 133
02 Sep 22
Deep House
02 Sep 22
Deep House
Review: He may only have released a handful of tracks and one EP but rising star Sam Ruffillo has yet to put a foot wrong during his so far short career. Predictably, the Bologna-based producer has hit the mark yet again with this sequel to his debut EP Italianissimo, which landed earlier in the year. Particularly potent is opener 'Chiamami Subito', a hard-wired fusion of gritty funk, righteous disco and hands-aloft piano house that's as celebratory and sweaty as they come. Elsewhere, '80 Voglia di Calcio' is a bouncy, squelchy and atmospheric affair in which Ruffillo blurs the boundaries between jazz-funk, boogie and classic U.S deep house, while BPlan collaboration 'Mediterranea' is a sun-soaked slab of summery house perfection that comes complete with carnival-ready horns and a suitably seductive vocal.
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TOYT 144
12 Aug 22
Deep House
12 Aug 22
Deep House
Played by: Kraak & Smaak, Romanto (YSR / DISCO MACHINE), Pete Herbert, Juno Recommends Disco, Juno Recommends Deep House, BRENDON P, Petko Turner
Review: We can't tell you who Magou is - which may be frustrating since the producer's debut 12" on Toy Tonics two years ago caused a bit of a stir - but we do know that it's an alternative alias of an otherwise well-known and highly regarded Italian artist. Regardless of who's being the project, this highly anticipated debut album certainly ticks a lot of boxes. Opener 'Round Round', for example, joins the dots between Nu Guinea style Balearic jazz-funk and mid '80s Hugh Masekela records, while 'Eko' adds a little acid wiggle to breezy proto piano-house (while also including some subtle samples from a 1980s classic). This kind of kaleidoscopic, boundary-blurring fusion continues throughout, with other highlights including the Balearic dub disco of 'Dejarte', the loved-up Nu-Italo of 'Pas Jolie' and the loopy deep disco-house of 'Sample Dream'.
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TOYT 134
17 Jun 22
Deep House
17 Jun 22
Deep House
Played by: Juno Recommends Funky House
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.
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TOYT 130DL
13 May 22
Funky/Club House
13 May 22
Funky/Club House
Played by: Rob Lee, Lebrosk, Faze Action, ROMANTO (YSR / DISCO MACHINE), Pete Herbert, Juno Recommends Deep House, Tonbe, J&M BROTHERS, Rayko, Jerk Boy, G-Blaster (Memorie Cluster), Dave Mathmos, Jazzman Wax, D.S.D., Andy Buchan, MAFFA, The Magic Track, Petko Turner
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.
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TOYT 129
04 Mar 22
Deep House
04 Mar 22
Deep House
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').
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TOYT 126
14 Jan 22
Deep House
14 Jan 22
Deep House
Played by: Hebdonis, Girls Of The Internet, FINGERMAN, Matt Masters (Freerange), Juno Recommends Deep House, LEGO EDIT, Chuggin Edits, VIGI, Paul Older, Igor Gonya
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!
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TOYT 122
03 Dec 21
Deep House
03 Dec 21
Deep House
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?
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TOYT 120
27 Aug 21
Disco/Nu-Disco
27 Aug 21
Disco/Nu-Disco
Played by: Kraak & Smaak, Juno Recommends Deep House, Rayko, Stephen Richards (DiscoDaze), Chuggin Edits, FRAN DEEPER
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'.
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TOYT 124
13 Aug 21
Deep House
13 Aug 21
Deep House
Various
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.
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TOYT 125
16 Jul 21
Deep House
16 Jul 21
Deep House
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.
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TOYT 118
04 Jun 21
Deep House
04 Jun 21
Deep House
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.
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TOYT 119X
21 May 21
Deep House
21 May 21
Deep House
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.
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TOYT 117
12 Mar 21
Deep House
12 Mar 21
Deep House
Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House
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.
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TOYT 113
12 Feb 21
Deep House
12 Feb 21
Deep House
Kapote / Various
Played by: Kraak & Smaak, Juno Recommends Deep House, G-Blaster (Memorie Cluster), Pontchartrain, Chuggin Edits, VIGI
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)'.
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TOYT 115
20 Nov 20
Deep House
20 Nov 20
Deep House
Played by: Julian Sanza, FINGERMAN, Juno Recommends Deep House, Juno Recommends Funky House, D-Funk, G-Blaster (Memorie Cluster), Citizens Of Vice, Paul Older, Paper Recordings, Bertrand Contador, Crowd Control, Filta Freqz
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'.
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TOYT 114
16 Oct 20
Deep House
16 Oct 20
Deep House
Played by: Julian Sanza, Craig Charles Funk And Soul, Juno Recommends Disco, Ladies On Mars, Zombies in Miami, Kongisto, FRAN DEEPER
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.
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TOYT 111
04 Sep 20
Disco/Nu-Disco
04 Sep 20
Disco/Nu-Disco
Played by: Juno Recommends Deep House, Dave Mathmos, 80's Child, Dealt With Records, Problematic Disko
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.
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TOYT 108
10 Jul 20
Deep House
10 Jul 20
Deep House
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.
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TOYT 110
15 May 20
Disco/Nu-Disco
15 May 20
Disco/Nu-Disco
Played by: Jean Jacques Smoothie, Kisk, Don Dayglow, Juno Recommends Disco, Ash Reynolds, Rayko, Monsieur Van Pratt, BRENDON P, Coeo, JAMES ROD, Andy Buchan, Chuggin Edits, Projections
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.
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TOYT 107
17 Apr 20
Disco/Nu-Disco
17 Apr 20
Disco/Nu-Disco
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.
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TOYT 106
20 Mar 20
Deep House
20 Mar 20
Deep House
Played by: Kisk, Juno Recommends Deep House, Dave Mathmos, BRENDON P, An Architect, 80's Child, Marina Trench
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.
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TOYT 105
21 Feb 20
Deep House
21 Feb 20
Deep House
Played by: Dave Lee ZR, Juno Recommends Deep House, Ash Reynolds, G-Blaster (Memorie Cluster), 80's Child, Citizens Of Vice, Chuggin Edits, Mike Woods
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.
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TOYT 102
24 Jan 20
Deep House
24 Jan 20
Deep House
Played by: Dj XS (FVUK), Kisk, Juno Recommends Deep House, Sophie Lloyd, Dave Mathmos, Detroit Swindle, Chuggin Edits
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.
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TOYT 103
18 Oct 19
Deep House
18 Oct 19
Deep House
Played by: Kraak & Smaak, Marcel Vogel, Juno Recommends Deep House, KS French, BRENDON P, Sean McCabe
Review: Thanks to some stellar remix work by UK disco veteran Rat Mang, Phenomenal Handclap Band's previous single, "Judge Not", was one of the runaway success stories of 2018. Hopes are naturally high for this follow-up, which sees a trio of remixers get their hands on previously unheard band "Jail". The band's original version - located at the very end of the EP - is a typically warm, Escort-ish number that sits somewhere between Brooklyn revivalist disco, off-kilter nu-disco and retro-futurist synth-pop. It's good, but the remixes are even better. Detroiter Waajeed turns it into an eccentric chunk of lo-fi deep house/weirdo pop fusion, while Marcel Vogel reaches for the Clavinets on his killer dub disco style rework. Speaking of dub disco, Kapote's ear-pleasing, floor-filling remix also ticks that box.
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TOYT 093
05 Apr 19
Deep House
05 Apr 19
Deep House
Various
Review: Early 80s Germany was a fertile breeding ground for all manner of unexpected musical fusions, and here Toy Tonics bosses Mathias 'Munk' Modica and Kapote present their re-edits of seven ultra-obscure new wave and post-punk gems from the country's underground scene in the years 1979-1983. Imagine the motorik rhythms of Can, Kraftwerk or Neu! colliding head-on with the punk-funk peddled by the likes of ESG, Liquid Liquid or early A Certain Ratio and you've got a rough idea of what to expect - though even that won't prepare you for the Adam Ant-like yodelling on Carmen's 'Schlaraffenland' (a Krautwork-esque rework of the Archies' Sugar Sugar', we kid you not).
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TOYT 095
15 Mar 19
Disco/Nu-Disco
15 Mar 19
Disco/Nu-Disco
Review: Mangabey is a close pal of fast-rising French producer Folamour and could soon be sharing top billing with the dusty deep house star. "Try To Chill" is his third outing on Toy Tonics and could well be his strongest EP yet. Certainly, it's hard to fault the warm, driving and sample-heavy opener "Just Luv Machine", where snaking horns, eyes-closed vocal samples and thickset electric piano chords and dance above a thrusting peak-time groove. You'll find more meandering horn solos on the slightly deeper but similarly warm "My Saxophone", while "Time To Chill" is a dewy-eyed slab of toasty deep house goodness. Rick Wade's accompanying remix somehow manages to sound even deeper, despite the presence of tougher drums.
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TOYT 092
22 Feb 19
Deep House
22 Feb 19
Deep House
Review: Toytonics' latest offering is a four-track EP from the South London duo of Chris Watson ad Chris Coupe. Opener 'Encounters' has something of an early Madhouse feel to its warping organ lines and strange, spoken male vocal, while 'Flat Psych' takes us into tripped-out Afro pastures. 'B Glaser' is a real hotch-potch of influences - it starts out with chanted vox and African percussion, and ends up sounding like an early 90s bleep/dub fusion - and then finally there's 'Just Atmosphere', five minutes of near-instrumental chuggery topped with distorted, spoken vox. An EP for those who like their house on the leftfield side.
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TOYT 084
07 Dec 18
Deep House
07 Dec 18
Deep House
Review: Mangabey lets you know what his newest release is about from the outset, the pounding kick drum on 'Joy Kill' leaving nothing to the imagination. As loping funk underpins the power beneath, retro synths edge in as the track progresses, turning it into a real head nodder. Fouk pops up on the remix, ramping up the percussion and pairing it with some floating pads, the retro feel is amped up and a tinkling Rhodes piano turns this one into a proper journey of relaxation. Back to Mangabey and 'Broken Dub', a steppier interpretation of house music that injects some broken funk as well as dub - darker, moodier and a nice switch up. Glenn Astro brings up the rear on the remix and, with his gentle, warping pads, creates a rich tapestry of lowkey ambience from the start. An atmospheric take on the original that drops heaviness for lightness. A quality EP that any house lover will be into.
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TOYT 087
02 Nov 18
Deep House
02 Nov 18
Deep House
