Review: Nu Groove Records delivers another gem with "Nu Groove Edits, Vol. 4," a compilation that breathes new life into classic tracks from the label's illustrious history. This release spotlights the artists who shaped the legendary NYC label, offering re-interpretations by leading selectors of today. It kicks off with "Tonight's The Night" by NYC favorites How & Little (The Sound Vandals), given a fresh treatment by Italian duo NiCe7. The track retains its original charm while incorporating contemporary production elements, setting the tone for the rest of the journey. N.Y. House'n Authority's seminal "APT. 2A" gets reworked by UK deep tech aficionado Hugo Massien, resulting in a deeper, more introspective version that retains the groove of the original. The collection also features a remix of The Utopia Project's "File #3" by Mak & Pasteman, showcasing their signature blend of soulful vocals and driving basslines. Then it closes with a bang with the duo Honey Dijon & Luke Solomon re-imagining A.B.T.'s "Luv 2 Luv U." Their edit infuses the track with irresistible energy, making it a guaranteed dance floor mover.
Review: Here's another must-check missive of lesser-known and hard-to-find material from DJ Kaos's Jolly Jams label, curated with love by the man himself. Over the course of 12 tidy tracks, we're treated to ambient lusciousness (Superpitcher remixing Kaos's own 'World Turning'), deliciously dubbed-out proto-house (the 'Warehousin' Mix' of Split Secs' 'I'm Not Losing'), mind-mangling psychedelic electronic disco-meets-acid house (Red Axes' 'Promo Only'), dub disco (Slaves of Love and Tavish, whose 'Raw Seduction' is genuinely superb), soaring disco edit action (Spring Break Edit), Sylvester pitched-down and blissed out (Balearic Skip), Kenny Hawkes-ish disco-not-disco eccentricity (Luke Solomon remixing Richard From Milwaukee) and ragging acid tracks (Danny Russell & Timothy Alexander).
Review: Throughout their decade-long career, Alma Negra has combined their love of disco and deep house with percussion, instrumentation and ideas excavated from African, Caribbean and tropical musical cultures. On this EP, they largely ditch the latter inspirations, instead delivering full-throttle revivalist disco sounds where the Basel-based band's organic instrumentation and vocals combine with colourful synth sounds and heady horns. The headline attraction is undoubtedly 'Madrugada', a warming and thickset, subtly deep house-influenced take on the turn-of-the-80s NYC downtown disco-not-disco sound. It comes backed with two revisions - an extra-percussive, dubbed-out Yuksek tweak and the band's own dub disco-goes-deep house 'Dub Mix' - and the riotous, party-starting brilliance of 'Funky Fever'.
Review: Shall Not Fade has reached the ripe old age of eight, a cause for celebration in these troubled times for artists and labels. To mark the occasion, the Bristol-based imprint has offered up this vast, 34-track compilation featuring new and unheard cuts from its ever-expanding family of artists. Naturally, it not only reflects Shall Not Fade's output, but also that of its various offshoots and series. So, there's plenty of high-grade deep house and immersive, breakbeat-driven deepness, but also surging, high-tempo rave-era nostalgia (see the tracks by TESTPRESS and Sheffield sorts Adelphi Music Factory), bassline (ABSOLUTE & HRSN), futurist techno (Marc Brauner), deep electro (Halo), hip-hop revivalism (Lydia Eisenbatter), progressive house and trance-influenced loveliness (MNL), and much more besides.
Review: The new EP, "Offshore Sunsets," by the collaborative effort of Steve Cobby (of Fila Brazilia fame) and Third Attempt washes over the listener like a warm, hazy summer evening. Released on Paper Recordings, this three-track offering is a delightful exploration of Balearic house, perfect for unwinding or soundtracking a laid-back gathering. The opening track, "B Human," sets the tone with its "rolling, hypnotic, spaced-out" vibe (as described by Paper Recordings). Floating minor keys, a walking bassline, and a gorgeously chugging guitar create a sun-drenched soundscape. This is Balearic bliss at its finest. Third Attempt takes the reins for the aptly titled "Language Of The Heart." This track leans into a more downtempo, a perfect offering for those late-night sessions or creating a chilled atmosphere. The duo reunites for the closing track, "Feeling Seen." This hazy, jazzy broken beat number brings the EP to a satisfying conclusion. Deep basslines intertwine with funky elements, showcasing the collaborative magic between Cobby and Third Attempt.
Review: Although he's been operative since the start of the noughties, Unclepasha only has a handful of solo EPs to his name - most notably on London label Nang. Here the Russian producer pops up on Vintage Music, an imprint founded by his fellow countryman Sunner Soul back in 2010. What's on offer are, we think, kind of edits-not-edits - tracks that make extensive use of elements of forgotten old cuts, but with added beats and instrumentation. Title track 'Tol'ko Ya' blurs the boundaries between seductive, low-slung dub-disco, swamp funk and nu-disco, while 'Dubby' lives up to its name by properly dubbing out and beefing up a percussion-rich jam of unknown origin. To round things off, TSDC reworks 'Tol'ko Ya', giving it a filter-heavy, dub-flecked disco-house feel.
Munk & James Murphy - "Kick Out The Chairs" (Whomadewho remix) - (3:23) 102 BPM
C?cile - "Sweetness 86" - (6:28) 101 BPM
Review: Back in the 00s, Mathias 'Munk' Modica and Jonas 'Telonius' Imbery's Gomma label was at the forefront of the punk-funk and indie-dance scene. Imbery later stepped away and Munk shuttered the label in 2016 to concentrate on his new venture Toy Tonics, but now he's taking time to revisit former glories with this second collection of cuts from the Gomma vaults. The timing's probably right: with clubbing's Nag Nag Nag generation now hitting 40, the retro/nostalgia bandwagon was bound to get around to the 00s eventually, and while certain tracks here may be a bit too redolent of asymmetrical haircuts and scarves worn indoors for some, the set also undoubtedly includes some fine nuggets that deserve exposure to a new generation, notably Mercury's rather lovely 'Sweetness' and Munk's own James Murphy collab 'Kick Out The Chairs'.
Review: Although it might still be too soon to call Texan producer DJ Poolboi a legend, his music is certainly starting to lean the way of legendary, with lo-fi house the artist's trademark. It's the boi's third album in four years across three labels and first on Shall Not Fade in which he's become something of a figure head, and Into The Blue Light signals potential for AOTY (Album of the Year). Filled with deep and impactful emotion, melancholy and warmth, it's a long player that pulls at the heart-strings while firing up the dancefloor with chords, keys and melodies that hit those sweet spots, while booming in kick, bass and drums. Highlights include opener, "Won't Let You Ruin My Mood", the pop-aqua rave of "For The Last Time" and some piano-driven Moby inspirations in "The Joy You Once Felt".
Review: Manchester-based Loz Goddard returns to the spotlight in celebration of Dirt Crew Recordings 20th anniversary (Dirt Crew Recordings - 20 years? No way!). It marks a comeback for the producer after a notable debut collaboration with Harry Wolfman in 2016. Known for his unique blend of electronica, deep soundscapes and lush and organic deep house, Goddard has graced labels like Oath, Razor N Tape and Church on his musical journey, presenting here for DT a captivating mini-album featuring beautifully crafted ambient and electronica pieces alongside three energetic tracks. Inspired by a night at the White Hotel in Salford watching Skee Mask, Goddard goes deep on six compositions, offering listeners a journey through a new age sound of house to prick the ears of Legowelt fans for sure. Big ups Loz!
Review: As anyone who has followed his career will tell you, Cor.Ece is a talented chap - a GRAMMY award-winning songwriter (he has enjoyed mega-hits with his work for Beyonce) and Honey Dijon collaborator who also happens to be a top-notch vocalist, producer and musician. On 'Be Here Before', he joins forces with Bastard Jazz regulars Bad Colours to deliver a fabulous full-length excursion. They set the tone with 'Say Yea', a constantly rising slab of soul-fired deep tech-house, before flitting between intergalactic house-soul ('Mars'), 21st century hip-house/nu-disco fusion (the ace 'What Happened To The Revolutionary'), UKG-influenced excellence ('Jeans'), Afrobeats-adjacent awesomeness ('Might Could'), slow motion boogie-soul ('Mt Miss U') and much more besides. Tip!
Review: Chinese producer Mr Ho impresses muchly with this release on his own Klasse Wrecks label. '000 Baby' in its Original form is a delightfully diverse concoction that blends ethereal synths, a haunting, lilting female vocal, drums that nod to early 90s street soul, Rastaman shouts, a big fat bassline and, as we get into the second half, lots of pleasing acid squelch. As if that wasn't enough Bristol boy Jim Coles, better known as Om Unit, then gives the track a deep drum & bass makeover that's enough to get the hairs on the back of your neck standing up and no mistake, guv'nor. Top drawer bizniss for sure.
The Secret Soul Society - "Ache All Over" (original mix) - (4:04) 100 BPM
The Secret Soul Society - "Stay" (original mix) - (3:24) 77 BPM
Review: Volume 7 in the series but for once we can't really say "you should know what to expect by now" because what this compilation really goes to show is just what an eclectic and diverse camp the long-running Manchester label has become, with tracks on 'Paper Cuts #7' ranging from the near-ambient Balearica of Aniso Tropics' opener 'Apricot Memorex' to the self-explanatory synth-y stylings of La Guardia de la Luz's 'Trance Aleman de los 90s' via the uptempo strut of Jahn Solo's 'Disco'. So all we can really do is point you in the direction of some standout cuts, which for this reviewer would include D.S.D's luscious 'Just Can't Stop' and Benny Pitcher's 'Transatlantic Motion', which is like a little musical nod to the days when Paper comps were called 'Splinter'.
Review: Danish producer Mads Dalholt is perhaps best known as one-half of Dalholt & Langkilde, whose 2015 album 'Sur Plus' is regarded as something of a classic in Balearic and downtempo circles. Now he comes with his first solo album and shows that he hasn't lost his touch, as he serves up 12 tracks that are laidback without ever getting boring, and mellow without ever getting overly polite or twee. 'Sitarhara' is a particular highlight to these ears with its hazy, subcontinental feel, while elsewhere 'Gui Tabu' evidences Latin influences and cuts like 'Drummer' and 'Jatak' look to African music for inspiration. It all adds up 1 hour 11 minutes of chilled listening that's well worth investigating even if downtempo vibes aren't usually where you're at.
Review: In 2003, amid a shifting landscape of closing record stores and evolving electronic music genres, Phonica Records emerged as a haven for dance and electronic music enthusiasts. Founded by Simon Rigg, Tom Relleen, and Heidi Van Den Amstel with backing from The Vinyl Factory - Phonica aimed to be a welcoming hub for all genres. Starting quietly, the shop gradually gained a strong reputation, fueled by the founders' ties to Koobla Records. Phonica thrived in its early years by championing emerging genres like electro house and minimal-micro house from labels like Kompakt and Perlon. In 2007, the Phonica record label was born, evolving into a platform for both staff and emerging talents, featuring early releases by now-established artists such as Peggy Gou and Four Tet. In 2023, celebrating its 20th anniversary, Phonica showcases its journey with 20 Years Of Phonica - a compilation boasting 18 exclusive tracks from established and rising artists across the label's diverse musical spectrum. Hot tips include tracks by Willow, Dorisburg, Ron Basejam, Roman Flugel and more!
Review: Cuthead, real name Robert Arnold, hails originally from Moldova but has been based for many years in Dresden, Germany. His musical output has ranged from hip-hop and breaks to disco, house and techno, but this release, the second of our installments that will eventually make up the 'Detour' album, finds him firmly in house mode. While its four tracks are all definitely rooted in deep house, though, they nevertheless also manage to embrace influences from disco, jazz-funk, sci-fi themes and dub - all of which add up to an EP that represents a very worthwhile use of 15 minutes of your life.
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