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: Six mixes to choose from of this team-up between veteran multi-instrumentalist and producer Michele Chiavarini and Atlanta, Georgia-based vocalist Carmichael Musiclover - though really there are only two that we need to talk about, the Original and the Sean McCabe Remix, each of which comes with a matching Radio Edit and Instrumental. In its Original form, 'Feet Don't Fail Me Now' sits somewhere on the cusp of contemporary soul/funk, soulful house and pop, while Sean McCabe's remix pushes the track firmly through the door marked 'soulful house'. Heavy rotation at the upcoming Southport Weekender guaranteed.
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: Homage has turned to Oceania for its latest release, securing a fine debut EP from Melbourne-based Japanese producer Ryunosuke Tahara AKA Paperkraft. In keeping with the Brooklyn-based imprint's love of releasing new music that draws inspiration from dance music's past, Tahara has delivered a set of tracks piled high with references to the nineties and noughties. Check first 'The Amazing Spaceman', where warped bass, mid-90s psychedelic techno sounds and spaced-out ambient techno textures ride a crunchy breakbeat, before admiring the 'Brown Album'-era Orbital-on-steroids flex of 'Dizzy Disk', the bumpin' breakbeat-house bounce of 'OK Corral', and the acid-fired insanity of 'Stella'. Elsewhere, Aidan Francis delivers a '90s psy-trance style tweak of 'Dizzy Disk' and Aldonna delivers a grandiose, all-action tribal house tweak of 'OK Corral'.
Review: Volume 14 in the series, so regular buyers should know what to expect by now. For the uninitiated through, the 'Playa D'en Bossa' series harks back to an earlier era of 'Balearic', before the term became synonymous with ethereal chill-out grooves, whale song and fluttering Spanish guitars, and when it referred instead to an electic, open-minded approach to programming DJ sets. Accordingly, the 23 tracks here range from house and nu-disco (see cuts from Dis-Connection, Alex Twitchy and Dr Basement) to trance and EDM (see, eg, Tom-E Project's 'Shine' or Little Madam's 'Yeah Uh Uh Ah'), much of it served with a distinct Europop twist, with Joma's 'Space Virus' and Nick Saley's 'Bengal' among the highlights.
Review: Flankup Recordings co-founder Paolo Rossi and fellow producer Marl 'Indy' Lanfranchi first joined forces to work on a documentary soundtrack. They enjoyed the process so much that they created a new collaborative project, Sidi Bou Said, and conjured up this debut EP. Check first the pair's self-titled musical calling card, 'Sidi Bou Said', which is available in two variations: the EP opening original mix, which sounds like Nu Genea jamming with Afro-cosmic pioneer Daniele Baldelli after a week baking in the Milanese sun, and the gorgeously dubby, slow-motion 'Sidi Bou Said (Theme)', which sees the pair reach for spacey analogue synths and deep bass. Also impressive is the kaleidoscopic Balearic deep house brilliance of 'El Haouaria', which comes backed with a terrifically chunky, dreamy and locked-in deep house interpretation by Byron The Aquarius.
Review: Remixes for days in the haus with Pre-Rolled Joints Vol 2: Remix Collection, Pt. 2 by Unknown To The Unknown. Kicking of with a sultry Kelis vibe in Ludwig A.F's remix of "Sweat It Out", other highlights include Hashman Deejay doing the business on a Ruf Dug number, Andras turning over some proto-techno on Bell Towers, with Shed going all time on UTTU boss man's "Bit Too Deep". Willie Burns drops a spooky remake of Max's D's legendary "High Life", next to some reliable Legowelt wares, a Roza Terenzi rework of Assembler Code and final dose of Fantastic Man who goes deep with a luscious mix of DJ Shark's "Closer".
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!
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