Review: Producer Blair French makes an impressive debut on MotorCity Wine Recordings with his "Ancestarians" EP. The release finds him adeptly bridging the worlds of soulful Detroit deep house and laidback Balearic grooves, carving out a distinct musical identity. The Physical Mix of the title track lays down a midtempo, jazzy groove primed for the dancefloor, infusing pan-African rhythms and a rich interplay of live instruments. In contrast, the Spiritual Mix ventures into more atmospheric, ambient realms, highlighting French's varied musical influences. Kicking off with a vibrant bounce, "Champagne Kiddie Pool" melds bright cavaquinho tones with an infectious dembow-inflected groove, conjuring up a summertime beach vibe. The EP's closing cut "Sandbox Fossils" ratchets up the energy level with its dynamic drum programming, shimmering keys and a standout bassline performance.
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: 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: Leeds label Shades of Sound seem obsessed with serving up melodious and colourful music tailor-made for sunny days and humid dancing at dusk. They're at it again on 'Disco Archipalego', a bold and entertaining label debut courtesy of Sydney producer Arp Decco. There three typically sparkling and kaleidoscopic original tracks on display: the mid-tempo, synth strings-laden Balearic piano house-meets-Reverso 68 cheeriness of 'Disco Archipalego', the synth solo sporting piano house-with-acid-bass flex of 'New Life', and the gorgeous 'Breeze', whose snaking sax solos, joyous melodious and chunky TB-303 bassline create a suitably loved-up mood. 'Tech Support' turn 'New Life' into an acid-flecked, sunrise-ready breakbeat house gem, before Joe Morris rounds off a fine EP by giving 'Breeze' a nostalgic, Balearic house-goes-breakbeat re-fix.
Review: Following years spent flitting between labels including Toy Tonics and Razor N Tape Reserve, COEO make their bow on Shall Not Fade. In keeping with the Bristol label's approach to digital releases, it's an expansive and action-packed affair. Title track 'Planet Earth' is one of the Munich-based duo's more forthright cuts to date - a thrusting, bongo-laden techno tempo rave workout propelled forwards by an insanely good (and rubbery) electronic bassline and psychedelic acid lines aplenty - while 'Satellite Bay' sounds like a cross between early '90s synth-pop, Kraftwerk and Euro-dance. Elsewhere, 'Rush Hour' gloriously joins the dots between hip-house, vintage MK productions and the Pet Shop Boys' Relentless' album; 'Kawasaki Racing Club' combines breakbeats and early UK progressive house sounds; and 'The Stage Is Yours' is a head-nodding, midtempo acid breaks affair.
Review: Bufi & Kubebe unveil Sternana Remixes: a collection of reinterpretations from their collaborative EP, initially launched under sister label Fauna Reve. This release introduces fresh perspectives from Balam, Tyu, Mufti, and Hermetics, each infusing the original tracks with their distinctive takes, introducing fresh approaches respectively. Balam kickstarts the compilation with a pulsating remix of acid-infused energy and trance elements, while Tyu's hypnotic rendition of "El Jockey "blends deep drums with psychedelic nuances. From Guadalajara, Mufti delivers a break-driven remix of "Cicatriz" while Argentinean artist Hermetics closes with a captivating version of "Sternana" - luring listeners in with its potent kick and entrancing vocals.
Review: Rayko teams up once more with Elena Hikari to deliver the pair's second joint long-player, following on the heels of 2023's 'Tu Alma Y La Mia'. But while that first album was good, this one's exceptional! Cinematic, cosmic opener 'Too Much' sets the tone but it's the second track, 'Nunca James', that really hits you in the face: it's a slow-burning monster, with Hikari's haunting vocal earning it a place in the box marked "truly sublime". 'Looking To Edge' is another BIG track that probably needs to be heard on a 4am dancefloor to be truly appreciated; after that you get four more cuts that blur the lines between cosmic/Italo disco, Balearica, coldwave, house and pop (including a new version of 'Extraordinarylove' from the first album) before the title track, another deep, slo-mo chugger, plays us out in very fine style. Excellent work!
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.
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