Review: Beam Me Up party mainstays the Patchouli Brothers impressed with their first outing on Basic Fingers earlier in the year, so hopes are naturally high for this speedy follow-up. The Toronto siblings predictably hit the ground running on "Shout On", an urgent, celebratory chunk of disco-funk perfection where incessant male vocalizations and party yelps add extra energy to a bustling workout dripping with crunchy Clavinet lines, rasping horn riffs, jazzy guitar solos and jangling piano lines. There's a pleasantly groovy - but no less energetic - feel to the peak-time disco bounce of "My Love", where more urgent vocals and sweeping strings bob and weave around a more low-slung disco groove.
Review: Those with an encyclopedic knowledge of house history will tell you that 4th Measure Men was one of a number of alternative aliases used by Mark "MK" Kinchen during the early '90s. In fact, "4 You" was first released way back in 1993. This much-needed digital reissue not only includes a swathe of versions from the original 12" - the rumbling, proto-UK garage vibe of the original mix and Kinchen's own bouncy garage Dub tweak of B-side "Given" included - but also 2011 remixes from 2000 And One (bustling, MK garage-on steroids) and Maya-Jane Coles (woozy '90s garage meets deep and slinky tech-house). There's also what appears to be a fresh 2018 remix from DJ Steaw, who wisely layers even more vintage, basement-bothering garage elements to Kinchen's killer original groove.
Review: This second sampler for Craig Smith and Graeme Clark's excellent debut album once again sees them in fine form. While three of the four tracks stick to their tried-and-tested formula - rock-solid deep house built on heavy, head-nodding loops, long, lazy builds and cute, killer hooks - there's plenty to get excited about. The distinctly old skool "Back To Me" (check that analogue bassline) and hynotic head-nodder "Deep C" stand out, with "BURT (The Journey)" not far behind. The most revelatory moment, though, is "Settle", a dreamy downtempo concoction crafted from syrupy soul samples, echo-laden beats and sinewy strings that sounds like an updated version of Minnie Ripperton's more sensuous moments.
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