Review: Brighton's Hot Digits have managed to generate a roster boasting some pretty established names on the re-edit scene. Here, on Hot Jints Vol 2, they've rustled up some newer names to mix with the old. P-Sol delivers some swishy sun bleached laid back grooves on "The Closed Door", "Keep On Ducking", by Raw Artes & Jack Whitey, is a jauntier affair - all clavinet-fuelled funk, Causal Connection's "Sun Glider" opts for a fine duel between elastic slap bass and linear guitar licks, and finally Fingerman closes the show with the uplifting orchestrated harmonies of "Summertime Stringz".
Review: Such Is Yam Who's commitment to nu-disco, that even during the festive season his Midnight Riot label is pumping out numerous winter warmers. This Jump EP contains four retro-futuristic joints all of which are culled from only the most neon lit of '80s dancefloors. Highlights include the chopped up robo-funk "Jump", the slow and low, leather tracksuited bassy grind "You're The One" and the tougher, electronic rare groover "Melody".
Review: Over the last couple of years, Lukas Ru-Kasu has established himself as one of the re-edit scene's leading lights, with a super-smooth, filter-heavy style all of his own. Having previously released EPs on Midnight Riot, Llama Farm and DiscoDat - amongst others - the Western Australia producer arrives on Fingerman's Hot Digits label with five more tried-and-tested dancefloor delights. As usual, there's a mix of the familiar ("Give It To Ya", a tweak of Mary Jane Girls' "All Night Long") and lesser known (the delicious '80s soul flex of "Listen" and "Such a Feeling"). Best of all, though, is "Push is the Groove", a killer p-funk rework in his loopy, house-friendly style.
Review: Casual Connection shouldn't be a new name to those who pay close attention to the international re-edit scene; his debut EP Sugar - released in October on DiscoDat - delivered a range of sacharrine-sweet reworks of '70s and '80s gems with a solid dancefloor focus. Here, the Perth-based producer appears on York's Alpaca Edits with "Your Wish", a sprawling tribute to an '80s soul classic that makes much of the original's chiming melodies, popping drum machine percussion and yearning vocal. The addition of some decidedly cosmic electronics and a stretched-out groove works wonderfully, making "Your Wish" something of a surprise gem. If you enjoy the sugary-sweet taste of '80s soul and R&B, this should be an essential purchase.
Review: Having previously showcased the wares of their own crewmembers, York-based scalpel jockeys Alpaca Edits has decided to look further afield for material. Thus, this latest single-track salvo (not bothering to release full EPs being another recurring theme) comes from Perth-based Aussie filter-worrier Casual Connection. In his usual head-nodding, toe-tapping way (think extended builds, heavy filters, loops and just a touch of house style production) "CC" delivers a largely instrumental reworking of Zapp's stone cold P-funk classic "More Bounce To The Ounce". Given that the original seemingly goes on for about three weeks, a cut-job is justified, and Casual Connection's rework gets just the right balance between talk box love, bumpin' grooves and contemporary production trickery.
Review: Having previously plied his trade on Midnight Riot, Hot Digits and Hotbox Boogie, amongst others, Perth-based Casual Connections makes his debut for DiscoDat. Those familiar with his smooth, dubby and floor-friendly re-edits will feel right at home. Like fellow Aussie Rocco Raimiundo, Casual Connection is a master at looping and dubbing out forgotten '80s soul and electrofunk gems, giving them filter-heavy, house-friendly tweaks whilst retaining the essence of the original tracks. There's plenty to enjoy across the eight tracks featured here, from the re-imagined disco-funk shuffle of "Do Thangs" and horn-totin' throb of "Shake It", to the delay-laden boogie-dub antics of "Sugar" and string-drenched sweetness of "Do You Believe".
Review: Are you feeling a little bit West Coast? Are you digging that smooth, early 80s beach house groove, as Warren G did a decade later? Well Lukas Ru-Kasu, aka Casual Connection, certainly is. This time though rather than continuing with a hip-hop update, this shimmering FM soul jam by everybody's favourite silver fox is given a lively, sped up, beefed up funky shuffle-over. Good fun it is too. The next offering, "Way I Feel About You" sticks with the 80s but goes for a more anonymous joint that literally fizzes with effervescent electronic joy!
