Review: Midnight Riot do their bit to address the much-discussed gender imbalance in dance music with a 25-track collection featuring an almost entirely female line-up (though a few possessors of Y-chromosomes do sneak in as collaborators). With big names like Kathy Brown, DJ Paulette, Rowetta, Caron Wheeler, Sulene Fleming and Natasha Kitty Katt nestling up alongside a host of more up-and-coming artists, the quality standard is high throughout, with the musical emphasis largely on good-time, Saturday night house and disco vibes, though there a few more gently paced moments - notably in the form of covers of Bobby Caldwell's 'What You Won't Do For Love' and Sade's 'Sweetest Taboo' - while Paulette & Massey serve up a pleasing dose of acid on 'Sheroes'.
Review: Long-serving producer Disco Tech has released more edits and reworks over the years than we've had hot dinners. Remarkably, he still continues to deliver on-point revisions - as this second volume in his ongoing 'Reworks' EP series proves. There's much to admire across the six tracks on show, from the atmospheric, slow-burn excellence of AOR disco revision 'Stars In The Ghetto' and the dub-funk wonder that is the James Brown-sampling 'Boss', to the peak-time '80s disco sing-along 'Take Time' and the on-point Clash dub disco revision 'Magnificent'. We also recommend 'Be With You', a deliciously groovy, dubbed-out take on a Doc Severinsen track that has long been a DJ Harvey favourite.
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: Kieran Hebden, better known by his moniker Four Tet, has graced us with his first full-length album in nearly three years. "Three," released on his own Text Records imprint, is a meticulously crafted exploration of sound, weaving together elements of electronica, downtempo, and folktronica influences. The album strikes a balance between organic and electronic textures. Tracks like "Loved" showcase Hebden's signature ability to manipulate found sounds and samples, creating a shimmering sonic tapestry. "Gliding Through Everything" leans more towards the downtempo side, with its gentle piano chords and woozy atmosphere. However, Four Tet doesn't shy away from exploring the electronic realm. Tracks like "Daydream Repeat" feature driving uptempo rhythms intertwined with ethereal piano melodies, showcasing his talent for building tension and release. "Storm Crystals" injects a dose of ambient energy, while "Skater" leans into playful, almost chiptune-like melodies. The closing track, "Three Drums" (another pre-release single), brings back the energy with its pulsating bassline and infectious groove. Not to miss!
Review: Over the last few years, Martin 'Atjazz' Iveson has spent a fair amount of time mentoring Peacey, a young producer with oodles of talent. That much is proved by the rising star's expansive debut album, a superb 16-track set that combines sizzling colo cuts with a string of inspired collaborations. The Edinburgh-based artist sets his stall out via the luscious horn arrangements and immersive ambient electronics of 'Play It By Ear', before drifting between head-nodding R&B loveliness (Oveous hook-up 'Love In The Forest'), sensual and seductive, soul-flecked deep house ('Hold Me Back' with Clyde and Atjazz), mid-tempo boogie-soul ('Playground' with Rona Ray), dubby and dreamy downtempo grooves ('Last Night's Dream'), deep and techy, spoken word-sporting dancefloor workouts ('Culture Bandit' with Vanessa Hidary) and jazz-funk influenced excellence (LaRoye collab 'In The Distance').
Review: Monty Luke's Nightdubbing project on Rekids was designed to showcase the Black Catalogue boss's deep love of dub-infused house and techno. This 13-track album combines previously unheard cuts with nine tracks previously showcased across a pair of EPs of the same name. It's a fantastic set all told, with highlights including the smacked-out electro-dub headiness of opener '40 Acres and a Terrabyte', the extra-percussive deep dub-house hypnotism of 'Bob Molly', the after-hours friendly minimalism of 'Star Storms', the Detroit-goes-dub techno pulse of 'New World/Old Future', the classic dub techno warmth of 'Dark Paradise', and the dub-wise deep house dreaminess of 'Avantgarde Dancehall'. Throw in a handful of tidy ambient and digital dub tracks, and you have a genuinely superb long-player.
Review: Given the prolific output of his Rare Wiri label, it's a wonder Rayko finds time to get in the studio at all. But he does, regularly - and when he's not producing synthy, 80s-flavoured nu-disco jams of his own, he somehow also manages to fit in the odd cheeky re-edit or 20! Here, then, a score of such reworks are served up for your listening and dancing pleasure, with the emphasis firmly on lesser-known gems - sources include Ann Peebles, Diana Ross, Quincy Jones, Break Machine, Michael Sembello and Earl Flint, as well as US folk-rocker Barbara Keith's version of 'All Along The Watchtower', but there are plenty more that will have to go unidentified. Suffice to say, though, that if funk, disco, boogie, electro and pop from the 70s and 80s float your boat, this collection will leave you positively buoyant!
Review: It's been slowly drip-fed to us over a 10-month period but now here at last is the full album. On 'Something Like That', Jalapeno bosses Skeewiff celebrate 25 years in the game by paying tribute to some of the music that's inspired them, delivering generally very faithful but also very accomplished reworks of classic tracks by artists ranging from The Winstons and Jimmy Smith to Dick Dale and Herb Alpert. New additions to the roster on this final version include Nancy Sinatra's 'These Boots Are Made For Walking', Muppets 'Mah Na Mah Na', Mel Tormé's Mod club standard 'Coming Home Baby' and, just to prove they're not taking themselves TOO seriously, Boots Randolph's 'Yakety Sax' - better known to most as the 'Benny Hill' theme.
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: Acid house in sound but punk in nature, the title of Paranoid London's new album is a reference to "the cavalcade of c***s we find ourselves surrounded by". However, while there is despair there is also hope, and this long player is testament to the power of underground music. Arseholes...also demonstrates the importance of collaboration. Bobby Gillespie croons his way through the gentle tones of "People (Ah Yeah)". At the other end of the sonic spectrum, Joe Love and DJ Genesis feature on the gnarly, 303-led grooves of "Love One Self" and "Up Is Down" respectively. Somewhere between these polar opposites sits the evocative Chicago house sound of "Start To Fade" with Josh Caffe and Mutado Pintado's sonorous vocals on the pulsating "The Motion". Paranoid London proves yet again that when confronted by a***holes, music really is the only answer.
Review: Catching Flies, the moniker of George King, delivers his most emotional and cohesive project yet with this album, Tides. Collaborating closely with string arranger Thomas Lea, known for his work with Adele, Bonobo, and Rhye, Catching Flies explores the theme of 'ebbs and flows', reflecting on personal and global experiences over the past few years. The album beautifully captures the cyclical nature of life, anchored by a singular sense of purpose and intricate musicality. From the melodic mesh of harp samples and soaring strings in the lead single "Halo" to the deeply textured and soulful exploration of tracks like "Spring" and "The Last Phone Call" - Catching Flies blends live instrumentation with warm electronic beats.
Slimy Ape & Grundy - "Sound The Alarm" - (3:18) 92 BPM
Review: Next up on LDH, a shimmering nod to the more stripped back side of 140 & dubstep flavour as Slimy Ape touches down with a shimmering display of synthetic wonder across these chilling three originals. The title track 'Northern Winter' sets the tone perfectly, with icey LFO manoeuvres and minimal drum lines giving us a fabulous introduction. From here, a dive into deeper, gritter LFO expressions as 'Warehouse Rocker' gives us a pulsing crunch of original dubstep flavour, before the subtle dubwise chords and more system-inspired bass notation of 'Sound The Alarm' closes the EP off with a more old school feel. A very enjoyable selection!
Review: Japanese producer Yuki Kanesaka, mastermind behind the monolog project, serves up a delightful take on Herbie Hancock's iconic Watermelon Man with this uptempo cover on Dippin' Records. Kanesaka kicks things off with a nod to the past, faithfully reproducing the iconic opening Hindewhu whistle hoot that graced the Headhunters' version. This playful detail sets the tone for a joyous journey that retains the "mathematical balance" of Hancock's original while packing a punchier, club-ready groove. "Bill's Valence Street Jam," offers a special drum break version of the main track. It's a perfect opportunity to truly savor the infectious groove and appreciate Summers' masterful percussive artistry. With its blend of respect for the past and a fresh, energetic approach, this release is a tasty treat for your ears.
Review: Melbourne, Australia-based DJ/producer Ken Walker - the possessor of perhaps THE best artist moniker in the game - follows up last summer's debut full-length 'Discopolis' with a second volume that's every bit as essential. Rocking an overall vibe somewhere between contemporary (rather than 'nu') disco and disco-house, the album opens with 'What In The World', which nods to The Police's 'When The World Is Running Down', and closes with 'Saxophonica', which marries the risque spoken vocal from Jimmy Z feat Dr Dre's 'Funky Flute' (which also appears on 'Blow It') to the sax line from Men At Work's 80s hit 'Who Can It Be Now?'. It's fair to say our Ken isn't averse to dropping the odd familiar sample, then: in fact, the 15 cuts here blur the lines between sampling and re-editing. But trust us, the dancefloor's going to be far too busy dancing to worry about that.
Review: Sneaker Social Club unveils Ivy Lab's latest offering deepening the duo's evolution from their drum and bass roots. Comprised of Gove Kidao and Jon Fogel, this Mild EP, born from a purposeful break in 2023 to experiment freely in the studio, presents a potent mix of jungle and drum and bass influences, intertwined with footwork elements and Ivy Lab's unique sound design. Tracks like "Look Away" and "N.V.T 01" showcase their knack for combining rugged bass weight with innovative production techniques, while "Kik Bak" delivers an acutely angled, pitched-up rap attack to further galvanise their radical sound.
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