Review: ANAZANAUT is a time-bending audio artefact stitched together from decades of disparate sonic moments. With recordings spanning from 1984 to 2024, the techno project feels like a cosmic scrapbook-fragmented memories reborn through meticulous remixing and remastering. From the icy atmospherics of 'Voice on the Air' to the vintage grit of 'Poacher Path (Extended Mix),' these tracks vibrate with echoes of past lives stitched together by a logic only time understands. ANAZANAUT doesn't follow a linear path; it loops, folds, and bends with compelling grooves and myriad occult sounds adding character and curiosity.
Review: French producer Antoine Bourachot returns with his third release, delivering a trio of original tracks that blend his sharp ear for melody with a clear affection for groove-driven pop and club sounds. The warm, percussive edge of his productions hint at late-night sets and sunlit afterhours, bringing a jaunty mutant disco. Myd, Diogo Strausz and Art of Tones each offer their own take on the material, turning in remixes that stretch from laid-back funk touches to punchier zoomings into the floor. Bourachot's ability to sit comfortably between radio-friendly hooks and crate-digging sensibility makes this a record with plenty of replay value, balancing polish and playfulness in equal measure.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Spacewoman (instrumental) (5:45)
Let Go (4:31)
Dark Waver (5:09)
In The Night (4:46)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Polish sensation Charlie delivers the instrumental mix of title track, 'Spacewoman,' on Wrong Era. It is a real gem that features powerful percussion and mesmerising, infectious arpeggios that stay true to her authentic Proto-Italo style. Charlie's mysterious vocals craft an esoteric narrative with lyrics like "I fly where infinity expands" propelling listeners deeper into her universe and the euphoric chorus offers a transcendental experience that only adds to the interstellar journey.
Review: Spanish label NeighbourSoul bring a heraldic design sensibility to wildout disco edits on 12", with this latest record taking on a leonine art direction on the inner label and sleeve. A top-up to their enduring vinyl-only series, this one hears a resident editor arride four more most-pleasing disco loops, believably emulating a bygone time in which DJs would sticker and knife their records to create workable tools, in the absence of software.
2001 Disco Party (Dave Lee Psychedelic Funk mix) (10:15)
Potion Of Love (Dave Lee Synth Vamp) (6:13)
2001 Disco Party (Dave Lee Strut Your Strat dub) (6:58)
Review: Dave Lee continues to be one of Britain's most accomplished disco dons. An established remixing extraordinaire, proven once more here as he tackles some stunning Disco-Funk heaters. First is the Psychedelic Funk mix of '2001 Disco Party' a hypnotic, sweat inducing slab of frenzied funk-action, did we mention this release brings the funk enough? His Synth Vamp mix of 'Potion Of Love' is a must for hi-energy synth solo aficionados, backed up with glorious strings, pulsating guitar and classic disco diva vocals. Last of all his 'Strut Your Strat Dub' of the opener brings irresistible guitar frets to the party, doubling down on the groove factors for some serious heads down, hands up feet stomping.
Black Sun (Joe Claussell Classic instrumental mix) (10:44)
Review: Joe Claussell is a proper legend of the scene and New York powerhouse who has a sound so emotionally intense it brings people to tears. Here, he breathes new life into the Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra with a powerful remix of 'Black Sun' that arrives exclusively for Record Store Day 2025. Since debuting in 2014, the Orchestra, which features Azymuth's Jose Roberto Bertrami and Alex Malheiros, has attracted top remixers like Theo Parrish and DJ Spinna, and Claussell now joins that esteemed list by infusing the original with his signature spiritual energy and rawness. The result is a euphoric journey towards pure ecstasy driven by Heidi Vogel's soaring vocals as classic disco and grooves collide in pure magic.
Review: Established in the UK in 2009 as master-builders of disco-house builds in the late naughty noughties, Instruments Of Rapture first cut the red tape with Ilija Rudman's 'Part Four' and lasted for just three years until 2012. And while the early axing was a shame, we think real works of art are those which are short-lived but profuse in quality. Now kicking back into gear after almost 15 years, the label now return to double up as both label and moniker, humorously titled 'You're Cured Mate'. Described as a "soundtrack more hypnotic and deadly than ever", this new one follows 'The Formula' of cut-short, hypno-loop lyrics and carnal felid whispers (especially in '7 Grams Of Funk'), marking an EPs' worth of subtle libertinage in 2025, the year of the snake.
Review: For the latest must-check missive on their self-titled label, London twosome Make-a-Dance have decided to pay tribute to the formative 'garage-house' sounds made for, and played at, New York clubs in the mid 1980s. Rising star Magari steps up first with 'Mars Bar', a Larry Levan-friendly affair where soulful, reggae style vocal samples ride a Boyd Jarvis-esque bassline and warm synths. It's very authentic to the sound being paid tribute to, as is Mark Seven's accompanying (and lightly freestyle influenced) 'Parkway Power' rework. Over on the reverse, Ilija Rudman takes over with 'Danceteria', a proto-garage house affair whose title offers a nod to the infamous NYC venue of the same name. Manuel Durquart remixes, retaining the nostalgic vibe while adding extra trippy layers of sound, a sturdier early NYC house groove and mazy synth solos.
Review: The majestic Monsieur Van Pratt is back with more of his thrilling studio work, and once again he reinvents classic disco tracks with modern flair. The third instalment in this series is characterised by a distinctly underground energy that defines the "Illegal Disco" vibe. The opener 'Volar Como El Viento' is a soaring rework filled with airy synths that evoke freedom and lightness. 'Al Anochecer' re-energises a disco classic with an upbeat twist, while 'Mi Amor' is all about intimacy and passion through sultry, Spanish-inspired tones. Once again colliding nostalgia and innovation as he always does, Monsieur Van Pratt delivers a masterclass in modern disco reinterpretation that will also bring together all sorts of dancers.
Review: Under the Linkwood alias, Nick Moore has released a wealth of fine material since debuting in the late 2000s - including a string of sublime albums and EPs. Last year he popped his re-edit cherry alongside The Mighty Zaf via a two-tracker paying tribute to the late, great Phil Asher. Here he takes the next step, delivering a first solo scalpel missive via the reliable and long-running Moton imprint. On side A, the Edinburgh producer attempts to 'Make It Better' via a razor-and-tape style edit of a slap-bass-sporting, synth-wielding slice of early 80s disco-boogie perfection. We have no idea of the source material, but the lightly extended track is as infectious as it is intriguing. Over on side B, 'No Easy' is a sweet, string-laden slab of mid-tempo disco-soul sweetness, while 'Brekkers' is a squelchy, up-tempo electrofunk workout tailor-made for break-dancers.
Review: Straight from the heart of Italy in 1991, Q-Base's Atmosphere EP remains a deep house masterpiece, and a prototype for modern day coinage "downtempo" at that. Made by Andrea Gemolotto and Claudio Zennaro, 'Atmospheres' provides not just atmospheres but geospheres, lithospheres, exospheres, and stratospheres of sound, arresting the full potential of the frequency spectrum between its languorous and unhurried beats. The pioneering DFC label saw to its claim in deep house history, and now it's back in a newly repackaged edition, featuring the three timeless tracks from the original 1991 release alongside a powerful bonus: the Idjut Boys' electrifying 1999 remix.
Review: We don't know anything about R&C, but they do not do anything in a hurry, whoever they may be. The artist's self-titled label was birthed in 2021, and this is only its fifth outing. A glorious one it is too, however: 'Stars' has (we think) Italian vocals soaring in smoochy, carefree fashion over expressive Spanish guitar with modern deep, dubby drums slowly moving things on below. It's a perfect sundown sound for parties on the Med and 'Brillantina' is an edit of the classic funky and soulful disco gem 'Grease' by Barry Gibb and recorded by Frankie Valli. It's going to bring lots of fun to an open-air dance near you this summer.
Review: 'Thermae' feels like a track that's more about the spaces between the notes than the notes themselves. Featuring Andy Baxter on guitar, bass, and drums, along with Jim Piela on saxophone and Francesca Uberti on piano, it's a laid-back, almost meditative piece that brings to mind the warm, smooth vibes of Khruangbin and Glass Beams. The track is sparse, but not in a way that feels emptyithere's a certain tension in the way it unfolds, with each instrument carving out its own space. The saxophone, in particular, stands out with an FX-laden part that evokes the mood of Robohand's 'Palms' LP from 2023, adding a touch of depth and atmosphere that lingers in the background. There's a nice balance between the organic and the electronic here, which shows in how the track was recorded between London and New York. It's all mixed and mastered with care by Sean Woodlock and John Webber, ensuring that each element, no matter how subtle, shines through in its own time. It's a reflective piece that doesn't demand attention, but invites it when you're ready.
Review: In this offering, the Italian project led by Stefano Trione, pairs the lush 80s-inspired groove of 'In The Sand' with the unreleased gem 'Tudo Pra Ela,' a sultry disco track that embodies the warmth and richness of Tirone's signature style. 'In The Sand' pays homage to the rare groove classic from iLevel, its tropical rhythm and sunny vibe transported through Julia St. Louis's breezy vocals and Marco Brioschi's trumpet melodies, creating an almost cinematic dancefloor experience. On the flip, 'Tudo Pra Ela' delves into a sophisticated disco sound, where Toco's delicate vocals intertwine with sensual backing from Priscila Ribas and a bassline from Edu Hebling that carries the track effortlessly into the early 80s. The perfect synthesis of Stefano's love for vintage sounds and contemporary finesse.
Review: Sgt Slick kicks off their new own Sgt Slick Recuts label which is presumably going to deal in red hot edits of big house and disco tunes, with a new four 12" that does just that. 'Replay' is feel good house music with funky bass and soulful vocals that will get hands in the air, no doubt. 'Wait' then pairs a well known vocal line with some super smooth and rolling soulful house groves and 'In The Air' is another one with a timeless singalong vocal that is reworked into some percussion laced house beats. Add in the big disco of '45 Theme' and 'Running' and you have a versatile EP.
Review: Talking Drums return with Volume 8, another leftfield disco delight from the Manchester-based crew known for their genre-hopping, floor-filling edits. This latest 12" twists vintage grooves into fresh, club-ready energy, blending Euro-NRG, deep disco cuts and Balearic euphoria with their usual offbeat charm. The A-side, 'Fever Dreams', is a full-throttle, sweat-dripping workoutisequencers throb, horns wail and twin basslines drive the track forward with an unrelenting urgency. A cheeky vocal and a breakdown primed for peak-time chaos make this one irresistible for late-night mischief. On the flip, 'Too Hot' dials down the BPM but keeps the heat on, its laid-back disco strut laced with silky strings, funky breaks, and shimmering Rhodes keys. Then there's 'Maximum Balearic Dancer', a sun-soaked closer that takes a fragment of Swiss fusion and transforms it into a hypnotic, flamenco-tinged groove, complete with breezy synths and a soaring piano solo. With their latest releaseiexpect this one to become a secret weapon for DJs who like their edits playful, punchy and a little bit unpredictable.
Review: Whether or not this label is named in reference to long-life semi-skimmed milk, we do not know, but the tunes on it are certainly fatter than the 2% you get with UHT. 'Set Your House In Order' is the sort of raw, from-the-heart soul sound that will bring any floor to rapture with its gospel influenced lyrics, big horns and neat organ chords. It's a real dancer, while 'Lego Brick Road' is more of a funk-strutter with moody bass and upright kicks embellished with some warped vocals and playful licks. Two gems.
Review: Second time around for eccentric Sheffield trio The All Seeing I's sole full-length excursion, 1999's Pickled Eggs & Sherbert, which here lands on vinyl for the first time.The album, a celebration of Steel City creativity featuring cameos from Cocker, Tony Christie, Babybird and the Human League's Phil Oakey, is best remembered for hit singles 'The Beat Goes On', 'Walk Like a Panther' - lyrics reportedly penned by Jarvis Cocker - and 'The First Man in Space', but there are plenty more highlights amongst the unique blends of fractured dancehall rhythms, redlined electronica, oddball easy listening references, experimental d&b rhythms and genuine leftfield pop nous. For proof, check out blissful acapella number 'No Return' (where Lisa Millett plays a starring role), the breathless, bass-heavy house of 'Sweet Music', the weighty madness of 'I Walk' and the exotica-goes-big beat flex of 'Happy Birthday Nicola'.
Review: Sensory Blending hears Finnish artist Jimi Tenor and Italian group Aura Safari team up for an impromptu studio shebang in Perugia, Italy, after Tenor's storied but clandestine performance at a Hell Yeah party. Despite no prior connection, the musicians quickly found common ground, forging a vivant fusion of jazz-funk, tropicalia and soul. Tenor's psychedelic style gelled Aura Safari's faster, intuited approach, resulting in such tracks as 'Bodily Synesthesia,' 'Bewitched By The Sea' and 'Lunar Wind', each of which connect seductive grooves and ghost noted keys. Possibly performed live at select events later in the year, the record is a perfect storm of recorded "live feel" Balearica.
Review: Now working under the alias Balaphonic, long serving Manchester artist Danny Ward steers his ear for percussion into something warm, rhythmically rich and hypnotic. He opens with 'Sunflowers in Dub (Deep Summer Mix)', where sitar, harmonica and fluttering keys glide across a humid dubscape, then folds in sun-dappled samba on 'Disorganics (All Strings Mix)', all brushed guitars and delicate groove. 'Six Fingers' leans deeper into Afro-Cuban melancholy, while 'Udders' chops South American drums into psychedelic loops, teasing out low-end heft. A standout collaboration with Ocean Waves Brasil, 'Oxum' blends gentle acid with dreamy textures and Afro-Brazilian swing, before closer 'Bloco Manco' lets off the brakes-delay-lashed, bass-heavy and totally locked-in. It's music built for dancefloors, but with the patience and touch of a drummer who knows when to let things breathe.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
The Universe In A Nutshell
Pure Love (feat Damon Albarn)
Der Fall (feat Sophia Kennedy)
Wie Schon Du Bist (feat Arnim Teutoburg-Weiss & The Dusseldorf Dusterboys)
Tu Dime Cuando (feat Ada & Sofia Kourtesis)
The Talented Mr Tripley
What About Us (feat Markus Acher Of The Notwist)
Unbelievable (feat Ada)
A Donde Vas? (feat Soap&Skin)
Vamos A La Playa (feat Soap&Skin)
Die Gondel (feat Sophia Kennedy)
Brushcutter (feat Marley Waters)
Buschtaxi (album version)
Aruna
Umaoi (feat Marewrew)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
In the seven years that have passed since the release of his last solo album, DJ Koze has become one of electronic music's most celebrated and sought-after producers. For that reason, the release of Music Can Hear Us is a genuinely big deal - as the impressive roll call of guest vocalists and collaborators (Damon Albarn, Sophia Kennedy, Ada, Notwist and Marley Waters included) attests. Typically, alongside a handful of genuine dancefloor workouts in his skewed deep house style ('Buschcutter', 'Bush Taxi'), Koze serves up far more fine material that is less easy to categorize - think Indian-influenced downtempo exotica ('The Universe In a Nutshell'), off-kilter outsider electronica ('The Talented Mr Tripley'), jangly psych-Balearic excursions ('Arunda') and heady ambient soundscapes ('A Donde Vas?'). Spots in end of year 'best of' lists await.
Review: Since his debut with Schema Records in 2001, Gerardo Frisina has poured his soul into modernising styles such as Latin jazz, funk, and soul. In Sight Vol. 1 now introduces a fresh batch of such cosmo-futuristic moodsetters, continuing a trend that was first set in motion with his debut Moving Ahead (2020). Now the new album, preluded by singles 'Mindoro' and 'Desejar', hears seven tracks, including a cinematic bossa supernova 'O SoNho' as well as an exclusive cut from a rare and revered 10" deep cut from 2009. Frisina's attention to detail ensures the standout vibe of each composition, bringing a one-of-a-kind club-orientation to a rich atmospheric mantle.
Review: As they mark over two decades of collaboration, HTRK continue to thread past and present with a new, upcoming reissue of Rhinestones. First self-released in 2021, the album marked a stylistic turn for Standish and Yang, embracing a sparse and haunted approach to songwriting inspired by gothic country and Western folk minimalism, contrasting their earlier dub-punk dramatics. More emotionally forthright as their records go, it drifts over echoic acoustic textures, hushed vocals, and a characteristic metronomic pulse, conjuring a shadowy, intimate atmosphere. A landmark release epitomising their noted progression out from minimal-wave origins to "gentler, more inviting" territory, Rhinestones motivated a quiet resurgence for the band. This reissue follows the 2024 repress of their debut Marry Me Tonight and the collaborative 'String Of Hearts' EP, with reinterpretations from peers like Loraine James and Liars, reaffirming HTRK's strong creative orbit.
Review: The cult Slow Life label has always operated at the more cosmic end of the house and minimal spectrum with speedy grooves designed to make an impact both physically and emotionally. Now a member of the collective, Indi Zone who is half of the Ethereal Logic project, steps out with a solo debut album that flips the script and explores organic grooves and blissful harmonies. It's an escapist delight with supple downbeat drums and gorgeous synth work that ranges from wispy to starry, watery to smeared. It paints a vivid picture of a heavenly tropical wonderland with endless neon glows and soft edges in which to get lost.
Review: Released in 2000, Poison is the third studio album by Swedish singer-songwriter Jay-Jay Johanson, having earned his place as a stalwart figure thanks to his melancholic vocals set to perspirant trip hop. From 'Believe in Us' to 'Colder,' not to mention the toxicologist's favourite 'Poison,' we're met again with Johanson's signature downtempos and experientially charged lyrics. Sophisticated atmospherics abound, bridging the all-to-intimate gap between sexuality and the unknown.
Review: For over 20 years, Clay Emerson and Ian Pullman aka Loess have quietly built a reputation for crafting intricate, deeply atmospheric electronica and Battens, their fifth album on Califonrian label n5MD, sees them refining their signature aestheticistill grayscale and shadowy, but now imbued with a subtle warmth. The Opener 'Strake' features layered static hums and a slow, hypnotic beat that cycles like waves against a submerged structure. 'Halyard' introduces brittle textures and crisp rhythms, evoking wind-swept landscapes. 'Crowhurst' builds tension with submerged chords and fractured percussion. The haunting 'Koepcke' carries a sense of disorientation and search for stability, while 'Endoctamb' recalls Chain Reaction's most introspective moments, yet with a looser, more organic quality. Closing with 'Rime', Battens embraces silence, with glacial melodies fading into the ether. Throughout, the duo masterfully manipulates sound and space, allowing moments of stillness to breathe between pulsing rhythms and submerged harmonies. There's an undeniable human element in how these tracks moveilike the slow, inevitable shift of nature itself. More than just an exercise in sound design, Battens is a transportive experience, cold yet comforting, stark yet alive recording.
Review: The Situation collective, led by Mr. Mulatto and Frank Situation, returns with their new album Audio Proxemics. It's a rich, genre-blurring journey across nine tracks of soulful nu-disco, jazz-infused house and broken beat featuring global collaborators like Javonntte, Venessa Jackson and Faze Action's Robin Lee. The album highlights Situation's deep musical roots with live instrumentation that ranges from shimmering keys to brassy horns and guitars which elevate each track beyond mere tool status. From the club-ready sparkle of 'Mrs Donovan' to the sun-drenched groove of 'Bullit,' this is a warm, musical celebration perfect for summer days and late-night sessions.
Review: With A Real Piece Of Work, Stillhead helps Brightest Dark Place reach into the "hazy, blurred overlap between techno and ambient", throwing a suspension chord between two bluffs over a vast sonic chasm, and letting terse rhythms monkey-swing across it, letting reverb bellow from below. This is an equally dynamic but intense listening experience, proving that vast, chasmic sound design need not chafe against dynamic buoyancy: the two can coexist. Keeping to about 170BPM, the Edinburgh DJ marks his sixth release here, and it is an impressive logical extension from 2022's comparable mission statement Restraint And Reverb: 'The Red Ball' suspends a sampled 'Funky Drummer' over an atoll of sub compulsions, while 'A Light Thump On The Head' stretches a classic future garage rhythm over a telegraphic void, with dispersive, long-decaying results.
B-STOCK: Case cracked, product in perfect working order
Novo Band - "Slowdancin'"
In Touch - "Why Did You Stop Loving Me?"
Poncho C Saint Fingers - "When I Come Knocking"
Haywood Tucker - "I'm Yours"
Spence - "Gonna Party"
Eric Rapier - "Lipstick"
Jimmy Scott - "Games"
Promise - "Betcha'"
Roger Parish - "(You Knows) Who Loves You The Most"
Haywoode - "Divided Love"
The Waters - "Baby I Got It"
Destinnee - "Cinderella"
Andrew Longston & Arn Ashwood - "Living Together"
Review: ***B-STOCK: Case cracked, product in perfect working order***
Some 21 years after volume one appeared in stores, PTG's ongoing Masterpiece: The Ultimate Disco Funk Collection series has reached its 36th instalment. Given the series' longevity and the sheer number of tracks already showcased across volumes one to 35, the cuts on display here are genuine rarities, cult classics and sought-after gems. As usual, highlights are plentiful, from the soulful vocals, dreamy chords and rubbery slap-bass of In Touch's 'Why Did You Stop Loving Me' and the boogie-era sunshine shuffle of 'I'm Yours' by Hollywood Tucker, to the big studio swell of Spence's mid-80s jam 'Gonna Party', the 80s soul smoothness of Jimmy Scott's 'Games' and the synth bass-propelled post-boogie brilliance of 'Divided Love' by Haywoode.
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