AC SOUL SYMPHONY Vinilo y CD

Review: Three standout tracks from Dave Lee's 2023 album Metamorphosis - which he dropped under his AC Soul Symphony alias - now get pulled apart and reworked by the one and only Dub-disco king Ray Mang. First comes 'It's Got To Be Love' with its super funky and bubbly bass and lush string elegance, then he flips 'Tradewinds' into a deeper, still lush and lavish instrumental disco gem that is seductive and warm for the winter months. Last but not least, 'K-Jee' brings an infectious groove to the dance floor with a little more percussive energy and upbeat bounce - but again swooning strings are the icing on the cake. All three of these are classy and sophisticated reworks from the one and only Mang.

Review: Dave Lee's Z Records has always joined the dots between the best of disco past, present and future and this latest 12" is another such sublime gem. This EP opens up with a brand new cut 'Soul Underground', which takes takes a train journey to some of the most famous clubs of the disco era over a warm, bumping, string heavy backing track. Art Of Tones mix of 'I Want To See You Dance' is a funkier number with hip-swinging claps & layers of energy. Things get super smooth with 'Windy City Theme' (Glenn Underground's Orchestra Electronica mix) - an irresistibly cosmic remix of one of the most popular cuts from the Metamorphosis album. Add in the lush orchestral reprise & handy acappella and you have a joyous EP to behold.

Review: Dave Lee's "AC Soul Symphony" alias has been releasing delectable and sultry disco since 2005 but reached his magnus opus in 2023 with the release of the Metamorphosis LP. Here we find two tracks handpicked from the album and delivered, for the first time, in a 7" format. The single starts much as the album does with the track "Windy City Theme", beautifully scored, recorded, and produced legato strings envelope the track, punctuated with horns and vocals reminiscent of a Love Unlimited Orchestra production. This version of the track has been rearranged, speeding up the pacing of the track and reaching the juicy parts in a really satisfying way. On the flip side we have the title track from the album Metamorphosis, which is the first time the vocal version has been made available on vinyl. A bass laden intro gives ways to glistening pianos and those signature strings (have we mentioned how good the strings are?). A more laid back and seductive track than the A-side, but no less appealing. Again, due to the limitations of the 7" format, 'Metamorphosis' has been expertly rearranged with loving care and attention.

Review: AC Soul Symphony is one of Dave Lee's lesser-known pseudonyms, so for it to be the vehicle for an album of such extravagance, of such meticulous detail, is a real treat. Featuring live strings recorded with a 20-piece orchestra, all 15 tracks that span the epic two-hour runtime are expansive and feel as if every note was placed by hand; There's this authenticity to tracks like 'Manhattan Skyline', a CD/Digital only track which dates all the way back to 2020 and its swelling horn crescendos that transport you back to a time when disco had the world on its knees. 'Philly Avengers' is a major standout, with its killer bass grooves and dazzling Korg solo. The last of the city-related trio of singles is album opener 'Windy City Theme', a mid-tempo violin-led vocal groove that pays homage to the metropolis in Illinois. This is the CD version, featuring the full two hour tracklist.

Review: The first of two vinyl editions for house/disco megastar Dave latest album 'Metamorphosis'. Beginning with the heartstring-tugging, cello-led 'Windy City Theme' and touching familiar ground on the original, fill-laden, sunshade-touting version of 'Six Billion Dollar Man' - the 'Playout Edit' of which was already released in October - the pressing is loud enough to be playable-out, yet intricate enough to sate Lee's fans with the biggest, most meticulous, experience-honed ears.

Review: Disco mined straight from artisanal-analogue, rather than digital-mechanised, sources, this second part of the vinyl edition - like the first - is produced in collaboration with a 20-piece orchestra. An "album of pure indulgence" - as he calls it - it begins with huge, brass-and-string dominated 'The Philly Avengers' and covers a huge stylistic range, the LP inspired by Lee's memories of the golden era of TV as well as the soundtracks of his favourite childhood TV shows - in which a distinctly analogue sound abounded.

Review: This special 12" features two tracks that will not be on the vinyl version of the forthcoming AC Soul Symphony, Disco opus "Metamorphosis" featuring a 20 piece orchestra alongside a whole host of top live players. That makes it an even more vital pick up because both are pure disco fire. 'I Want To See You Dance' has the title's classic refrain repeated over big Salsoul style string licks, funky basslines and soloing piano. 'The Talented Mr Adams' is a tribute to the legendary disco producer Patrick Adams and is a super sweet swooner with golden live strings and brass backing up a loose-limbed rhythm and vamping pianos that get you in the mood for love. These two tracks act as a fine teaser for what's to come on the much-anticipated album from a contemporary version of acts like MFSB and Love Unlimited Orchestra.

Review: Z Records are kicking off 2023 in fine style with some seriously potent disco house wares, as if we would expect any less. On the A-side of this 7" we get AC Soul Symphony (Z main man Dave Lee to anyone else) having fun laying down the heat on 'The Philly Avengers' with a dramatic, wah wah toting funk explosion. On the B-side, Tiffany T'Zelle leads on vocals while Mistura handles the production for the swooning, passionate poise of 'If You Ever Need Somebody' - a future classic condensed into a radio-friendly edition for this killer 7".

Review: ave Lee has collaborated, produced or remixed many vintage soul, jazz-funk and disco artists over the years, though 'Power of the Mind' marks the first time he's worked with Billy Valentine, lead vocalist from legendary soul/jazz-funk duo the Valentine Brothers. The opening 'Redemption Mix' is particularly potent, with Valentine singing his own anti fake news lyrics over a jaunty disco-house groove rich in boogie bass, piano stabs and mazy, life-affirming piano solos. It comes accompanied by a suitably cosmic, synth-laden 'Mind Meld Dub' rework, as well as a fresh string-laden, late '70s style disco track from Lee under his lesser-known AC Soul Symphony pseudonym ('Manhattan Skyline'). It's 11 minutes of pure disco pleasure and almost as essential as 'Power of the Mind'.