WALLY BADAROU Vinilo y CD

Review: Reissues aside, this EP marks synthesizer legend Wally Badarou's first appearance on vinyl since 1989. Given the high regard in which the former Grace Jones, Herbie Hancock and Talking Heads collaborator is rightly held, this is undoubtedly big news. All four tracks were previously self-released by Badarou digitally, though all but his most dedicated fans would have missed them. "Fisherman (I'Theme)" is an undeniably jaunty, Caribbean jazz-funk treat in Badarou's trademark style, while "The Daiquri Diaries (Vintage Extended)" sees the great man soloing over a dreamy, Balearic style groove. On the flip you'll find the tropical synth-calypso of "Awa" and "Higher Still", a sublime jaunt into eyes-closed ambient territory that sounds like it come have come from Andreas Vollenweider's studio sometime in the mid 1980s.

Review: There are few certified music stars that France's Wally Badarou hasn't worked with along his illustrious career. Black Uhuru, Grace Jones and Herbie Hancock are just some of the names he's collaborated with, but the man only got to that stage thanks to his wonderful solo albums of the early '80s. His very first LP, the much-coveted Back To Scales To-Night, is a sublime boogie-soul gem and it's thanks to the collaboration between Expansion and Love Vinyl that we have it on our shelves once again. The title track is an instant hit of euphoria upon first listen, and its sonic treatment which rendered it stand-out back in the day... and still today! "One Day Won't Give It Away" is another favourite of ours, a drum-machine soul groover, but the instrumental version of "London Town" is also a reason to cop this magnetic, and refreshing soul album.

Review: Released in 1984, amidst pivotal sessions with the likes of Level 42, M and Joe Cocker, key man Wally put this ground-breaking album together. Living up to its name, this really was a future echo... Providing heaps of inspiration for the Balearic sound that was about to make its way up through Europe, you'll instantly recognise cuts such as the lolloping, dreamy "Mambo" and the luxurious electro boogie groove of "Chief Inspector". A template for so many amazing sounds that followed, Wally's legacy is crucial, and Echoes sums up why.

Review: Boogie Down Express got off to a flyer with that rather tasty 7" shaped package of edited Herbie Hancock delights, and the mystery label's second release sees them graduate to the 12" format for a further demonstration of their cutting skills. Sheila & B Devotion's famous Chic collaboration "Spacer" leads and in the hands of Boogie Down Express, the track becomes a floor-focused edit with the emphasis on the groove and hook which guarantees instant attraction without being too cheesy. Dig deeper for the supreme falsetto funk of Atlantic Starr, highlife electro boogie from Charles Amoah and superb synth cosmic funk of Wally Badarou. Four examples of great edit artistry at play, Boogie Down Express we salute you!