Back catalogue: Disco/Reediciones

Review: "Permanent Vacation EP 2 Sampler" is a limited five track vinyl sampler with some of the highlights of Permanent Vacation's second mix CD compilation. The tracks have been handpicked by Benji Frohlich and Tom Bioly.

Review: The second sampler to precede Hometaping's forthcoming CD compilation snappily entitled Hometaping Is Fun has our stamp of approval thanks to the mammoth contribution from Deep Space Orchestra. "Louisville Slugger" is a truly epic future techno composition that ripples through various movements as its struts through the ten minutes that hog the A Side. The duo have impressed already with drops on Kirk's ART imprint and FOTO but "Louisville Slugger" has elevated them to a new level in the production stakes. On the flip Andy Ash delivers an icy punch of a track in the deep groove dynamics of "Dime Piece" whilst Italy's finest Nicholas continues his gravitation towards a pure house sound on rough bump of "Where I've Been".

Review: Big twelve from the Wurst imprint which pairs NYC underground hero Eli Escobar with the sultry tones of Jessica6 icon Nomi Ruiz. Armed with a knowledge of music that is positively enviable and a raft of releases for the likes of Plant and Money $tudies, it's strange that Escobar isn't on the receiving end of wider recognition. Whilst "Desire" is unlikely to turn him into an overnight sensation, it is a devilishly good record for the dancefloor - splaying uptempo disco rhythms over a beat reminiscent of Strafe's "Set It Off". Within all this are intricate electro arpeggios which are ridden with ease by the diva tones of Ruiz. The final echo chamber refrain is quite thrilling! On the flip Wurst boss Royston Dank dons his Beg to Differ costume with cohort Nick Chacona for a remix that swerves towards the deeper end of the house spectrum with natural aplomb.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: Manchester label Coral City is a brand new affair that launches with a standout first EP. It comes from N&W who have been on a long hiatus but show they have lost none of their skill in the meantime. Their vintage analogue sound is pure and joyful, with nods to old school Italo as well as classic French touch. The rugged beats do their thing below majestic synth work that is sweet, crystalline and catchy. The cosmic chord progressions on each track help take you higher and on this booty shaking evidence this is sure to be a label to watch.

Review: Coral City return early in 2022 with an excellent release. N&W are on duty again here with three stand-out tracks. 'Rave' the A-Side is exactly what it says on the tin. It's 808 State meets Larry Heard with a touch of Inner City. Stripped down and four to floor. Classic Roland 909 drums are met with aAhook that shakesAany dancefloor, expect early support with this. 'Speed' is a killer Nu-Disco / Boogie affair with a nod to the seedy underworld of the '80s, Picture Michelle Pfeiffer throwing shapes on the dancefloor in Scarface, and you are right on the nose. Finally, 'Cherry' is an all-out Italo / Hi-NRG workout, the linndrums, the driving arpeggio bassline and overall melancholy feel, is reminiscent of Bobby Orlando.

Review: Rothmans are back with release 9 of their ever growing vinyl only, retro football themed label and this time paying homage to the silky smoth Italian Maestro Paolo Rossi we have Berlin based Israli outfit Naduve. The debut release from this Naduve & friends finds Rothmans bringing another new dimension to their already beautifully diverse rosta with another unique record. 2 original tracks and in support on remix duties they welcome Manpower & The Claydermans to the Rothmans family. The first track Miracles From Erdine sees the guys bringing that slowed down chuggy sound that Rothmans are well renowned for whilst Nein ups the tempo a little more with a fat italo beat whilst both remaining to bring with them a unique sound oozes the Tel Aviv vibe. Bringing up the rear we have Manpower doing his thing the only way he knows how with a classic Manpower take on the track that enevatibley ends up kicking as hard as a Paolo Rossi penalty, and The Claydermans finish off the record with what can only be described as an absolute banger. If anyone wondered what the connection is between Tel Aviv & Berlin then I dont think you will hear a record this year that exemplifies it better than this . Rothmans score the winner yet again!

Review: Those who keep an eye on the more discerning end of the disco spectrum will know the Stockholm trio Name In Lights for their fine work on the FEED imprint, as well as gracing the good ship Wurst with a remix of Nick Chacona late last year. The latter should act as a beacon of taste, as does this full release for the always solid Under The Shade label which should see the trio gain wider appreciation. There's an undeniable quality to the deftness that lead track "Disco Touchdown" switches from the opening chunky disco groove into an even more substantial house bump replete with an all encompassing piano hook. Dr Dunks arrives next on remix duties and retains the originals' conceptual switch, growing from glistening dubby disco into something wholly more euphoric once the rising arpeggio pulse pushes its way to the fore. On the flip "Touch The Sky (E Track)" is a leaner groove, filled with expansive melodic touches that suddenly burst into a loose disco jaunt with a delightful vocal hook. Brooklynite Eddie Mars adds some nice electronic bass bounce to the track on a nicely paced cosmic shuffler of a remix.

Review: Since discarding illicit disco re-edits in favour of original compositions, Roy Dank's Wurst Music label has barely put a foot wrong. Echoing the revival in interest in New York for off-kilter house, Wurst has thrived by specialising in house music that appeals to the nu-disco generation. This new EP from veteran Brooklyn house producer Henry Maldonado is another great example of Wurst at its best. With Craigslist-recruited singer Javi on vocals, "Till It Hurts" is a nagging underground house/disco singalong that doffs a cap to Funhouse-era Jellybean, Prelude style synth disco and even Wurst's penchant for delay-laden piano riffage. There's also a decent dub for those who prefer instrumentals. "Push 4 Love" continues in this past/present vibe, utilising some excellent Freestyle percussion sounds, classic basement bass and even hookier vocals. The accompanying Son of Sound Dub is, if anything, even better - all Latin Rascals style edits, a stripped down groove and copious amounts of delay.

Review: DFA continue to hit the right note in the second half of 2010 with this encouraging debut release from NDF aka Bruno Pronsato and Sergio Giogini, hot on the heels of essential releases from The Crystal Ark and Jee Day. The original version of "Since We Last Met" is steeped in melancholic beauty which spreads from the warm synth melodies to the undulating kaleidoscopic chords and intermittent bursts of languid vocals. Beyond the mid point inclusion of some sub heavy kicks, this is a track that has no illusions towards crescendo building, its purpose is to enchant and delight - something that is achieved with ample success. Ricardo Villalobos makes his DFA debut across the B Side with a 12 minute plus abridged 12' edit of the suitably expansive 17 minute remix which appears on the digital release. Giogini's vocals cascade in the mix around off kilter drum programming and a bodily function sampling bassline that combines with dubby melodies for a truly hypnotic effect. Top release!

Review: The requisite weekly spotlight on a Rush Hour release falls on the ace beat programming skills of Nebraska. As the EP title suggests this is the London production don's fourth EP for our favourite label run out of a record shop in central Amsterdam. "This Is The Way" reveals itself as an immediate highlight, the track building expertly through an oscillating filtered disco groove that prevails before a drop into glorious vocal harmonies. In contrast "Bar Story" slips infectious icy key patterns over a shuffle of overdubbed percussion and vocal edits, before slipping into luminous otherworldly territory around the three minute mark. The lavish Detroit incandescence of "Ras El Hanout" proves to be equally captivating, whilst "Arrondissement" delivers a perfect example of Nebraska's talent for intricate syncopation.

Review: Madrid producer Nelue has been marked out as one of the new breed of contemporary cosmic disco, as referenced by his appearance on last years second volume of Cosmic Balearic Beats on the Eskimo imprint. He's been making waves in his homeland working with Spanish folk singer Russian Red, referred to as the Latin Feist, and something of a muse for Nelue. Their Deconstrcuted EP was released on the Love Monk imprint to some acclaim last November (thanks in no small part to a excellent remix from the underrated LSB) and Love Monk revisit the title track on this release. Veteran UK disco boogie act Crazy P is enlisted to take apart "Deconstructed" and they re-assemble it with typical aplomb. We're talking full on disco throb here with an electrified boogie bass line under pinning neat synths, orchestral arrangements and proper chugging beat.

Review: Emotional Rescue certainly laid a claim for the most esoteric of reissue endeavours last year, and they are maintaining this approach in 2013. This release sees the label dig further into the cassette archives of Kevin Harrison, focusing specifically on the Neo project the Coventry musician did in cahoots with fellow electronic explorer Peter Every from Neophyte Records. As you can tell from the primitive drum heavy tone of the music, Neo surfaced in 1985 with the 8 track cassette release Global Network. This twelve presents five of those tracks, all of which echo the pulsing electronic rhythms of the Fly EP, Emotional Rescue's previous Harrison reissue, and will find as much favour with those who sleep on the left side of disco as fans of cold wave.

Review: Leonid Nevermind's Light Is Here EP released in May on Belgium label Nowar was quite a hit for the relatively unknown artist - so much so that "Feel" and "Thymus Stimulator" are now released as remixes on Nowar with Detroit's Kris Wadsworth, Duijn & Douglas and UK deep house producer Miles Sagnia taking the role. First up is Dutch duo Duijn & Douglas and their take on "Thymus Stimulator"; their blend of deep, funky and floor orientated grooves winning the dance floor vote of the three. On the flipside Wadsworth turns "Feel" on its US jackin' head by stripping the original warmth down to raw, machine like punch. Last up is Atmosphere Existence boss Miles Sagnia who employs his usual humid deep house charm to give "Feel" a sweet and funky edge for the 'Drifting Soul' remix.

Review: The Chordz EP brings it with 3 hot new modern Boogie tracks.

Label Hero Newman opens the release with the title track 'Chordz' - a synth-fuelled dancefloor banger, reminiscent of Harvey Sutherland's recent work. Flip it over and Ourra (aka Simon Tappenden aka 'Pop Out N Play') brings us a truly Tropical treat reminiscent of Palm Trees, Pina Coladas and 80's Miami sunsets. Last but not least, Keyboardist for Brian Ellis, Adam Chini plays 'Horizons of Funk'... a lush down tempo synth funk number bringing the EP to the perfect close.

Review: With news of Beni's debut album on Modular announced this week, the other half of defunct Aussie duo Riot In Belgium - now producing under the Nile Delta pseudonym - pops up with a rather tasty new 12 inch on Cut Copy's Cutters imprint. The sun-drenched house-isms of "Channel" roll elegantly into fellow A Side offering "All This", which sees some pretty tasty remix action on the flip. The Chicken Lips malfunction is an acid tinged chugger, while Australian producer Tornado Wallace chimes in with a boompty mid tempo house workout.

Review: Fizzy boogie from Minneapolis circa 1982; Nobody cut through with a raw, energetic sound and countered with soothing, evocative soul that shimmers with their gospel roots. "I Saw You" sits somewhere between Prince and Rick James but polished with super freaky female front vocals, it's wholly unique and backs up the first pressing's pricetag of $500. "Heaven's Love" is the perfect counter with its emphatic harmonies and stately instrumentation. A serious timepiece from AOTN.

Review: A genuine funk legend, Haitian Henri Pierre first scored serious exposure in the 70s but remained criminally overlooked thereafter. Revisited by the consummate selectors at Wah Wah 45s, last year saw the re-release of his album Piano and this year they've got an even bigger treat... These two stunning, previously unreleased, cover versions. Walter Murphy's "A Fifth Of Beethoven" is a pounding exercise in key stroking and p-funk bass that playfully flirts with the classic riff before dropping it in with a bold climax. Meanwhile on the B, the jazz standard "Mercy Mercy Mercy" gets an equally vigorous disco-funk seeing to. Faultless funk; this is not to be missed.

Review: Norm De Plume stops orbiting near Earth in the Delusions Of Grandeur pod to drop two classy edits on his new Plumage imprint. It's slightly unfortunate that "Tullio's Theme" focuses on the same slice of mid 80s Balearica - "Stop Bajon" by Tullio De Piscopo - as a certain Theo Parrish does on his forthcoming release for Archive but the two versions are not really comparable musically. Sounding very much like vintage Mark E, "Tullio's Theme" is a largely instrumental tweak that adds some satisfying depth the mid tempo groove that drives the track. On the flip "Give It Up For JM2" slides the gearstick up a notch for some twilight filtered disco delight which builds towards a revealing crescendo. A limited vinyl only pressing just adds to the air of buyability that surrounds this 12 inch.

Review: United Performers presents 'Heavy Hitter', the first class reissue of Barbara Norris's magnificent disco-funk floorfiller. Although the a-side features the knockout vocal version of this classic party starter, it's the incredible dub mix - after its killer electric funk groove caused it to be the stand out track on Metro Area's Fabric mix and placed it high on many a DJ's wants list - which has made this such a highly prized 12".

Review: Despite his many years in the music business, Richard Norris hasn't released many records under his own name, choosing instead to work under a dizzying array of pseudonyms. Here he's just plain old Richard Norris, delivering a chugging, late night techno jam with audible nods to early British rave and foreboding, Meat Beat Manifesto-ish industrial grooves. The latter influence is more obvious on bonus cut "Freaks", though it's the title track that hits home hardest. As ever with Throne of Blood, the remix package is solid, with the Hardway Brothers dropping a spiraling late night interpretation of "Freaks" and Ivan Smagghe turning the same track into a wild psychedelic freak-out (sorry).

Review: The 7th Sccucci Manucci EP kicks off in moustache curling style with a Scandinavian slice of four/four action from Tarjei Nygard. On loan from his own Untz Untz Records, Tarjei Nygard weaves his way way through beautifully recorded synth bleeps and bass lines on "TOGO," culminating in a piano breakdown which will have any party reaching for the lasers. The Scandinavian vibe continues as Dane Brian Logstrup comes correct with the classic slab of deep house sound that is "I Can Do" whilst we return to the UK and the sounds of London producer Mella Dee whose UK Garage and Bass influences shine through on the peak time monster "Love Is". Last seen debuting on Buzzin' Fly, Alex Blaxx rounds off proceedings with the wonderfully insouciant house of "It's A Race Thing".

Review: Love Interest is a new label-shaped endeavour from some of the decision makers at Juno Records sporting a broad international remit, and they launch in style with a triple format release! The honour of the maiden Love Interest release falls upon Nyteowl, an artist based in Minneapolis and perhaps inspired by that city's most famous son Prince Rogers Nelson. This seven inch picture disc edition contains only the original Nyteowl rendition of "Love Of Mine" - there are some tasty remixes on the other DJ friendly formats - and the track is a deliciously sultry slice of electronic soul with a notably 80s flavour. Check those big drums!

Review: Saint-Petersburg based duo Andrey Redkov and Stas Redkov have been hugely prolific since first pairing up in 2019. They have already served up seven EPs and now arrive on Fauve with another new one. It is a second volume of their West & East series and kick off with the jittery analogue grooves and post-disco wonkiness of 'Focal Savor' which is a writhing mass of detuned synths and chattery percussion. Que Sakamoto+NT's remix is a little more smooth and groove based but still sounds unhinged. The same outfit then serve up an original, 'Ninja Wa Sugoi', which is all tense and drawn out electronics that become more techno at the hands of the Radial Gaze remix.

Review: Despite guesting on Mark Ronson's last album and working with the likes of Damon Albarn, A Trak and Beyonce's little sister in the past few years, the name Theophilius London won't be that recognisable to the large majority of people that don't hug hypem on a daily basis. After some eighteen months of bubbling under the seas of recognition, This Is Music stoke the fires with this twelve that will pique the interest of many thanks to a trademark E Funk refix of "Overseas" from Soul Clap. A delightfully mid tempo tweak that drops plenty of Charlie Levine's trademark beautiful melodies and basslines over a heavy beat, this is a remix that's been hot gossip since Catz n Dogz included it in their RA podcast. On the flip, Tru Thoughts and Sofrito artist Natural Self provides a remix of "Calypso Blues" that proves to be every bit as impressive as the Boston duo, with a tropical house groove drenched in a brilliant multiplicity of rasping percussive elements.