Bitter End Vinilo y CD

Review: Crafty disco edits delivered in fine fashion once again by the cheeky Sheffield native Bitter End for the seventh edition. On the A side we have the hypnotic and low slung chugger "Dimension Extension" which is perfect for those long hot sexy summer nights. On the flip, we have a more straight-up disco vibe on the sultry, slow-mo, modernised 1977 inspired funk-soul nugget "Be There Again".

Review: More sweet sounds from the sporadic but forever on-point, and consistently mysterious northern label Bitter End. The brilliantly titled "Vibrating James" takes us on a P-funk odyssey with jittering Parliamentarian synth squiggles and a jittering groove that could go on forever as far as we're concerned. "The House" is also cannily monikered with its stately strut, lavish piano roll and evocative vocals. We're not sure who's behind this series but with skills like these they've got nothing to be bitter about.

Review: Sheffield's Bitter End crew has always been a little blurry about which producer - or producers - is behind the consistently excellent 12" series, though different versions of some previous releases have ended up on Crooked Man albums. It appears that this EP is the work of Richard Barratt and co, too, with A-side "Incapable" - a warm, woozy and disco-flecked chunk of happy-but-sad dancefloor goodness - featuring the (un-credited) lyrics and vocals of his old buddy Roisin Murphy. That track's the standout, though piano-laden disco-tech cut "Feeling You Feeling Me" and "Princess", seemingly a rework of the A-side featuring blissful jazz guitar solos rather than a headline vocal, are also superb.

Review: The mysterious Bitter End return and its 'anonymous' controller is kicking off proceedings in a particular wonky mood. "Itchicrickitch" leads from the left foot with an off grid kick and bassline that gets all the wilier when the gutsy tribal cries weave into the mix for added intensity. "Princess (Ascension)" flips back to the label's more signature theme of outlandish funk as we're pumped from here to Jupiter and back on a synth driven disco piece that's laced with wry shades of highlife guitars and a rising hook that sucks you deeper and deeper into the groove. Bitter sweet.

Review: West End Records? What's that? This is Bitter End and you're in for some lush disco rhythms with this new badboy from the imprint's mysterious movers and shakers! "Echo Loves Narcissus (part 1)" dominates the A-side with a mighty, steel-cut groove that oozes a certain 90s nostalgia without sounding stale or overworked; the tune's punchy bass-weight and cosmic melodies make for the perfect combo. On the flip, "Get The Love" takes inspiration from the 80s EBM movement while still holding down a fine-ass house groove complete with sexy vocals and warehouse bleeps for all rave purposes...

Review: 
The vocalist on this one sure does sound like a celebrated British pop vocalist. And the hints in the mystic text accompanying it certainly don't lessen that feeling. Either way, her textured tones on 'The First Narcissus' are weaved into a gritty, low slung groove that has crashing claps and a dirty baseline that wouldn't sound out of place in the Berghain basement. On the flip, 'Jealous Groove' is a punchy but clipped disco beat with a sense of urgency and streetwise swagger that sounds true fresh. West End Records mysterious Bitter End off-shoot strikes again with this one.