IRMA Italy Vinilo y CD

Review: Don Carlos' 'Aqua' is the second album to be released by the Varese-based producer, and in its day, it came to be renowned for its rare white label edition (contrasting to the main version which contained a smug-looking Don on its blue-tinged front). The generic version became a collectors' item, thanks to a combination of its tasteful design and the inclusion of the classic house track 'Alone' which shocked the dance music community at the time of its release. Now, finally, the generic version gets an unlikely reissue, with many remixes of Alone in tow, not to mention obscurer tracks like 'Ipnotica' and 'Move Your Body'.

Review: Don Carlos will always be best known as the legendary Italian producer behind the enduring Balearic and Italo/dream house classic 'Alone' which was, rather impressively, his first ever release. Here we get to hear some of his favourite tunes on another vital volume of this series from his longtime home label Irma Records. All the tracks on this essential double pack have been re-edited by Don Carlos himself, especially for this occasion with highlights from the likes of Deep Aural Penetration, Love Nation and Outdance.

Review: Following a rework of their 1991 hit 'I'm Gonna Love You' on Groove Culture back in April, Italian soul legends Jestofunk get their 1997 album Universal Mother reissued on IRMA. Comprised of northerners Alessandro Staderini, Claudio 'Moz-Art' Rispoli and Farias, they went on to release six albums. All the anthems you probably remember still sound as good on here as they did 24 years ago, such as the disco explosion of 'Be A Warrior' featuring vocals by legend Ce Ce Rogers, the deep down and dirty groove of 'Special Love' with the one and only Jocelyn Brown, to the funky acid jazz joint "If You've Got It, You'll Get It" with percussionist Bill Summers and Fred Wesley on the trombone. Timeless.

Review: Since appearing in limited numbers back in 2019, vinyl copies of Luca Trevisi's seventh album as LTJ Xperience, Deepening of a Groove, have swapped hands for surprising sums online. IRMA has responded by delivering this reissue. We're glad they have, because it's one of the Italian veteran's strongest sets - a wonderfully groove-driven fusion of chugging disco, deep house, jazz-funk, soul and sample-rich club cuts that's packed to the rafters with playable treats. Our picks of a very strong bunch include the acid-flecked loop funk of 'Deeper', the rolling swamp funk headiness of harmonica-laden future classic 'I'm Coming Down', the sensual nu-disco soul of 'Infiltrator', and the bluesy, slow-motion hypnotism of standout 'Black Feeling'.

Review: Bologna's Irma label always does a top job of delving into the archives to serve up on point retrospective compilations. House Classics: Sounds Of The 90's is another case in point and it kick off with a seriously seminal tune from Balearic beat master Don Carlos. 'Alone' is pure sunset house to send shivers down the spine. From there you get plenty more definitive house sounds all with a deeper bent, jazzy melodies and the sort of proper musicality that you don't get so often on modern tunes. From the New York bump of Be Noir's 'Give Me Your Love' (Philadelphian mix) to the Italo and Med' vibes of Riviera TRaxx's 'Parfume 1' this is a real feel good selection.