Space Grapes Vinilo y CD

Review: When Danilo 'MCDE' Plessow and Bobby van Putten established their Space Grapes label last year, it was their stated intention to present 'the best in contemporary live dance music'. What they meant, we suspect, was releases like this debut album from van Putten's Another Taste combo - a four-piece whose colourful and sonically authentic sound rooted in boogie, 80s electrofunk and obscure, private press disco. The results are undeniably impressive, sounding something like a long-lost album from 1983 - complete with kaleidoscopic synths, soulful vocals and killer basslines - of the kind that dusty-fingered crate diggers consider a 'holy grail'. Highlights include the Plessow co-produced boogie brilliance of 'Anything You Want' and the funky bassline driven mid-tempo disco-soul of 'Time Is On My Side'.

Review: Arp Frique & The Perpetual Singers might sound like a legacy supersonic jazz act, but they're in fact a nascent formation, surfing on pre-established waves drummed up by the band initially fronted by Niels Nieuborg. Now reforming as a five-piece band extra-dubbed the Perpetual Singers, 'Frique brought a potent fusion of P-funk and Houston disco hybrid in 2024, kicking off with the self-released 'Feather Father/Elena' and now continuing the jam with three newly remixed versions by Another Taste. Divine, pentitent and shriving, the likes of 'Holy Ghost' and 'Father Father' focus squarely on higher powers above, as a universal vessels for funk expression and bombast.

Review: The Space Grapes return with a 12" EP from the Italian trio Collettivo Immaginario which is made up of LA-based drummer Tommaso Cappellato, pianist Alberto Lincetto and bassist Nicolo Masetto. Known for their experimental fusion of eclectic jazz, funk, downtempo beats and vintage Italian library music, this release marks a fine exploration of Italian vocals. The A-side, 'Luce' features a vibrant mix of 80s jazz-funk and boogie in an extended, energetic version. On the B-side, 'Luna Gioia' presents a contemporary take on downtempo Brazilian funk and slow disco complemented by an instrumental version that highlights the music's intrinsic beauty.