DJS: MOST CHARTED - DISCO - MOST CHARTED APRIL 2014

Review: He's taken his time, but finally Norwegian nu-disco legend Todd Terje has delivered a debut album befitting his immense talents. While there are plenty of examples of his vibrant, synth-heavy dancefloor style on It's Album Time - see "Delorean Dynamite", "Inspector Norse", "Strandbar" and the Lindstrom-ish grandiosity of "Oh Joy" - what really makes it such an essential set are the curious turns and oddball moments. Samba, jazz and easy listening get the Terje treatment on "Alfonso Muskedunder", "Leisure Suit Proben" and "Svensk Sas", while there's a welcome dose of wide-eyed Balearica on the tweaked "Swing Star" (one of a string of previously released cuts on the album). Most interesting of all, though, is "John & Mary", a woozy, Roxy Music style cover of a Robert Palmer classic featuring the effervescent Bryan Ferry.

Review: The last producer to appear on the Sleazy Beats Black Ops series was Max Graef, sharing space with Andy Hart on Heavy Setters EP in the summer of 2013, and since then the young Berliner's career has sky rocketed (as indeed has the record with Hart which is now changing hands for seriously silly money on the used circuit). It's tempting to see how Finnish producer Saine fairs after people acquaint themselves with his Business Hours EP for Black Ops, certainly it demonstrates a nice cultivation in style and approach from previous releases on Odd Socks and Musthave Records. Equally adept at producing instrumental head nodders or raw MPC-style beatdown grooves, Saine focuses on the latter across the three cuts here with the disco flecked finale "Scrabble" the highlight of a very strong release indeed.

Review: ** REPRESS ALERT ** Emotional Especial return with a release from Romanian duo Khidja that comes packing some excellent remixes from senor Fairplay and Juju & Jordash! Brought to the attention of EE thanks to Hardway Brother Sean Johnston, who returned from a Bucharest DJ gig singing the praises of two young DJs, Khidja's productions are as impressive as their selections on the evidence here. "Mustafa" is more immediate with shuffle percussion, swirling sirens and acid bubbles leading to a perfect horn break. In the hands of Mr Fairplay, the track takes on anthemic qualities; the stabbing bass and build have allegedly seen howls of appreciation when it's dropped at A Love From Outer Space. "Abdul" finds Khidja in a more calming mood reminiscent of Art of Noise, though the kick and bass ensure there is plenty of rhythmic emphasis, whilst the Juju & Jordash remix edges towards a Balearic digidub vibe.

Review: Brothers Simon and Robin Lee have long excelled at the album format, delivering occasional sets that ripple with impressive musicality, sinewy strings, cozy downtempo moods and upbeat dancefloor moments. Body of One, their fourth full length (their first dropped on Nuphonic back in 1997), continues this trend, offering a compelling trip through the pair's myriad influences. After opening with a sweaty post-punk thumper ("Prisoner of Your Love"), we're variously treated to Italo-influenced vintage house ("Magic Touch"), rubbery disco-funk ("Freak For Your Love"), Arthur Russell-influenced tropical downtempo pop ("Caruso's Monkey House"), dreamy Balearica ("Floating World") and string-laden gorgeousness. As for the title track, it sounds like So-era Peter Gabriel.

Review: Nurtured by Mudd and owners of their own stunning live band, Paqua should really deliver more Balearic bliss than they have. As we wait tentatively for more heartfelt, organic sun-kissed soul, Claremont 56 have commissioned some incredible remixes... "Late Train" gets a full cosmic treatment from the Idjut Boys while Emperor Machine takes it down a dark alley and roughs it up with a series of analogue synth slaps. Ray Mang, meanwhile, focuses on the dreamiest aspects of "The Visitor" and rearranges and polishes them in a way that's reminiscent of a certain Andrew Ashong. Stunning.

Review: Consummate editors Ed Wizard and Disco Double Dee let loose with two more finely crafted disco reversions. "Get On Up" takes T.S Monk's disco funk classic "Get On Up & Dance" and gives it a full strength contemporisation with big hip-snapping beats that forge a groove that stomps well into the next century. "Need U", meanwhile, is a more subtle take complete with an infectious series of loops and cosmic overtones. Both absolutely kill it.

Review: Arguably one of the first ever dubplate labels, Sunshine Sound was home to limited runs of DJ-friendly versions throughout the 70s and early 80s. Most are long gone, but the "Unreleased Version" series continues to unearth the existing gems. Having previously dusted off a very special version of Candido, they return with three more exclusive rubs; a super-slinky boogie take of Taana Gardner's 1979 "Paradise Express", a thriving, drum-heavy take on the lolloping bass jam "Loosen Up" and the piano-slapping strutting "Hot Fun" where Dee Dee Sharp's vocals provide the ultimate sensuous showdown. As limited as the original acetate presses, this needs urgent attention.

Review: Boom! The good ship Golf Channel returns with the first of two essential offerings and a label debut for the killer Africaine 808. The Berlin-based duo Dirk Leyers and Nomad comprise Africaine 808 and those with a regular vinyl habit will know them from last year's DJ Muscle series from WT Records. As their name suggests, the usage of the 808 is key to the Africaine 808 sound, and their output thus far can be comparable with the music of Comeme albeit with a focus on some of Leyer and Nomad's personal favourite African and island funk tracks. The pair debut on Golf Channel with a two-track 12? that features some excellent graf style sleeve art done by Nomad. DO NOT SLEEP

Review: With their sumptuous grooves, attention to detail and relaxed soulfulness, the Common Edit releases have quickly become must-have items for those who seek re-edits crafted with a deft touch. Here, the Canadian label drops another tasty hand-stamped 7" featuring typically sensual reworks from friends of the family Khotin and Dane. "Jospehina's Groove", all low-key soft shuffle, winding synths and sensual strings, is particularly impressive, not least in its reverential approach to the source material. There's a little more of a cosmic flavour to the deep, woozy grooves of "Prince Video", whose space noises, lazy synth bass and tumbling guitars occasionally give way to sublime strings.

Review: Moon B takes it back to the old school that is PPU! Atlanta-based analogue funkateer Wes Gray made his debut proper as Moon B back in 2012 on People's Potential Unlimited, and has since found further acclaim with a killer EP for London label Going Good and releases as Vaib-R and Sean Sanders for Nous and Hot Mix. Andrew Morgan's PPU has always been something of a home base for Moon B material however, with several other cross format releases in recent times. The suitably titled II is the second Moon B long player and pulls eight tracks from the home studio recordings of Wes Gray made over the past few years with that signature "slank rhythms and cutting basslines you've grown accustomed to" present and correct!

Review: Brooklyn label Razor N Tape is becoming increasingly well regarded in the edit community, returning here with their tenth release and it's an introduction for newcomer Caserta. Those who scour Soundcloud on the reg will be familiar with Boston-based Caserta who's been throwing up examples of his edit expertise on the orange and white place for the past year. Six tracks deep, the Dynamics EP shows Caserta's style incorporates thumping sample-laden hip-hop grooves, nu disco and bumping old-school house. Furthermore there's a deftness to his touch on cuts such as "Nobody Believed" and "All My Dreams" that sets Caserta apart.

Review: It's often said by platitude lovers that good things come to those that wait, but that's certainly the case with Norm De Plume's Plumage label. Inaugurated by the London based DJ and producer back in 2011, Norm's taken his time and finally issues a second Plumage 12" much to the joy of discerning discotheque selectors everywhere. The signature NDP slow-build is in full effect on "Ohio Replayed", a deep, sparse groover that chugs and swings in all the right places before revealing it's source material. On the B Side "Stretchin' Gretchen" sounds like a doped up Ron Hardy going to town on some Brazilian Disco.

Review: Smokecloud's Edinburgh correspondent B Jam returns with a second split release with Enos, vibing off that intersection between head nod heavy hip hop and slo mo disco. This ain't no hip house tho! Fans of golden era Fat City records will be all over this seven inch, especially opening cut "Momentary" that lays down a thick layer of dust over a deftly spliced vocal hook. B Side track "The Time Has Come" sounds sleepy but pay close attention and you'll realise all manner of intricate production trickery has gone into it's execution.

Review: The Africa Shakedown label coined one of last year's surprise hits with it's debut release, and the label's second release is likely to prove just as popular. Noema features once more and the Salon Zur Wilden Renate resident has collared contributions from Eddie C, Axel Boman and the Soft Rocks crew. Eddie C is first up with the irresistibly groovy "O Ye" which wouldn't look out of place on a Red Motorbike 45 dinker, whilst Noema conjures up the spirit of Bill Laswell on the dubby, scratchy production "The Shake". Studio Barnhus co-founder Boman is probably the biggest draw here and his rerub of the uncredited "Bayaya" should be familiar to anyone that's caught a DJ set from the fun loving Swede. Soft Rocks bring it home with the heavily delayed jammer "Disco Machine". Strong moves all round here sir.

Review: The Noodleman presents the debut on his own label, and it's special in every direction. Highly limited and hand stamped, synth vibes abound as we're sedated by big atmospheric pads, a sweet slo-mo beat, synth-tom fills and a Moroder style arpeggio bass. With subtle filters applied to the keys, it's a moment of true sonic luxury. Remix-wise Eddie C gets his early 90s jack on with heavier drums and a more driving groove. Truly timeless.

Review: Beautiful beach music from Green Linez 2012 album Things That Fade, everything about "Hibiscus Pacific" sparkles and ripples with Balearic sonic majesty. Remix-wise Sorcerer adds a slightly heavier beat and a spell-binding series of arpeggios, Jaques Renault takes us deeper into the dance with a cool sense of techno infectiousness by way of nagging hi-hats and spooked out stretches and Moon B kicks it old school with a New Atlantic style 808 jam that fits the original synth lines like a well-tailored suit. Highly limited, this is not to be missed!

Review: Munich record store turned label Public Possession return with a fourth 12" offering and a second release from Australian producer Bell Towers. If you were lucky enough to grip Lightrail, Rohan Bruce Bell-Towers PP debut of last year, you'll no doubt have been impressed by the progression in sound and ideas from his earlier material for Internasjonal and Hole In The Sky. Listening to the five tracks that make up Territory, the now London-based producer's new EP, it's clear the Bell Towers sound has matured even more. There's thick analogue techno, classic Chicago house and Italo disco influences at play here, but it's all finished off with those little production nuances that set Bell Towers apart. The mind bending slow burner "Jungle Of My Mind" is a stand out track.

Review: If you've spent some time in the night spots of Amsterdam, you will probably have shaken a leg to the selecting skills of respected crate digger Mr Mendel, who holds down diverse residencies at parties like I Love Vinyl, Wicked Jazz Sounds and Doka. Those of you without ready access to Amsterdam nightlife can find solace in the latest slab from Basic Fingers, which allows Mr Mendel to show off his edit skills on tweaks of classics from Gil Scott-Heron and Fela Kuti. First up is a tweak of the live version of "The Bottle" which is always a pleasure to hear, whilst the B Side houses a riotous take on "Roforofo Fight".

Review: The original deep house don Rick Wade is back in action with yet more of those soul-rooted tones to tickle your emotions and speak to your inner funk. This time he's been snapped up by 20:20 offshoot Fina who know a thing or two about the genre, and Mr. Wade has responded by pushing his sound further into sumptuous sample-laden territory that wakes up his somnambulant sound into something almost feisty. "Sweet Life" rolls on a heartfelt beatdown with romantic string swells and guitar licks, while "The Chateau" gets into a nasty groove with plenty of live drums and dramatic horn blasts before a more typical Wade style emerges on the steady grooving "Jazz Militia". To cap it all off Mr Beatnick delivers a remix of "Sweet Life' that works some fulsome bass into a sparser construction with dazzling results.

Review: Mondo Disco and U-Ka on one sexy 10"? Disco partnerships don't carry much more clout than this. Mondo's take on "Do It" is less of an edit and more of a complete deconstruction and rebuild; taking the catchy vocal refrain and building a head-bending contemporary groove around it, this will seduce any floor in its path. Meanwhile on the B we find U-Ka on glistening form as "Disco" unravels into a shiny, bright-tight guitar-heavy jam complete with big brash synth boogie charm. Both are absolutely stunning.

Review: Following last year's inaugural compendium, Supalatino let fly with five more superb Latino disco joints include two massive cover versions. Louie Ramirez adds go faster stripes to People's Choice "Do It Anyway You Want", Willy Chirino takes Barry White up an octave or two without losing any of the sensuality. Elsewhere we get cosmic on the synth heavy "The Barrel" and conclude with the awesome harmonies and crooning horns of Dom Un Romao's "Escravos De Jo" which you may recognise in the extensive work of Joe Claussell. Supa stuff, don't sleep on this one.

Review: We should perhaps rename the Glenview label Glennview for their latest release in honour of the fact they've scored a debut from famed Chicago producer Glenn Underground. When you have a record from the Strictly Jaz Unit founder in your mitts, you know you are holding quality and that's certainly the case with the richly rewarding Smoke 12". From the moment you touch start on your 1210, this record breathes deep house authenticity with the title track a luscious exercise in melodic and soulful deepness that goes in on the Rhodes! An accompanying "Beats" version of "Smoke" offers a masterclass in stripped down rhythms from Mr Glenn Crocker whilst the B Side is dedicated to "The Soft Drink" which is both sensual and has a killer broken rhythm track that would prick the ears of Dego or Theo Parrish.