Cotonete

Review: In 2013, French jazz-funk combo Cotonete decided to call it a day, only to change their minds following a surprise offer to co-headline a festival in Eastern Europe. Looking back, they made the right choice, because "Super-vilains", their long-promised debut album following a string of hot 12" singles, is really rather good. Mixing jazz-funk with elements of Sly Stone style funk-rock, blissful ambience, stoned grooves, Afro-funk and tropical disco, the album not only consistently hits the mark, but also offers a near perfect balance between jaunty, floor-friendly fare and hazy, sofa-friendly soundscapes. As debut albums go, it's a doozy.

Review: First released last summer, Cotonete and Roberto Di Melo's "AEIOU" is a deliciously warm and woozy chunk of jazz-funk/revivalist Latin disco fusion that sounds like it was recorded in 1978 rather than 2018. This time round, Dimitri From Paris is at the controls, offering up two arguably superior "Special Disco Mixes" that not only boasts more audio clarity around key instrumental parts (particularly the horns, walking bassline and previously buried Clavinet lines) but also add some fizzing new electrofunk synths. As a result, the A-side vocal version sounds like a disco scene anthem in waiting, while the high-octane flipside dub is percussive, sweaty and full throttle in the best possible way.