EAST COAST LOVE AFFAIR Vinyl & CDs

Review: One of the joys of Athens of the North's East Coast Love Affair project - an in-house band with a twist - is its' joyous musical eclecticism. Previously, they've delivered boogie, house, street soul, funk and disco. On this debut album, the collective spent some time in the studio with friend-of-the-family and Pikes Ibiza resident For Mankind (real name Russ Forman), and as a result the set has a dreamy, colourful and picturesque Balearic vibe. Of course, the influences are a bit wider than that - think dub, proto-house, ambient, Larry Hard-style deep house, Sun Ra and Brazilian music for starters - but that descriptor does neatly sum up what's on offer. Deep, evocative, pretty and impeccably produced, it's the most well-rounded and musically expansive East Coast Love Affair release to date.

Review: Athens of the North 'house band' East Coast Love Affair recently returned to action with 'I'm So Glad', a driving disco-funk outing tailor-made for sweaty club sessions. For this speedy follow-up, they've recruited effortlessly soulful vocalist Theo Suess and musically flipped the script. Built around skittish lo-fi beats, immersive chords and bubbly synth-bass, 'Tonight' sits somewhere between deliciously deep house and lo-fi boogie. It's genuinely brilliant, with Suess providing an immaculately emotive lead vocal on the A-side main mix. The flip-side 'Dub' is superb, too, with snippets of Suess's vocals echoing across an enveloping, loved-up instrumental backing track.

Review: Love Chug by East Coast Love Affair and BDK delivers two distinct approaches to peak-time dancefloor energy, perfect for any house club setting. Side-1 features 'Love Chug' by East Coast Love Affair, a track that expertly builds with a driving disco vibe. A powerful guitar riff takes the lead, while a filtered hook pushes the sound deep into house territory, creating an immersive experience that evolves throughout. On Side-2, BDK's 'Pure Sass' offers a strong, uplifting house track that borders on gospel house. Its vibrant energy and soulful vibe are reminiscent of classic Jasper Street tracks, making it an irresistible choice for the dancefloor. Together, these tracks provide a dynamic balanceione that builds and one that never lets upiensuring that the energy stays high all night.