FRANZ SCALA Vinyl & CDs

Review: Red Laser Records continue their stellar form with another knockout release, blending Manctalo fire from old hands and fresh faces alike. Frank Butters opens the EP with The Call Of The Wild, a dazzling blast of crystalline synths, thunderous bass, and cosmic effects that showcase his forward-thinking production skills. Bob Swans delivers 'Bodyform4U', a dreamy arpeggiated groove that builds an uplifting, futuristic atmosphere, perfect for igniting the dancefloor. Lone Saxon switches things up with 'Hypersleep' a breakbeat-infused piano gem that oozes nostalgic charm, before Franz Scala and Il Bosco finish strong with Webo, a late-night, tension-filled Manctalo banger.

Review: Duca Bianco is back with one of its special various artists' releases, and a mighty fine one it is too. This one finds four guest producers all with their finest studio tools sharpened and ready for action. Two of the artists are well known but use new alias - one is Israeli synth and psyche wizards Red Axes who work their magic as Der Sexa on 'Gabi Plane' and another is Beauty & The Beat party man Cedric Woo as CW. He gets nice and twisted here while the other two cuts - one from Italo king Franz Scala who builds slow new wave funk, and one from Manchester's renowned edit kings Talking Drums who offer some lovely leftfield madness on 'DMNB', all make for crucial listening.

Review: Next up on Amsterdam's XXX we have a wicked double header coming from a bunch of right heroes of the dark disco scene, across both sides of the Atlantic. Los Angeles-based duo Split Secs, comprised of west coast veteran TK Disco and Frenchman Alexandre Mouracade (aka SONNS) who head up the Machine LTD imprint, contribute the low-slung, slo-mo throb job that is 'Accept The Answer'. Secondly, Berlin by-way-of Pescara's Franz Scala, main man at Wrong Era and co-chief at Slow Motion, serves up the neon-lit modern Italo antics of 'Overflash'. They then proceed to do a mighty fine job of remixing each other on the flip. Tip!