INTERSTELLAR FUNK Vinyl & CDs

Review: Previous volumes in Polifonic's multi-artist Itria series have loosely explored the more 'Mediterranean' end of the dance music spectrum, giddily scampering between tracks variously inspired by dream house, Balearica and glassy-eyed nu-disco. There's a more psychedelic tone to this third instalment, with the collected cuts doffing a cap towards cosmic sounds and slow techno. Amsterdam producer Interstellar Funk sets the tone via the chugging beats, throbbing sequenced bass and sun-bright synth melodies of 'Jupiter's Arpeggio', before Tamburi Neri opts for hallucinatory textures, twanging Jew's harp sounds and slow-motion tribal percussion ('Oceano Irrazionali'). Elsewhere, Salamada's 'Morning Magic' is an aural sunrise ritual rich in tribal percussion and drowsy sonic textures, 'Thunder' by Hiver's Night Heron project is a bubbly cosmic throb-job, and Zippo & Claudio PRC's 'Nettuno Blu' is an immersive, ultra-deep dancefloor delight.

Review: After coming up while working in the Rush Hour record store in Amsterdam, Interstellar Funk has now branched out and established his own sound and his own label. And that is Artificial Dance, where he hooks up with Loradeniz for this interesting take on cold wave and synth. The tracks are underpinned by contemporary bass and deep groves which makes them perfect for club play but not at the expense of the melodies. They are curious, crystalline, freeform and mystic and help make this a handy record that brings something different - not least the new age ambiance of 'Situational Lullaby'.