MASSIMILIANO PAGLIARA Vinyl & CDs

Review: Italian disco maestro Massimiliano Pagliara presents his first full length EP for Munich's Permanent Vacation. "Nothing Stays In One Place For Long" features four tracks that prove that there's a wide variety in the Panorama Bar resident's sonic repertoire: from the steely chord driven techno of the title track, to evocative cosmic disco journeys more similar to his usual work as heard on the blissful "Accidentally We Rushed". On the flip, we've got two versions of "Avenue Of The Palms" - the Sunset mix is a serving of sun kissed deep house balearica, while the Night mix is a more upbeat and evocative version that's perfect for the later hours.

Review: Lecce's finest Massimiliano Pagliara now calls Berlin home, where he's a resident at local institution Panorama Bar and at Offenbach's Robert Johnson as well. Quite fitting then that in-house label Ostgut Ton takes the honour of releasing his new EP Time & Again, where his irresistible nu-disco jams take on an even stronger form yet. "If I Try To Forget I Will Miss You Even More" channels the energy of a typical Sunday night up at the infamous Berghain loft, as does the title track with its razor sharp, neon lit analogue synths soaring gloriously above the mix in classic Italo disco fashion. On the flip is the emotive, soulful and Detroit influenced "To A Faraway Place" with its euphoric elements reminiscent of Virginia's contribution for the label last year. Finally, "A Passing Day" is the moodiest offering here; the slow burning number features a gritty EBM style arpeggio and industrial percussion strikes, creating quite the suspense.

Review: Having impressed last year with his synthesizer-heavy explorations on Live At Robert Johnson, Massimiliano Pagliara joins Uncanny Valley. He's back in the groove straight away, filling EP opener "Connection Lost" with bold drum machine cowbells, crystalline synthesizer melodies and bittersweet late night intent. The brilliantly named "I Am Running All My Drum Machines At One And Dancing" sounds like a long lost proto-house era drum dub, while "Don't Give Up On Love" (featuring some Ursula Rucker style spoken word vocals from Sigrid Elliot) is a soothing, dreamy, analogue deep house treat. Finally, he ups the warmth factor on "I Enjoy Myself While I Am Here", a toasty Balearic nu-disco/deep house fusion full of glistening synthesizer refrains and sun-kissed electronics.

Review: Frankfurt's Live At Robert Johnson dole out a swift accoutrement to Massimiliano's excellent LP With One Another in the shape of this sublime two track 10". By our reckoning the label's first issue in this format, Major Fun comes with dedications to two friends of the Berlin-dwelling Italian. "Major Fun" is dedicated to a friend called Joshua who has sadly passed and it's vibrant, colourful explosion of sound and rhythm suggests Pagliara wants to celebrate his life. On the flip the hushed vocals of Jules Etienne adds an extra element of restraint to the deep, disco flecked house cut "Your Love Away" which is dedicated to Pagliara's close friend Lucky.

Review: Love On The Rocks is the new label from Paramida, the Berlin based DJ at Salon - Zur wilden Renate and host of the Paradisco night and who better to inaugurate it than Massimiliano Pagliara! The Lecce born Italian has plenty of form in the realm of disco-flecked house for the likes of Live at Robert Johnson, Rush Hour, Balihu, and Cocktail D'Amour and his discography is complemented well by Flying Away From You. Consisting of vocal and instrumental versions, all the classic Pagliara trademarks are on the former; a languid bassline, crisp drums, slow burning grooves and soothing vocal hooks. The star bursting instrumental is even more sumptuously hypnotic!