Sound Stream

Review: Well, here's something to raise the spirits: a first new 12" from Frank Timm's Sound Stream alias for three years. Those familiar with the German producer's work will know exactly what to expect, namely delicious disco house cut-ups that turn selected loops from largely forgotten gems into insatiable dancefloor gold. A-side "Bass Affairs" is particularly good, delivering a perfect blend of sun-kissed Brazilian guitars, rubbery slap bass loops and lilting Rhodes chords (all accompanied, of course, by thunderous kick drums). There's a more traditional disco-house feel about the filter-heavy "Sweep Magic", while "Starstrike" is a throbbing, stripped back affair that makes great use of looped-up bass guitars.

Review: Fizzing all over the shop like an F1 winner's magnum, Frank Timm celebrates 20 years of Sound Stream with this outstanding slab of uncut floor jams. No messing around, just straight up disco house music. At points plain trippy ("Flash Back"), at others straight up sexy ("Love Remedy", "Get Down") but always unifying and obese in width and weight ("Disco Advisor" especially) Timm has cleared the board right here with the full range. Essential.

Review: There's a feeling with Sound Stream records akin to supping on a cup of tea after a long hard winter day, so perfectly pitched and satisfying is his approach to making house music. On "Julie's Theme", there's some unabashed delay rippling going on, but still that ever-loving disco groove sits underneath in the bassline on the one and the natural hand claps. On the flip, the disco is thoroughly loud and proud, with "Inferno" resplendent in searing Philly strings and slinky bass that was built for grooving. Once again, Sound Stream has delivered a simple but meaningful demonstration of house music perfection.