THE REFLEX Vinyl & CDs

Review: The ever-playful and seriously skilled mash-up and edit maestro The Reflex has been out in a class of one for many years. Few in his field managed to cook up the sort of delicious disco brilliance that he manages and this new 12" on the fledgling Discolidays isn't going to change that perception. 'Overture' (The Reflex Revision) is a glorious fusion of instrumental disco and withering sci-fi designs next to a catchy as hell vocal. On the flip, things head south with Latin melodies and percussion and glorious flute lines bring the joy to 'O Ba Ba' (The Reflex Revision).

Review: Over the years, multi-track re-edit king the Reflex has successfully tampered with many million-selling artists - Madonna, Queen, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder included - so it's little surprise to see him turn his attention to two gems from the late, great George Michael. On the A-side there's another chance to cop the French scalpel fiend's 2018 re-build of Wham's 'Everything She Wants', which he created using the parts to the album version of the mid-80s electrofunk classic. Arguably even better is his flipside rub of 'Freedom '90', a near nine-minute re-wire that slowly builds in waves, before finally unleashing the track's infectious piano riffs and the hands-aloft chorus. Throw in some dubbed-out sections towards the end and you have a genuinely fabulous revision.

Review: For his latest trick, cheeky scamp The Reflex has turned his attention to the Herbie Hancock tune that inspired countless 1980s kids to don a tracksuit, grab a pair of Adidas Shelltoes and hurl themselves around like the Crazy Legs crew. Naturally, his version of 'Rockit' is a body-popping treat that subtly extends and rearranges sections - especially those containing Hancock's jammed-out synth parts - and adds a few tasty breakdowns before unleashing the now familiar melody. Over on the flip the French producer takes his scalpel to the Isley Brothers, providing a fine multi-track edit and extension of the group's much-loved, guitar-solo sporting proto-disco soul number 'That Lady'.

Review: The Reflex never fails to serve up dazzling edits and now he is back on Revision with another super tidy two tracker. Up first is 'Hpyflng,' a gloriously feel good tune with big soul vocals, hints of 60s funk in the grooves and muffled crowd noises to add extra atmosphere, and that's all before some mad xylophone work comes in to really take things to the next level. On the flipside, 'Strtgy' slows down and sinks into a more deep cut and fat bottomed gooey propped up by some rich funk bass. The hip swinging claps and breezy guitars really flesh out this stylish and seductive sound.

Review: Armed with a hard drive full of multi-track parts to a wide array of disco, rock, boogie and pop classics, the Reflex has spent the last decade offering up unique "Revisions" that often differ greatly to their source material despite using the same basic instrumental and vocal tracks. He's at it again here, offering up sneaky revisions of two dancefloor soul classics. On the A-side he handles "Dance To The Music", frequently stripping the track back to little more than a stomping groove, delay-laden vocals and wild organ lines. On the flip he turns his attention to "Pusherman", gently beefing up the groove while showcasing the attractive sweetness of the original track's fluid horn parts and bulging bassline.

Review: While his source material tends towards the well known, there's no denying the quality of The Reflex's "revisions". Their genius likes in his ability to source and utilize stems and master tapes, allowing him to remix and re-edit killer disco jams in the same manner as original masters such as Tom Moulton. It means that he can craft new instrumental breakdowns, stretch out portions that were originally overlooked, and generally breathe new life into otherwise all-too-familiar anthems. The two revisions featured here are typically impressing, with the impassioned, driving, heavily rearranged Philadelphia Soul flipside ("BD LCK") just nudging out anthem like A-side "Ansun" (a brilliantly teased-out version of one of the most familiar disco records of all time).