XL MIDDLETON Vinyl & CDs

Review: XL Middleton's first 45rpm on the mighty Star Creature Universal Vibrations label is a majestic collab with the amazing Saucy Lady. 'Daydreaming' is pure good time music, packed with sunshine and to-die-for boogie baselines that wiggling away beneath jazz-funk chords and funked up drums. It's an irresistible jam as the temps go up, and if for someone reason you want to hear it without the effortlessly cool vocal, you can flip this 7" over for a fine instrumental jam. With debuts as good as this, the label is sure to want more from XL - we certainly do.

Review: Modern G-funk star artist XL Middleton curates a compilation of his favourite artists of the moment, affirming the tastes of this veteran MoFunk stalwart. Middleton's motto is, "Whether you're on or off the dancefloor, it's always on the one", reflecting his emphasis on funk as a music for grounding oneself "on the one", despite the style's emphasis on swing and syncopation. It's the electronic element that provides this groundedness; every track here - highlights including Milk Talk's 'Sayonara Alpinist' and Middleton's own 'Awn-N-Crackin' - is backed by a regimented, hotly processed production, fleshing out the style's readied catering to the dancefloor.

Review: Zackey Force Funk and XL Middleton joined forces on the boogie powered electro-disco album Blue Blade Piranha and served up a journey that fuses funk and electronica in fresh new ways. The album features Zackey's distinctive vocals, known for their raw energy, paired with XL Middleton's unrivalled production prowess. The result is a genre-defying experience, where funky basslines intertwine with futuristic beats that showcase this duo's ability to push sonic boundaries and create a groove-laden soundscape that nods to the past while embracing the cutting edge. With its infectious rhythm and experimental flair, the collaboration stands as a testament to innovation as well as being irresistible to the hips.