Disco Recommendations January 2012

Review: Sleazy Beats Recordings is now a must check label for disco aficionados, and this EP from the mysterious Dead Rose Company maintains the label's strong track record with the production outfit's biggest release to date. "So Into You" begins with a springy bassline providing the backbone for a musculature of warm synth flourishes, with the sharp guitar licks cutting through like the proverbial knife through butter. "Hankasheef" meanwhile takes an 80s vocal snippet whose source will be right on the tip of your tongue, and marrying it with a mid-tempo groove and glorious filter action leading to an epic climax. On the flip side, "Kissing In The Dark" opens with a lush string section which provides the backdrop to a track that never seems to stop climbing. The EP ends with the blissful slo-mo action of "Come Closer", whose climactic horns offer a fitting end to a fantastic EP.

Review: In the words of Futureboogie's El Harvo, they'll release nothing unless it passes the A&R ears of fast-rising house starlet Julio Bashmore - and he's "very hard to please". Given the fluid, eyes-wide-shut sound employed here, it's not all that surprising that Bashmore was keen to release this collaborative three-tracker from Bristol veterans Christophe (Redux) and Lukas (Dirt Crew). "Tearbox" blends the former's usual piano heavy, almost Balearic sound with the latter's deep house nous and just the right amount of Bashmore-ish synths. There's plenty of similarly piano-friendly, rush-inducing goodness on the two flipside solo productions. Of the two, it's Lukas' "Reel Love" - all build, cut-up vocals and colossal old skool riffage - that impresses most.

Review: Another big remix package from ISM, who continue their homage paying endeavours for legendary NYC disco troupe Odyssey. This latest 12" sees remixes from Faze Action, Toby Tobias, Leftside Wobble and Ron Basejam. Opening proceedings on the A-Side you'll find Faze Action's thumping proto-house version of "Going Back To My Roots" - this one is made for sweat-drenched Sunday nights at Horse Meat Disco! Mr Tobias goes deep on his version of "O DJ KO", with the swampy bass, echo laden vocal cuts and bleep-fuelled melody a pleasing contrast to its raucous predecessor. The two remixes on the flip maintain these lofty standards, with Soundcloud don Leftside Wobble turning in a twinkling refix of "Lonely Star", while Crazy P man Ron Basejam turns "Ain't No Dubbin' Us Now" into a beefy, conga-led traipse through shimmering, Balearic soundscapes.