Jacques Renault – OTP Party Breaks 2 review

Artist: Jacques Renault
Title: OTP Party Breaks 2
Label: On The Prowl Party Breaks
Genre: Disco/Nu-Disco
Format: 12″
Buy From: Juno Records

The debut release on the Party Breaks offshoot of the always classy On The Prowl label set the tone with epic reimaginations of music from the New York City of days gone by for contemporary dancefloors. Marcus Cabral’s shuffling 12 minute dubbed out rerub of New Edition’s “Lifetime Groove” was given instant must-have status amongst us disco nerds after featuring on a Aeroplane mix and has been hailed as a modern day balearic masterpiece by Riotous Rockers.

It’s safe to say that volume II, compiled by Cabral’s partner in running away, Jacques Renault, will further solidify OTP Party Breaks’ potential as one of 2010s best imprints. Doubling the sucker punch with four edits that dip into different genres and play out like textbook examples of how to slay a dancefloor (you’d expect nothing less from someone who has released music on Rekids, DFA, I’m a Cliche, RVNG, Wurst, Chinatown and Mule).

Setting the uptempo mood is “In The Middle of The Night”, a subtley nuanced edit of a slice of classic late 70s disco from Jet Brown that adds some neat percussive chops to what is already a lovely warm melody. Fans of Tensnake’s recent “Coma Cat” will be all over “Love & Happiness”, a dirty basement jam that reworks a mid nineties collaboration between Louie Vega and long term muse India to perfection. Renault’s production nous is on evidence with “Miranda” which begins with some very Switch-esque production before dropping into a massive jack of a tribal house groove with several little changeups to keep the dancefloor on its toes. The EP ends with “My Baby Loves Me” which amps up the 80s sax house to the max. More must have material from the record vaults of Jacques Renault.

Review: Tony Poland