Back To Life Italy Vinyl & CDs

Review: Tweak's latest is another fine trip through rhythm, texture and atmosphere across three originals that are couched in broken beat. 'Generation' leads with lovely laidback grooves and a warm, gloopy bassline as precise electronics merge with a hint of vintage soul. The 'Red Rover' (Rework) is another sunny, horizontal sound with bubbly broken beats and lush flutes adding the hook, then 'Fathorn' explores darker, more tribal rhythms with deep bass and ritualistic percussion. Raw Deal's Freedom Time Remix of 'Fathorn' takes it further with some fluid grooves and expressive brass top notes next to glowing, golden Rhodes chords. A fantastically feel-good and fuzzy sound.

Review: The ever-reliable Back To Life camp deliver another banger of a 90s reissue in the form of Z-Formation's innovative 1991 'Intense EP', originally released by Hi-Bias Records. Over four house and techno heaters, Z-Formation lays down formative templates for future club stompas, from the boofy shuffle-n-swing of 'Eee Yai Yai' to the tactical jak attack of 'Frenzy', via rushy, stroboscopic rave stabs in 'Hollow Cloud' and slippery M1 organ pulses on sidewinding EP highlight 'Oh'. Timeless, top shelf club excursions.