Bless You Germany Vinyl & CDs

Review: It might sound like an overlooked European dance record from 1985, but 'Surrender' is brand new. It's the debut from Babes in Love, a collaboration between DJ Subaru (real name Benny Howell) and best-friend Bella Quinn. Musically it's devilishly simple and lo-fi, with Quinn singing sweetly and expressively over a lo-fi drum machine rhythm, Italo-disco-meets-Hi-NRG bassline, spacey chords and memorable synthesiser motifs. Castro provides the flipside 'Babes in Love Dub', smothering elements of the original in delay and reverb while adding lashes of psychedelic intent. It's the kind of trippy, wildly dubbed-out hedonism we could imagine the Idjut Boys playing in a very dark room at four in the morning.

Review: DJ and producer Mark Grusane is a hails from Chicago and is co-owner of Mr. Peabody Records, which specialises in rare and obscure vinyl from around the world. While many prior releases have appeared due to that affiliation, 'Book Me For Your Birthday Party' hears the cream of his music released for German label Bless You. Four raw, sexual, jacking, jukey house music cuts appear, showing off the kind of production antics Grusane gets up to while enjoying his off hours at the record store. While they're at least ten years old, we're sure Grusane still has access to the same inner clown that not only allows him to be such a great party guest, but also lets him make such heaters.

Review: After his first album on Blessyou, Turquoise, Mogwaa aka. Seungyoung Lee, from Seoul, is back with another stellar contribution, this time re-visiting his earlier days of musical appreciation in reggae music. This album is another entirely instrumental work with eight tracks, effortlessly displaying his confidence in the studio when it comes to dreamy dubbed out ambient sounds intertwined with heavy digi, steppers, and even dancehall influences. A refreshing treat to the ear when it comes to contemporary productions as Mogwaa approaches the Jamaican genre with a refined aesthetic of his own. From Korea, with much craft and dedication for the music, it's a pleasure to have him back.

Review: Disco-techno-house with a headily experimental palette from Puerto-Rican favourite Juan Ramos, an artist already well known and established for his many an off-kilter mix and OG production. Now on his second release for Bless You following 'Pulse', also released this year, this phallically titled record hears the stalwart continue to offer the best in the business, serving a further two rather long 'D's on top of a third rendezvous entitled 'Collision'. The former double-serving amounts to a twin stupefaction in sensuality and roughage, unusually spanning both the top and bottom sides of the record (plenty implied). 'Collide' leans further into the record's already asserted, yet evermore primeval logical ends, following up with a hardcore experiment in retching acid and woofing kettle drums.

Review: Mad About Records is back with another essential double dose of Latin funk with this limited edition 7" from Los Sonidos De F.M. and Sola. 'Tema De Los Adolesentes' kicks off on the flip with brilliantly lively samba keys and blasts of big horn energy next to more slinky and seductive lines. It's a true steamy dancer full of sex appeal while Sola take a different approach on the flip with 'Tabu.' This one is low slung and mischievous with its prickly rhythms and wet cymbals. The Spanish vocal is delivered with power and flair and backed by brooding harmonies that add extra weight.

Review: Shaka Man is an LA-based drummer who offers up a pair of new tunes here. The stick man has a truly unorthodox style which is showcased in the rhythms he manages to cook up - they will have you utterly in knots and lost in space and time. These are never before heard tunes that were recorded at home in his basement and are full of raw and honest expression. 'Coronation Binghi' is built on a foundation of drums that are run through plenty of delays to make for some seriously heft low end. The rich percussion finishes it off with a beautifully minimalist style while 'Chain Reaction' features a vocal and instrumental version.

Review: Talk about keeping things on a knife edge. The first, and title track on this powerhouse EP is pretty much destined to whip any venue into a storm of expectation, not-so-much building but rather opening with this full-sounding, heavily atmospheric, space-y, proggy, could be techno, could be electro, could be trance arrangement. The kind of thing where there might as well be flairs firing into the sky warning you how much stomping a floor can take.

Similar vibes on 'Medusa', only on a deeper, darker, more menacing tip, a tune that sucks ears into another world entirely, one that's a little unsettling, and certainly difficult to find your way back out of. Elsewhere, things embrace a high-NRG ethic, with both 'Plasma' and 'Onda Sotto' taking things up to almost-gabber tempos, but without actually committing to the pounding fours.

Review: Luca Trentini's third release on Blessyou delves deeper into his disco sample-based dancefloor enhancers. This expertly crafted club-oriented toolkit, created by a seasoned DJ, reveals Luca's secret weapons. Side-1 bursts forth at an uptempo energy with driving momentum and acid touches, perfect for peak-time main room sets. 'So High!' slows down just a touch, offering a more playful sampling approach. Side-2 presentes a downtempo chugger with jungle vibes, featuring a chorus of Kookaburra, big cat and other animal noises. A release with something for almost every DJ's arsenal.

Review: Balear-y-eyed city pop from contemporary singer and pop musician Xiaolin, continuing her cover version releases on Bless You with another knife-edge crossing into dream pop. Having already covered 'Plastic Love' by Mariya Takeuchi and Prudence Liew's 'Afterwards', Xiaolin's is now revered as a deft rerubber of golden classics. Now comes 'Half A Dream', a version of Tina Liu's 1897 lead single, hailing from the urbane City Girl album. South Korean producer Mogwaa may back up the B-side with a remix, but for us, it's the doozy pads and laggard sample-pack hits on the A1 that make this one; the whole track sounds like one long hypnopompic awakening, as we blearily embrace the day, breathing in the downtown air.