FAR (Faze Action)

Review: Balearic titans Chris Coco and DJ Rocca team up on this new slab for Faze Action which celebrates all the finest qualities of these two veteran maestros. 'Discoteca (Heavy Fun Dub)' pours plenty into the mix, from sizzling disco and dreamy dub to slick 80s motifs, and yet it all comes off feeling very chilled indeed. 'Brute' plays around with analogue synths and raw drum machine punch to create a slow but intense cosmic workout, before Faze Action themselves step up to rework 'Discoteca' into a lean and mean club tool. For those who want to skip the breathy vocals, there's also an instrumental mix of 'Discoteca' included on the B2.

Review: Brothers Simon and Robin Lee have long excelled at the album format, delivering occasional sets that ripple with impressive musicality, sinewy strings, cozy downtempo moods and upbeat dancefloor moments. Body of One, their fourth full length (their first dropped on Nuphonic back in 1997), continues this trend, offering a compelling trip through the pair's myriad influences. After opening with a sweaty post-punk thumper ("Prisoner of Your Love"), we're variously treated to Italo-influenced vintage house ("Magic Touch"), rubbery disco-funk ("Freak For Your Love"), Arthur Russell-influenced tropical downtempo pop ("Caruso's Monkey House"), dreamy Balearica ("Floating World") and string-laden gorgeousness. As for the title track, it sounds like So-era Peter Gabriel.

Review: Disco cognoscenti and brothers in arms Faze Action return to the production fold with "Tattoo Man", coming at you like the theme song for an 80s action show. Recorded in the studio with a live band, the track combines infections bass, drums, congas and keys that give "Tattoo Man" a wonderfully loose and genuine feel. There are a whole load of different versions - a 7" radio edit, a live extended rerub, a special disco mix, an agogo dub for the boogie heads and a couple of remixes from Rudy's Midnight Machine - making this the ultimate single package for discerning disco jocks. This has already been getting love from Pete Herbert, Hunee, Jim Stanton and Joey Negro - so get on it fast.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Box damaged, product unused & in perfect condition***

- Creasing to outer case + damage to plastic CD tray

Brothers Simon and Robin Lee have long excelled at the album format, delivering occasional sets that ripple with impressive musicality, sinewy strings, cozy downtempo moods and upbeat dancefloor moments. Body of One, their fourth full length (their first dropped on Nuphonic back in 1997), continues this trend, offering a compelling trip through the pair's myriad influences. After opening with a sweaty post-punk thumper ("Prisoner of Your Love"), we're variously treated to Italo-influenced vintage house ("Magic Touch"), rubbery disco-funk ("Freak For Your Love"), Arthur Russell-influenced tropical downtempo pop ("Caruso's Monkey House"), dreamy Balearica ("Floating World") and string-laden gorgeousness. As for the title track, it sounds like So-era Peter Gabriel.

Review: Faze Action have been on a roll with their collaborative project with Zeke Manyika, which first started up in 2016 and now reaches its fourth installment with the infectiously uplifting "Sununguka". In its original form the Afro-house burner artfully blends Manyika's Zimbabwean roots with Faze Action's knack for '80s tinged proto-house. "Rwendo" is a more laid back affair compared to the lead track, but it's no less effervescent thanks to Manyika's vocals. On the B side, Alan Dixon drops a feisty Italo version of "Sununguka" that sounds purpose built for spine-tingling sundown moments, while there's also a pumped up "Special Extended Dub" version to appeal to headsy DJs looking to keep the floor running at full tilt.

Review: Robin Lee takes a break from his day job as Faze Action to slip into the occasional Rudy's Midnight Machine alias for this outing on his own label. It's a mellow, atmospheric ride into pastures you wouldn't normally associate with Faze Action, although "Midnight Safari" is smooth and luxurious enough to feel right in any context. "In The Air" has a mysterious air to it, helped in no small part by the evocative Eastern lilt of the strings running through the centre of the track. There's a sassy boogie step powering "Reach Backless," while "Windchimes" flips the script with a semi-ambient live bass reverie. It's back to the party one last time with "Solar Plex" though - this record is about synthy funk first and foremost.