Groovin Italy Vinyl & CDs

Review: Way back in 1993, when his career was still in its infancy, Chicago great Roy Davis Jr donned an alternative alias, The Believers, and delivered a 12" on Strictly Rhythm: 'Who Dares To Believe In Me?' It was something of a club smash, with Ministry of Sound issuing it in the UK a year later with a swathe of new mixes. This Groovin' Records reissue boasts a trio of mixes from the original U.S 12". On the A-side you'll find the original mix, a warm, spine-tingling slab of piano-rich New York style house topped off by snaking, delay-laden saxophone lines and an inspirational spoken word vocal courtesy of Davis. Over on the reverse, Davis' own 'Just Living High Mix' - a breezier, jazzier and more colourful affair - is followed by Mind Readers' tougher, chunkier and heavier revision, which is in effect a proper dancefloor dub.

Review: Groovin Italy landed a monumental reissue for the label with C'hantal's 'The Realm'. Originally released way back in 1990 on the dance and early Brooklyn based Powertraxx records. Staying true to the original release, it offers the 'Love In D Minor' mix but does one better in tucking in the Acapella version to the A-side so the B-side 2 versions have a little more room to breathe. The added bonus has to be putting on the more rare "Wild Club mix' to the party along with the original 'Rave Mix'. All and all, a very packed reissue of some of the best versions of the track, all on one record. This might just hold the number one spot for best techno reissue so far of 2024.

Review: In 1992, a trio of Italian house music producers brought to light one of house music's inherent contradictions: that a genre can be both ex-centric, and hold a stylistic centre. So far, house's haecceity, it's hearty essence, has held firm for nearly 50 odd years. And some records nail the inner sound of a sound, as though experiments need not only take place on the outskirts, beyond the walls, but also using the building blocks kept enclosed within the fortress. On this Groovin reissue, Davide Ruberto, Patrick Duvoisin and Ricky Montanari triply unveil the piano as one of the coremost ingredients of house music, with staccato chords standing right out on the titular 'Alright, Alright', of which there are four mixes here. Here's an unusual kind of rawness, blending as-do building blocks with a minimal but perfectible soul.

Review: The latest on-point reissue from Italy's Groovin' label takes us back to 1993, and the Peter Daou/Danny Tenaglia-produced debut single from vocalist Daphne Rubin-Vega. It's a far breezier, groovier and sweeter record than many of Tenaglia's later productions (which tended towards the muscular), with Rubin-Vega's quietly soulful vocal seemingly drifting across a backing track rich in warm chords and baggy, breakbeat-driven house grooves. All of the various mixes hit the spot, with the trippy, dub-style Reconstruction Mix, vibraphone-laden Groove Instrumental and low-slung Never Do Dub standing out. The Acapella Reprise, which features rich chords and vocal snippets, is also rather good.

Review: Diego Ruiz aka DFRA returns with a new four-track live jazzdance quencher, 'Jazz In'. Indeed, jazz is, at present, 'in', contrasting to the various moments in history (perhaps not linearly) in which it has been 'out'. Of course, both 'in' and 'out' concur simultaneously, and mutually uphold each other. The nominal in-ness of this record suggests a sense of measured knowing that outness simply cannot partake in; and whether this is really true is beside the point, because the record itself brings a decidedly measured sound, one that basks abaft in bottomy brasses, insouciant piano redoubts, distant kazoo tarns and mesmerically kicky dance movements. Little does Ruiz know that the boundary of in and out is always collapsible, reversible, and he even orchestrates this himself; by the time we reach 'The New Orleans Sound', the record's professed internal genius has nonetheless turned us, the listener, outside in, inside out.

Review: Kikko Esse aka Michele Sodano drops some superbly summery house sounds on Groovin Italy just as the sun has finally arrived here in the UK. These tunes tap into lots of different reference points, from the machine soul of Detroit to the humid melodies of West Coast house and the Balearic grooves of the White Isle. 'Moonlight' kicks off with nice jazzy melodies and sultry trumpets, then 'Keep On' taps into a classic diva vocal. 'Deep Our Soul is for when things head indoors and the sun has set and you want to cruise on a nice blissed out and clean house vibe, then 'Free From' gets more loose and playful on soulful house drums.

Review: Eternal Love's 'L'Amore E' EP pulses with a fresh blend of nostalgic and modern electronic elements. The duo expertly reimagines their Italian heritage, layering synths, driving percussion, and airy vocals to create a vibrant, immersive soundscape. Featuring collaborations with Marquis, Marianne Mirage, and Dea Barandana, the EP explores themes of love, passion and joy, all infused with infectious rhythms. Each track offers a unique take on these emotions, making L'Amore E a versatile release that's bound to ignite dancefloors and capture listeners' hearts alike.

Review: Serious Philly boogie business: In 1979 the Aleem brothers teamed up with serial hit maker Leroy Burgess for this outstanding bass slapping floor burner. Listen closely and you'll hear a young Luther Vandross on backing vocals as the twins bounce off each other with their signature high ranges. Meanwhile on the B we have a previously unreleased edit from one of the most vital, direction shaping remixers of the time; John Morales. Expect nothing but 8 minutes of pure disco bliss. We're hooked on this!

Review: Italy's Groovin Recordings - based out of Milan's Vinylbrokers record shop, and dedicated to repressing some of the best and often hard-to-find disco and soul bits - have pounced at the chance to reissue and rework this gem as a 4-tracker. Taken from NYC disco band Kleeer's debut album, 'Tonight's The Night' is a classic diggers' disco divertissement. Now, it gets a thorough makeover. Along with the original version rounding this 12" off, Groovin have provided an extended version on the A-side. Two remixes come courtesy of the inimitable Dave Lee (fka. Joey Negro), who shines extra light on this tirelessly bright classic's rolling strings, divine choruses, wrist-slinging funk guitars and banging kettle drums. The 'Seeekret' mix is a standout: dubbing out the track to call attention to its laid-back moments.

Review: Groovin Italy are the foremost label in our ranks to set their sights upon digging up and refining the very best sonic gemstones out there. Said blood diamond seam is the mythical yet plentiful vein known as deep house; here our local artisanal miners revitalise the precious contribs that especially once made splendid the faded gods of Italo house. From Italian DJ and producer Massimino Lippoli, a key figure in Italy's early house and progressive scene, to MCJ & Sima, Italian house duo, and Sima, who doubled up as vocalist and productive powerhouse, every track here is unerathed in mostly pre-polished, with the end jewellers over at Groovin needing very little work to do. David Syon's 'Swinground' closes things on a naive, part misshapen maccle, with what sound like hand-programmed brasses and pogo-synths played in above a twitchy but happy groove.

Review: Groovin Italy break from their responsibilities in issuing contemporary neon-trailed Italo for a reissue of The Ones' 'Flawless', the standout 1999 debut by the electronica trio. "Just like perfection, flawless, needs no correction, flawless" is its instantly recognisable choral hookline, and the sinker is its sharpened post-Talo synthwork, heard further honed by remixers Phunk Investigation and Low Steppa. Though the original track gained broader traction when George Michael sampled it for his 2004 single 'Flawless (Go to the City)', the pop phylogeny of the song is lent little credence here, as both remixers emphasise the glitzy modern potential of in the track: Phunk's is neo-futural-funk incarnate, while Steppa's is a real treat for DJs: sinister, seedy-casino underworld speed garage, portraying the rather flawed underbelly of apparent flawlessness.

Review: This EP from Peter LC is a vibrant and soulful exploration of house music, showcasing the Italian producer's versatility and deep passion for the genre. It's a captivating journey through infectious grooves, uplifting melodies, and soulful vocals. The original mix sets the tone with its irresistible energy, while the Don Carlos remix adds a touch of Latin flair and percussive drive. On the flipside, 'Losing My Feelings' delves into deeper, more introspective territory, its melancholic chords and ethereal vocals creating a mesmerizing atmosphere. 'Love Calling' closes the EP with a feel-good vibe, its warm melodies and soulful vocals leaving the listener on a high note. This is a must-have for any house music enthusiast, showcasing the diverse sounds and infectious energy of the Italian scene.

Review: Italian producer and child of the 90s St. David aka Davide Disanto drops a prim and educated four-track EP here for his home label Groovin. Sunsoaked moods and echoic samples play off serenely in tracks like 'Summertime Jaz' and 'Set You Free', recalling the kick-heavy housework of Tom Jarmey. Two remixes from 34th Floor In Deep and ROP Sunset further cement the sultry, dusky jazz aesthetic that permeates the EP.