Thank You Germany Vinyl & CDs

Review: While hardly a "Holy Grail"all bar a few people didn't know it existed until recently, D.J Never Sleep's sole single, the private press gem 'Teorema', can certainly be described as "buried treasure". It was reportedly the work of some experienced Italian producers, though its' sound is all Spanish guitar solos, early house-meets-Latin freestyle beats, joyous Piano riffs and evocative female vocals, it is pure formative Balearic house. This Thank You reissue not only showcases the original EP's two leading mixes (track two here, the more chugging and synth bass-sporting rework, is the pick), but also a never-released, effects-laden 'Never Sleepy Beats' drum took, plus versions in Spanish (B1) and French (B2).

Review: A hard one to pigeonhole when it comes to genre, floating somewhere between Italo and synthpop, and originally released in Switzerland in 1985. Written by German pop group Hongkong Syndikat, both tracks on Ethereal Beat's 'Underboard' flaunt a hyper-distinct yet soothing sound, one which is hard to forget. 'Underboard' is a coolly paced downtempo number which builds up with layers of subtle percussion, lusciously adorned by heavy, saxy reedsmanship and mysterious vocal accents with no real message - 100% chill o'clock served on ice. 'Cedar Of Lebanon' picks up the tempo a notch, once again setting the scene for the reeds to shine as the catchy melody is presented; beautiful 80s instrumentalism from a golden age, and clearly not made in Ableton. The B-side features a respectful DJ tool style remix by contemporary producer Anatolian Weapons.

Review: Originally released back in 1988 on a tiny Canadian label, Sylve's sole single has long been considered a slept-on gem by those who love the muscular, synth-heavu Hi-NRG sound. The team behind reissue specialists THANK YOU are certain fans, as they've tracked down the record's producer, Fred "Knick" Peterson, and licensed it for reissue. In its' A-side opening 'Paris Mix' form, 'I've Only Got You To Blame' features an irresistible mix of driving drum machine beats, Pet Shop Boys style synth stabs, arpeggio-driven sequenced bass, chiming lead lines and a super-sweet vocal from Sylve. It comes backed by two decent revisions: the dub style 'Bonus Beats' (think heavily edited, echo-laden drums and atmospheric synths) and the extended 'Birmingham Breakdown' mix.

Review: This off-beat classic from Ze Carlos has been specially remastered for this reissue. It is a wonderful weird Italian product with deriving Italo melodies and Brazillian lyrics as well as plenty of freestyle beats. On the flip side is a brilliant dub version remixed by Bob One that channels plenty of Arthur Russell vibes. It has Latin drums and lots of percussive energy and is finished in a sophisticated style that makes it all the more standout. The low end is hefty and clear while the mids are nice and roomy. It's a surefire winner when dropped on the right 'floor.