Tusk Wax Vinyl & CDs

Review: Not even two months have passed since label Tusk Wax released their debut EP, Tusk Wax One, so we were surprised and delight in equal measure when the second volume landed on our laps. It's another four track, limited edition vinyl, with Juno Plus 'ones to watch' alumni Chamboche opening proceedings, bridging the gap between traditional disco and modern house on "Hypnoquest". Next up, John Waynes, bass-heavy "Brotha" works a menacing electronic key sequence dappled with breathy flute and a spoken vocal for a hooky electro-ish house number. On the flip you'll find Lord Of The Isles, who takes us on a funky and sultry spoken word trip with "Fresh For You" before Jose Man invites Ilya Santana to remix "Sacramento" to close out the EP. Vintage disco at its best, "Sacramento" shoots cosmic sirens, soaring string sections and hosts a playground of synths. Top release.

Review: Brand spanking new UK label Tusk Wax debuts with a limited vinyl-only four track sampler. There's a scarcity of information around on the new imprint other than that they are "disco inclined" and boast a roster full of exciting new talent. "Tetra" from Ejeca is a cosmic house/disco driven track with vocal riff, disco sirens and a luscious meandering lower end. "Mi Senti" is up next from Nottingham's finest and Juno Plus one to watch alumni Chamboche; warm, percussive and with a piercing arp'd synth it's the definite floor shaker of the bunch. On the flip, Zoo Look's deep and housey "Stab Game" glides through heavenly reverbed chords and a subtle drum platform. Finally, "I Choose You Hutch" by Mann Made Music is dubby, low slung and divine with a prowling bass, ascending drive and old school vibes.

Review: 500, 12" 180g, hand stamped, individually numbered records, single press only. Tusk says "I wanted to go back to the way the label started for the 20th release, so I've put together a VA which captures the way the label has moved in the past couple of years and will continue to shift"

Review: 500 12" 180g, hand stamped, individually numbered records, single press only.

Review: Pixelife is no stranger to the Tusk Wax family, having appeared on the Horn Wax label some five years ago, alongside intermittent releases on Throne Of Blood and more recently Samo Records. Now Pixelife is back with a gutsy release in the Tusk Wax style that matches warm, analogue power with bombast and drama in abundance, not least on EP opener "Radial Velocity." "Digital Silhouette" is equally epic in its construction, but sports a leaner club focus in between the surges of full-bodied synth swells. LA-4A is in a vicious mood on his remix of "Radial Velocity," uses some snarling low end acid tones to devastating effect, and then "Virtual Light Institute" finishes the EP off with a swooning, emotive cut that capitalises on Pixelife's bright and bold sound.

Review: The ever strong Tusk Wax empire continues apace with this assured slice of cosmic tinkering from the somewhat mysterious Pork & Tony, supposedly featuring Private Agenda. Who's responsible hardly matters - the jams are what counts, and they're impeccable slices of disco-informed boogie crafted with woozy nights and red lights in mind. "Rhythm Ride" is a seductive trip peppered with (presumably Agenda's) vocals, and "Luke's Summer" gets gently melancholic while thumping out a rugged machine beat. Jay Shepheard comes on board to remix "Luke's Summer" and does so in a measured, patiently paced manner. Coyote's take on "Rhythm Ride" dubs the whole thing out magnificently, pushing the track even further out of the stratosphere thanks to shimmering dub processing and a nagging acid line.

Review: limited 12" 180g records, single press, individually numbered, no repress, no digital with reDICKulous artwork hand 'crafted' by the man behind the label.
Tusk says, "The title track from TW15 was conceived after a particular heavy Tusk Wax label party at Renate in Berlin. I went back to my old pal PORK INTL's place for a bit of drunk studio time and told him all about the living legend that is Gizzy the Fox. A couple of bottles of wine later and I was telling the story to a microphone and we were writing an oddity of a track. If you have had the pleasure to meet Gizzy and spend time in Renate you might understand the lyrics, if not, they'll probably just sound like the rantings of a drunk man, funny that."

Review: 500, 12" 180g, hand stamped, individually numbered records, single press only.

Review: 500 12" 180g, hand stamped, individually numbered records, single press only.

Review: The Tusk Wax crew welcome Ruf Dug and Marcel Vogel to the fold for a right royal hoedown of seedy late night house music machinations. "You Are The One" rides on a bloated bassline and ethereal pads while a guttural vocal chants out the title, making all your sleazy dancefloor dreams come true. "Young Narcos" is a much lighter affair, lacing smooth 80s island boogie into a contemporary setting for an exercise in loose limbed liquid funk. Mugwump & DC Salas come correct on the remix tip, beefing "You Are The One" up into a snarling, acidic romper, and there's also a "Voxapella" of the track slipped on the end of the record for creative mixing delights.

Review: 500, 12" 180g, hand stamped, individually numbered records, single press only.