Search results: Odyssey

Review: Gustavo C's G.U.S label - short for 'Golden Unreleased Songs' - exists for one purpose: to offer-up limited-edition singles featuring previously unheard gems from the disco and boogie era. The label has already released buried treasure from Central Line and Kenni Rightout and here delves into the archives of obscure 80s electrofunk outfit Odyssey & Co, a band not to be confused with the far better-known Odyssey. 'It's On' was originally recorded and mixed in 1983, but for one reason or another never hit stores. It's a quality slab of soul-fired boogie-funk rich in rubbery bass guitar, spacey synths, eyes-closed vocals and post-electro machine drums. The A-side original mix is on-point, but we prefer the slightly stretched out and more dancefloor focused flip-side 'Dance Mix'.

Review: Where do you start with this one? Stanley Kubrick's landmark science fiction movie might be best remembered for its soundtrack. Or at least the opening overture, 'Also Spruce Zarathustra', and its bombastic drums and brass that seem to scream "we're going to space and into the unknown". However, as the original score proves upon reappraisal, there's much here that you likely won't remember until you hear it again.
Not least the terrifying, shrill chorus of 'Requiem for Soprano', which almost sounds like humanity crying out for help across the great endless nothing we call the universe. Elsewhere, we have the strange, alien refrains of 'Lux Antena', which invokes similarly fitting mental imagery - spareness, desolation, a singular beacon of noise in the darkness. Or the nervous tension of 'Atmospheres'. A testament to the power of music to make you visualise.

Review: Jay Kay's powerhouse of crossover Brit funk maestros never stayed in one lane, but progressed from album to album without missing a beat. On 2001's A Funk Odyssey, they folded some explicitly floor-focused house and disco ingredients into their soul stew and came up trumps, smashing the hits out while staying true to the elevated musicianship they marked themselves out with in the beginning. There are monster hits like 'Little L' and cheeky bangers aplenty dotted throughout this pearler of an album, and despite how long ago it came out, it hasn't aged a bit.

Review: Legendary U.S jazz drummer and Black Panther Steve Reid and his band, The Legendary Master Brotherhood, are best known for their cult classic debut Nova from back in the late 70s. He also played in Sun Ra's Arkestra, was a Motown session drummer and backed James Brown at the Apollo. His other album Odyssey Of The Oblong Square is no slouch either though. It is a deep spiritual jazz classic from the master drummer and Vietnam conscientious objector. This special one-off reissue comes on lovely gold vinyl meaning those long and often fruitless searches for a hard to find original are no more.

Review: In the John Williams & Hans Zimmer Odyssey, the Orchestre Curieux embarks on a sonic journey through the iconic film scores of two legendary composers. John Williams, known for his sweeping orchestral arrangements in classics like Star Wars and Jurassic Park, contrasts with Hans Zimmer's modern, dynamic and more minimal soundscapes from films like Inception and Gladiator. This orchestral fusion bridges generations of cinema lovers and seamlessly blends Williams' timeless melodies with Zimmer's contemporary flair. The performance promises a cinematic experience, transporting audiences through the rich tapestry of emotions evoked by these masterpieces, all interpreted through the Orchestre Curieux's unique artistic lens.

Review: Kate Nash's upcoming album for Kill Rock Stars, 9 Sad Symphonies, marks her return after six years. set to release on June 21 via . The lead single, 'Millions of Heartbeats,' offers a poignant reflection on losing hope in a world inundated with chaos and capitalism. Nash's introspective lyrics delve into the struggle of regaining one's spark amid despair, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and human connection. Produced by Frederick Thaae, the album promises a departure from harsher sounds, instead focusing on lush string arrangements and emotive storytelling. Nash draws inspiration from her recent experience writing for a musical, embracing a more direct approach to songwriting while aiming to create beauty amid darkness. 9 Sad Symphonies is poised to show the full arsenal of Nash's evolution as an artist, offering a compelling listen.

Review: 
Early Moods' second album, A Sinner’s Past" is a potent blend of early 70s proto-metal, 90s grunge riffs, and timeless songwriting, fueled by youthful energy. The Los Angeles quartet emerged with a distinct sound, merging underground Street Doom with Heavy Metal melodies on their debut. Their skilled musicianship and aesthetic taste have earned them popularity. A Sinner’s Past elevates their sound, drawing inspiration from Soundgarden's depth, Sabotage's fuzz tones, and 70s Scorpions' melodies. Guitarist Eddie Andrade expresses pride in the album's diverse experimentation and growth. Recorded in Pico Rivera, CA, the album reflects their journey and refined sound, guided by Allen Falcon of Birdcage Studios. Established in 2015, Early Moods evolved from thrash to doom, finding their niche and lineup, and building a local fanbase.

Review: Austin Peralta's 2011 album Endless Planets has never before been available on vinyl and now gets pressed up as a special Deluxe Edition by Brainfeeder. Peralta really crafted something special here when the label made its first moves into the world of jazz. He is a prodigious piano-playing talent who uses that as a vehicle for his inquisitive futurism while never forgetting the heritage of original jazz. In this special version, four previously unreleased tracks are unveiled. Among them is a live rendition of 'DMT Song' from FlyLo's 2012 album 'Until the Quiet Comes,' which Austin collaborated on. Wonderful stuff.

Review: Whether or not the legendary NOW series is as old as time itself is uncertain, but what is for sure is that the compilations it puts together have always been great collections of the music of the moment. This one harks all the way back to 1978, a golden era for glam rock, pop on TV and artful suns that gave way to more sentimental fare in the following decade. This triple vinyl pack comes on pink wax and has a checklist of all the acts you would imagine covering disco, punk, pop, alt-rock and soul. There isn't a dud on it so it's a great one to have for any occasion.

Review: In the late 1970s and early 80s, disco swept through dancefloors across the world, with musicians, producers and labels in all four corners of the world recording and releasing their own local variations on the New York-pioneered sound. This fine compilation digs into the Japanese interpretation of the sound, offering up a selection of gems pulled from the vaults of the Nippon Columbia imprint. As you'd expect, there are some genuinely soaring and delightfully over-the-top cuts on show (see Godiego's 'The Odyssey Begins - Monkey Magic' and the disco-funk mania of Ikue Sakakibara's bilingual 'This Is Hot'), alongside such forgotten or lesser-celebrated gems as Yumi Moreta's rubbery bass-propelled 'Krishna', the strings-and-synth-drenched brilliance of Pink Parachute's 'Disco Great' and the ridiculously grandiose 'Hazumi De Daitte (A Woman Inside a Man's Body)' by Hatsumi Shibata.

Review: NOW Music is on with a big project here that sees the long-running label present a new series of vinyl compilations, NOW That's What I Call 80s Dancefloor. Each one is set to include what they deem to be "an essential collection of tracks" that they hope offer fair representation of a number of key musical movements and genres from across the 80s. The first volume presented the best in HI-NRG and POP and this one, a double album, focusses on Soul & Disco. All the names you'd expect are here from Prince to Daryl Hall & John Oates, Loose Ends to Rufus & Chaka Khan, so it is a useful one indeed.

Review: There is no end to the amount of music that NOW has served up over its many years in the music business. From its thrice-yearly pop comps to its vast decades-long snapshots, it has always offered up the freshest pop hits in fulsome fashion. This latest collection, NOW That's What I Call 80s Dancefloor: Disco & Electro, is a double vinyl album on purple and pink wax that brings together the best disco and electro of the 80s. All the names you'd expect feature from Malcolm McLaren & The World's Famous Supreme Team to Shannon with Freeze, Chaka Khan and more also adding weight.

Review: London-based producer Otik releases his first album Cosmosis on Martyn's label 3024. The 11-track LP signifies the fourth album on the imprint across its ten-year tenure, showcasing a more introspective side to Otik's musical output. The album leans into delicate melodies, hazy atmospheres and lush analogue sounds, often evoking blissed-out feels and ripples of brilliant colour. Produced three years ago during lockdown, Cosmosis comes after a period of spiritual struggles, where Otik questioned his faith, religious beliefs, and the concepts of right and wrong. While the pandemic allowed ample time for reflection, Otik translated these thoughts into music from his Peckham-based studio, later finding a home on 3024's evolving discography. Keen to release a body of work that explores the journey of enlightenment and the struggles to get there, Otik drew inspiration from the luminary filmmaker Terrence Malick and how Malick portrayed ideas and philosophies in films like The Tree of Life and Voyage of Time. As a result, the record conveys a compelling narrative of rebirth, told through exquisite sound design and a push-pull pace that oscillates across the album.

Review: Marcus Belgrave's Gemini II album has never been reissued before with the original artwork, but here it comes with a Japanese Obi-strip and featuring prominent musicians and legends like Wendell Harrison, Phil Ranelin, Roy Brooks and Harold McKinney. This is a diverse record with plenty of spirituality and a loud and proud sense of blackness. The standout tune 'Space Odyssey' is the best known, not least because it was later covered by pioneering Detroit techno talent Carl Craig. Next to that tense cosmic workout are two parts of 'Gun Finger' which are both horn led and upbeat grooves, the seductive sounds of the title tune and free-bop jam 'Marcia's Opal'. 'Odoms Cave' is a tender and introverted closer.

Review: Originally released on Sarah Records in 1992, the Sea Urchins' 'Stardust' was the first ever album to be released by the West Bromwich band. Cutting the jib of a 1990s version of Black Country, New Road (there were indeed 7 members, and they were all from the Black Country). Their purview was jangle indie, bowlcuts, and lo-fi. The song 'Pristine Christine', which features here, is widely credited as the cash cow single that launched Sarah, and the band's influences can still be felt nowadays, such as in the cover designs of modern artists such as King Krule. For fans of The Smiths or The Charlatans, the band are a little further down the obscurity iceberg, which should make 'The Stardust' a draw for the most avid collectors.

Review: Tucson, Arizona-based band Trees Speak have been exploring the interplay of 1970s German electronic music and modern production since the early 2010s. Their latest release, Mind Maze, showcases their penchant for intricacy, dreamweaving psychedelic rock, krautrock, and electronic music into a lengthy 19-track tapestry. The band's mesmerizing live shows, featuring live projections and intricate lighting design, have garnered them a cult following - but that barely scratches the surface of their conceptual scope, with their name drawing inspiration from the concept of harnessing future technologies to store information and data in trees and plants, with the idea that trees are able to communicate within their root systems. A convincing continuum of kosmische cool.

Review: The seminal Age of Love gets a second chance to shine with this 15 Years Anniversary compilation which comes as a triple CD as well as three limited edition double vinyl 12"s. This is part one and it is a collection of iconic tracks by now legendary artists such as Tiesto, Emmanuel Top, Sander Kleinenberg, Taucher, Jam & Spoon, Delerium, Mr Sam and many more, all of whom take you back in time with their sensory electronic sounds, prog melodies and trance overtones. This is a great reminder of a vital time in electronic music.

Review: Last Spring, long-serving electronic experimentalist Norm Chambers (otherwise known as Jurgen Muller and Panabrite) was diagnosed with a rare form of sinus cancer after a period of ill health, During the time he spent waiting on news from his doctors, Chambers recorded what he thought would be his final sonic statement - an album called Facets that he rushed-out digitally. Here it lands on wax, alongside the happier news that so far Chambers' treatment has been a resounding success. Musically, Facets is a little more unsettling than some of the artist's work, with his usual fluid and dreamy ambient sounds being joined by angular and off-kilter beats, strange sounds and unsettling electronic rhythms. It's a formula that makes for interesting and occasionally intense listening.

Review: Hit makers Rodgers and Edwards' mammothly influential Chic songs enjoy one of the finest curatorial salutes from UK disco's most discerning torch-bearer/creator Dave Lee. Digging deep into his vaults and unearthing some of the best homages, references and blatant covers, Negro join the dots and delivers some rarities you may have never heard before. Get lost in the music of She's shiny guitar strumming "Easy Money", freak out to Charanga 76's "Good Times" and get lucky with Van Jones's "Not About That"... Everyone knows about the hits and influence, most of us know how important a role Chic played in sample culture but Negro has gone the extra mile to celebrate some of the lesser known references Chic have had over the years. Freaking great.

Review: Une Histoire D amour Bresilienne is the new album by Berlin based Le Commandant COuche-Tot which is "A nostalgic soundtrack to a vanished France from the late 60s." It's the second chapter in this odyssey and finds plenty of exotic disco, languid downtempo and grown up Balearic sounds all making for a super smooth and escapist listen. After the difficult couple of years we have all had, albums that offer such glorious space funk sounds as 'Les Pyramides Cosmiques' and the warming sun of face soul of 'L'Ete Indien' featuring the great Omar will always be well worth hearing.

Review: Following up great efforts by the likes of Van Bonn & Luis Baltes, Unknown and Shadow-Area, here is the debut LP from Hamburg's Achim Maerz on Berlin-based Freund der Familie. Relief features a wide selections of moods and grooves; from the cavernous and glacial deep house of 'Black Hole', the contemplative ambient journey of 'Dream', plus there's more deepness of the emotive variety offered up on 'Changing Weather', the understated late night mood of 'Memories' and the mesmerising closer 'On The Way' awash in dazzling layers of rich synth tones in the vein of classic Chicago sounds. Mastering by Sven Weisemann.

Review: Greg Foat is something of a musical polymath, with his various solo and collaborative albums touching on everything from spiritual jazz, library music and soundtrack sounds, to Balearic beats, jazz-funk and deep house. On Psychosynthesis, his first solo set for two years, he largely keeps things warm, chilled and dreamy, joining the dots between horizontal jazz-funk, exotica, Balearica, and sensuous sun-down sounds with the aid of a vast battery of analogue and modular synthesizers. The results are predictably impressive, with the album's many highlights including the spacey, slo-mo shuffle of 'Underwater Fantasy', the throbbing, Sun Palace-esque starry jazz-funk of 'Psychosynthesis (Part 1)', the gaseous ambient drift of 'The Green Odyssey' and the Wally Badarou style warmth of 'The Investigation'.

Review: For a city that famously has been losing inhabitants since the decline of the US motor industry began, leaving behind both economic scars and neighbourhood-sized population block holes, Detroit's impact on western music culture has been ridiculously consistent, with the Michigan metropolis ranking among America's healthiest and most significant sonic hubs. From Motown to techno adn Eminem, sounds born here have echoed around the world, and in many cases made a bid for global domination.
Less talked about is the space rock, shoegaze and dream pop scene the town has long been home to, which was in a particularly good place during the 1990s. The second Southeast of Saturn compilation returns to that community and that time, presenting a number of lesser known talents from the area. Highlights including Grimble Grumble, Sabine, Shapeshifter, Star Phase, and The Sunflower Conspiracy.

Review: Now's a high time to release a record about Elvis, since we're all thinking about following the recently-released blockbuster film that delves into his story. Little do we realise, though, that Elvis' live performances were central to his mythology. Elvis Live 1972 acknowledges this fact with a collection of live recordings from his world tour in 1972. Capturing the King alive during one of his best comebacks, each recording here is crystal clear, documenting Presley deep in performing some of his rarest songs.

Review: Sauveur Mallia's Spatial & Co. hears a well-deserved reissue on Be With, harkening back to the synth-drizzled French disco producer's creatively dreamy opus from 1979. With instrumental bits from the opener 'Future Vision' to the future-facing outback-ambience of 'Star Odyssey', this is a masterpiece of cosmic, electronic disco-funk that quite literally intends to transport its listeners through the cosmos (whether said journey is literally undertaken via an actual rocketship, or simply remains in the listener's drug-altered mind, is up to them).

Review: After making more than a good impression with his releases on the likes of Jeff Mills's Axis imprint and Oscar Mulero's Warm Up, Mike Storm now steps it up a gear with his debut full-length. The Dutch native's The Pale Blue Dot again draws on his love of conceptual sci-fi and was reportedly all written live in one take, with no recall, which is a unique approach in this day and age. that lends each track a realness and toughness that makes them stand out even more as the pummelling drums drive on towards some unknown cosmic future and the synths are so tightly interwoven that they melt your mind as you try and keep up.

Review: Divinity made waves when it premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, leaning in on sci-fi dystopia directed in a hallucinatory style by Eddie Alcazar. The themes of immortality in an imagined future are ripe for all kinds of questionable behaviour and thrilling drama, and the soundtrack duties have been handed over to the more than capable partnership of DJ Muggs and Dean Hurley. You might not have immediately put the legendary Cypress Hill producer together with David Lynch's soundtrack collaborator of choice, but the pair have created the perfect cyberpunk setting which fuses Terminator-esque nostalgia with high-impact contemporary sequences, sounding like the future we all fear on this silver pressing for Sacred Bones.