Search results: Reflex

Review: The ever-playful and seriously skilled mash-up and edit maestro The Reflex has been out in a class of one for many years. Few in his field managed to cook up the sort of delicious disco brilliance that he manages and this new 12" on the fledgling Discolidays isn't going to change that perception. 'Overture' (The Reflex Revision) is a glorious fusion of instrumental disco and withering sci-fi designs next to a catchy as hell vocal. On the flip, things head south with Latin melodies and percussion and glorious flute lines bring the joy to 'O Ba Ba' (The Reflex Revision).

Review: The Reflex never fails to serve up dazzling edits and now he is back on Revision with another super tidy two tracker. Up first is 'Hpyflng,' a gloriously feel good tune with big soul vocals, hints of 60s funk in the grooves and muffled crowd noises to add extra atmosphere, and that's all before some mad xylophone work comes in to really take things to the next level. On the flipside, 'Strtgy' slows down and sinks into a more deep cut and fat bottomed gooey propped up by some rich funk bass. The hip swinging claps and breezy guitars really flesh out this stylish and seductive sound.

Review: For his latest trick, cheeky scamp The Reflex has turned his attention to the Herbie Hancock tune that inspired countless 1980s kids to don a tracksuit, grab a pair of Adidas Shelltoes and hurl themselves around like the Crazy Legs crew. Naturally, his version of 'Rockit' is a body-popping treat that subtly extends and rearranges sections - especially those containing Hancock's jammed-out synth parts - and adds a few tasty breakdowns before unleashing the now familiar melody. Over on the flip the French producer takes his scalpel to the Isley Brothers, providing a fine multi-track edit and extension of the group's much-loved, guitar-solo sporting proto-disco soul number 'That Lady'.

Review: Reflex was a band assembled in the 1980s by drummer David Humphrey from bands including Public Image Ltd. and they put pout their biggest hit 'Funny Situation' privately via Star Records in 1981. Paint A Picture now serve up a first ever fully remastered and licensed reissue of the superb 7". An original will cost you upwards of L200 if you can find it so this is welcome indeed. The record includes an insert with some content on the release, which was made in the same studio and engineered by the same man as the classic Britfunk anthem 'Southern Freeze.' It is similarly tight and funky and will make any floor go off.

Review: We can't fault anyone for calling their EP Four Really Good Tracks just so long as it does indeed feature four really good tracks. This hand-stamped 12" from Terrazzo does just that with contributions from four different artists. Remotif's 'Ludovician' kicks off with a nice zoned-out tech roller for 4AM. Jay Gadian then steps up with 'Crisscrossing' which has a busier rhythm anymore searching synths smeared over the face of the groove. Reflex Blue's 'Mystic' is a busy workout with spiraling melodic refrains and a constant sense of cosmic takeoff. Wilt's 'Fractal Ceiling' then shuts down with acid laced deep techno.

Review: Mighty Swedish loop-techno and dub maestro Skudge takes care of one side of this new 12", while Dutch artist and Lazy Reflex Complex founder 543FF takes care of the flip. The first trio of tunes are all expertly reduced mixes of rolling and dubby drums, subtle synth motifs and generally dusty, li-fi aesthetics that are perfect for deployment in a basement or warehouse. The flipside is more heady and Millsian in approach with tightly woven layers of synth and drums all locking you into a state of deep meditation. The pulsating 'Zoning' is our favourite.

Review: Dutch label Lazy Reflex Complex is making its grand entrance into the music scene with an exciting debut release. The label's founder, 543ff, has teamed up with the esteemed Jeroen Search for a captivating split EP that promises to take listeners on an otherworldly journey. This EP showcases a diverse range of sounds, from self-described high-tech mantras ('Fruitfly Psychosis'/'Nerve Stimulation') to deep ambient journeys ('Favor') and disquieting soundscapes ('Tension').

Review: Michael McDonald anthem 'Sweet Freedom' is an epic of its era and here it gets a special revision from edit royalty The Reflex. It's a a one sided, highly weaponised 12" that fuses disco, soul, and oodles of good time vibes, all together into one killer cut. The vocal is the main draw - its clean and pure, and tugs at the heart. The drums are silky and slinky, the bass rumbles deep down below and there is a real sense of cosmic dust being sprinkled over the whole thing.

Review: Unlike most disco re-edit EPs, Salsoul's latest instalment of 'Reflex Revisions' are "proper" remixes, making full use of original master stems and session tapes sourced from the parent artists themselves. With all four tracks handled by French producer and remixer The Reflex, we know we're in good hands here - he's been at it since 2012. Reflex Revisions don't just add a janky kick beneath a beatgridded 16-bar loop, but rather, they move and sway with the tracks' original feels. Our case in point: 'A Little Love' completely reimagines the drum section found on Aurra's 1983 original, making the whole sonic experience much clearer and brighter. As much can be said for Metropolis' downtempo 'I Love New York', on which Reflex here makes the song grander, wider. Compared to most re-editors, this is an impressive feat occurring in a different ballpark.

Review: Welcome to the Mirrorball Motel which is a new and shimmering nocturnal world of lush and cosmic future disco sounds from the long-running and vital NeedWant label. Across 19 magical tracks that take you to another world artists like Digitalism, Cynthia, Bondax, Reflex, Roosevelt and more all come correct. These are sounds from a vibey party, full of colour and good times and they make for an album you don't want to end. Musically it's a mix of all forms of disco and house that are timeless and classic in equal measure.

Review: For those of you of a certain age, the Now compilations are an immediate shot of nostalgia direct into your bones. They started back in the 80s and kept going well into the new millennium - great sources of fun for current dance and pop hits with occasional dalliances into more specific collections. This one is a 1984 Yearbook that rounds up the very many hits of that year including Ray Parker Jr's 'Ghostbusters,' Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder's 'Together In Electric Dreams' and the superb Eurythmics, Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart gem 'Here Comes The Rain Again.' A great reminder of the good old days of pop.

Review: Drummer and composer David Lee Jr.'s acclaimed yet hard to find gem Evolution from 1974 is revered for the way it ingeniously melds the experimental spirit of John Coltrane and Sun Ra with the infectious rhythms of New Orleans. A standout among legendary New Orleans drummers, including Zigaboo Modeliste and Idris Muhammed, Lee Jr. showcased fiery innovation and unparalleled experimentation here on this 'lost classic' deep jazz album, originally released on Lee Jr.'s Supernal Records. It embodies a quest for creative progress and spiritual freedom and is rooted in the vibrant rhythms of New Orleans and Afro-Futurist musical concepts. It remains a rare and monumental achievement in the realm of deep and spiritual jazz, and here has been newly remastered for a limited magenta vinyl edition.

Review: Who knew an entertainment career spanning the likes of comic sci-fi series like Red Dwarf and kitsch game shows vis-a-vis Robot Wars could result in a side stint curating soul compilations? Well, it's exactly what happened to Craig Charles, who also happens to have been manning BBC6 Music's soul and funk corner for almost 20 years now, not to mention regularly touring the world as a DJ. This isn't his first 'Trunk of Funk'. The first was overwhelmingly well-received by a "funk hungry public", and now, our national treasure Craigy-boy has ensured said public doesn't starve a second time round. Backboned by Charles' introductory yells to imaginary screaming crowds - "are you ready!?" - we cycle through funk bits both old and new, exclusive and widely-available, from Cha Wa to Luther Ingram to Joel Culpepper. Craig says: "Give your ears and feet enough mellifluous musical fodder to last you until Volume 3 - Awooga!"

Review: To mark a decade since Noel Gallagher launched his post-Oasis band, High Flying Birds, the monobrow-sporting Mancunian has decided to offer-up a three-disc retrospective featuring a mixture of highlights, previously unreleased material and hard-to-find remixes. Those who've kept track of the band's career will know what to expect, namely a mixture of Beatles-inspired beat pop, heavier psychedelic rock, bluesy indie anthems and, more recently, throbbing indie-dance numbers inspired by Gallagher's increasing interest in electronic music. The remixes featured on the third disc are generally rather good too, with highlights including Sons of the Desert's take on 'Blue Moon Rising' and the Rephlex's surprisingly funky revision of 'Black Star Dancing'.

Review: Curity is a Russian artist who brings his distinctive Eastern European sounds to this new EP on Partout. He kicks it off with 'Reflexivity' which pairs silky synths and well swung claps with Detroit techno sounds that Derrick May once dubbed hi-tek soul. 'Aerial' is another majestic machine workout with its own sense of heart and warmth from the finger clicks, bulbous bass and neon, wispy synths. 'Introcity' kees the future vibes alive with more serene synth work and classy techno grooves then 'Non Futuristic' rounds out in buoyant fashion.