Search results: Reflex

Review: Armed with a hard drive full of multi-track parts to a wide array of disco, rock, boogie and pop classics, the Reflex has spent the last decade offering up unique "Revisions" that often differ greatly to their source material despite using the same basic instrumental and vocal tracks. He's at it again here, offering up sneaky revisions of two dancefloor soul classics. On the A-side he handles "Dance To The Music", frequently stripping the track back to little more than a stomping groove, delay-laden vocals and wild organ lines. On the flip he turns his attention to "Pusherman", gently beefing up the groove while showcasing the attractive sweetness of the original track's fluid horn parts and bulging bassline.

Review: While his source material tends towards the well known, there's no denying the quality of The Reflex's "revisions". Their genius likes in his ability to source and utilize stems and master tapes, allowing him to remix and re-edit killer disco jams in the same manner as original masters such as Tom Moulton. It means that he can craft new instrumental breakdowns, stretch out portions that were originally overlooked, and generally breathe new life into otherwise all-too-familiar anthems. The two revisions featured here are typically impressing, with the impassioned, driving, heavily rearranged Philadelphia Soul flipside ("BD LCK") just nudging out anthem like A-side "Ansun" (a brilliantly teased-out version of one of the most familiar disco records of all time).

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: 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: 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: 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: The Reflex's multi-track re-edits are always on point, but those he's created for Salsoul Records have generally been impressive even by his high standards. This third double-pack of 'ReVisions' (as he calls them) contains two of his best Salsoul reworks yet: a thrillingly stretched-out take on Gazz's 'Sing Sing' that sees him cannily showcase some of the track's key elements in turn before unleashing the familiar bassline, breaks and vocals, and a fabulously spaced out 'Cosmic Dub' of Rafael Cameron's early electrofunk classic 'Boogie's Gonna Get Ya'. That too, has a big build, making the introduction of the bassline and Cameron's chorus vocals a genuinely breath-taking moment. The EP also contains a solid take on a lesser-celebrated Cameron tune, the more disco-fied 'All That's Good To Me', and a Tom Moulton-esque take on Edwin Birdsong's 'Win Tonight'.

Review: Bobby Thurston's 'You Got What It Takes' is a soaring, spiralling disco classic whose , squelchy synth-bass and highly addictive horn refrains are not only instantly familiar, but also never fail to raise the temperature out on the dancefloor. This coloured vinyl reissue, released as part of Unidisc's ongoing 40th anniversary series, offers up both the original 12" mixes (vocal and instrumental), as well as a fresh, stretched-out rework from re-edit master the Reflex that's worth the admission price on its own. He naturally makes the most of the original's key elements, building up the groove before unleashing Thurston's vocals, the celebratory horn riffs and - most pleasingly - the track's spacey, life-affirming synth solo.

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: Talc's 'De Gui Ding' is a much-deserved follow up to the duo's 2006 hit singles 'Modern Sleepover' parts 1 and 2, which lyrically detailed a failed romance between a hapless human lover and his own computer, against a futuristic yet slow disco backdrop. A listless love song for Linux laptops, it now comes repackaged with several new reworkings, as well as the much higher-energy 'De Gui Ding', filtered french house tropes and blue-note saxfunk aplenty.

Review: Discolidays kicks off its third release with this spicy little joint from The Reflex, the remixer par excellence who is given two juicy tracks to get busy with. On the A-side it's Bruise's 2022 track 'When Pianos Attack' which is being tweaked and pumped for maximum impact, while on the flip Lou Hayter gets the executive treatment via some seriously sophisticated disco house flexing from an expert in the field. With dub and full-fat versions to sink your teeth into, there's plenty of potency in this record to keep your party primed.

Review: All hail the mighty Cerrone, one of the most important figures in the development of a European disco sound distinct from what was happening in the US. His run of LPs in the late 70s introduced a new, synth-driven sound which spawned some monumental hits, the biggest of which undoubtedly being 'Supernature'. Now the veteran disco machine is celebrating 50 years of active service in music by revisiting his former glories with new versions of much-loved favourites. Alongside these productions, Cerrone has also invited some more contemporary players to produce remixes, including Dimitri From Paris and The Reflex.

Review: Originally from Australia, now based in Berlin, Parcels are the consummate live disco-house band. In the past four years they've demonstrated that on their studio recordings, but they're the kind of outfit which really make sense on the stage, as all the players vibe off each other and the crowd in pursuit of dancefloor perfection. After their widely celebrated first live album back in 2020, they're back with another volume which captures the set they've been playing out in more recent times. If you need an instant portal to peak-time, glittery festival magic, this live album is your dream ticket.