Search dance music

Review: Universal Cave's Self Control cover is a captivating reinterpretation of Laura Branigan's synth-pop anthem. Stegemann's balearic house rendition infuses the track with a laid-back groove and echoing vocals, creating a hypnotic and alluring atmosphere. Universal Cave's other offerings on this release showcase their eclectic disco influences. 'Up All Night' transports listeners to the funk and groove era of the 1970s, while 'Too Much' tantalises with its disco-tinged sensuality and infectious melody. This EP is a versatile record that should appeal to those who enjoy disco and the innovative spirit of nu-disco.

Review: Digwah keeps it tough on this next drop on their own self-titled label. It's a ninth outing and in the time it has taken for those to come out, increasing numbers of people have been catching on to the label's work and making it a 'must check' in their mental lists. This one opens up with 'Couldnt Hate You' which has some Ian Brown vocals samples stitched into a glitchy and menacing beat. 'Open Ended' is just as twitchy and anxious with steely drums and brain frying synths all working hard to fire every synapse in your brain. Effective stuff.

Review: South African Warrick Sony is a ground breaking composer who was behind the Kalahari Surfers project which now gets a vital spotlight courtesy of Emotional Rescue. This compilation shows how effortlessly eclectic his sound was - from jive rhythms to jazz, tabla to political speeches and much more in between. A Hindu pacifist who was once conscripted into the South African Defense Force, he founded this group as a way out getting his ides out there, calling on other musicians as and when he needed them. It was the first radical white anti-apartheid pop in South Africa and as this vital collection shows it explored polyrhythms, slow motorik, dub sound collage and even a goofy cover of Nancy Sinatra.

Review: Earlier in the year, Miss You offered up a first ever 12-inch pressing of Patrizia Pellegrino obscurity 'Il Mondo Da Una Nuvola', an obscure Italo-disco B-side that they backed with their own tastefully executed extended mix. Here they repeat the trick with one of the Italian singer and actress's earlier B-sides, 1982 gem 'Musica Spaziale'. In its original form (track one), the song is a throbbing, heavily electronic chunk of infectious Italo-disco excellence topped off with a decidedly cosmic lead vocal from Pellegrino. It comes backed with a suitably moody, chugging and even more musically expansive 'Extended Mix', and a fine TB-303-laden Italo-meets-acid revision courtesy of the cheekily monikered 'DJ Asshole'. Space disco for the win!

Review: The Mars Volta's debut album remains one of the band's creative high-points. After the post-hardcore rush of At The Drive-In burst into flames, few could have dreamed something as ambitious and progressive as De Loused In The Comatorium could have emerged. The clue's in the word progressive, as Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Jeremy Ward pooled their resources (with some bass assistance from Flea) to create long, spiralling narratives around the concept of Cerpin Taxt, the comatose hero of this nebulous story. Still sounding visionary 20 years later, it was the start of an exciting new chapter for a band truly unlike any other.

Review: It would be fair to say that post-disco outfit Unlimited Touch's 1980 single "I Hear Music In the Streets" is one of the greatest boogie/electrofunk records of all time. Louie Vega clearly agrees, because late last year he decided to gather together the remaining members of Unlimited Touch and record a fresh 2020 version. The A-side "Touch Mix" is the bomb. It features a more organic-sounding disco-boogie groove than the 1980 original, with delicious guitars, bass and electric piano/organ underpinning seriously good group vocals from the sometime Prelude-signed outfit. Over on the flip, Vega serves up an electric piano solo-laden dub mix, as well as a "Classic Boogie" take that naturally sounds very similar to the band's much-loved original version.

Review: NT is Nail aka Neil Holliday, one half of Bent and a master of UK tech house. But here he shows a different side across six majestically Balearic groovers. That draw on everything he has done before to send you out to sea on gentle waves of shining synth goodness, downtempo bliss and dreamy, chubby, soft focus drums. 'Beside Boa Linn' is a soothing summer sound to kick off then 'Going Out To Feel It' is a spiritual house cut for sundown, and 'Don't Hide Away' is slow motion disco brilliance. The trip continues with the star-gazing 'Evening Fixture', Eddie C style guitar licks of 'Walk In Romance' and romantic lullaby 'Dreams On Hold.'

Review: For those of a certain age, Gwen McRae's "All This Love That I'm Givin" will always evoke memories of Cassius' French Touch classic "Feeling For You", which sampled it heavily. It remains a killer record in its' own right, though, as this timely reissue proves. Originally released in 1979, it sees McRae at her powerful best, delivering a potent message to an errant lover over a killer, low-slung disco-funk groove. It's one of the tracks that should really be in any discerning funk, soul or disco DJ's collection. Flip for original B-side "Maybe I'll Find Somebody New", a breezier chunk of laidback soul with a slightly Southern lilt. It's good, but pales into insignificance compared to the brilliant 'A' side.

Review: Believe In You by Knoe1 featuring George JJ Flores is a soulful electro funk track that exudes the essence of the early 80s. The vocal version opens with disco claps and a smooth, sultry vocal, complemented by groovy keyboard work. The instrumental version showcases the track's infectious rhythm and tight arrangements, offering a dynamic and engaging listening experience. Overall, Believe In You captures the essence of boogie and electro funk, showcasing the talents of Knoe1 and George JJ Flores.

Review: Ornate Music has been serving up quality deepness since 2008 but it's been a while since we heard from them. Edinburgh based producer, Rai Scott, returns to Ornate Music, previously releasing on the imprint back in 2014. This long overdue followup to her Innershift EP brings ethereal atmospherics and hypnotising percussion. The opener is a dreamy and celestial vibe with gently rolling beats, while Version 2 is more defined by the smeared chords which spiral to the heavens. 'As Honest As She Lived' is another electric lullaby with well-crafted ambient pads and 'Nina' ends with layers of bells, glistening keys and shimmering melody that soothes the soul.

Review: Once again Dungeon Meat provides the heat for discerning dancefloors with this latest EP from their new signing Scott Diaz. Bringing the finest tracky business straight from his beefy bunker to your turntables, there's no messing with these meaty beats. After hearing some short demos versions on Instagram, Brawther and Tristan da Cunha quickly got in touch with Scott to snap up the tracks and cherry pick a smoking hot selection resulting in these four killer cuts designed for DJ (ab)Use only. Scott is an extremely talented producer who is behind the high grade NITELIFE sample packs and we are very happy to have him join our band of beat bandits.

Review: Out as a reissue through the same label that put it out way back in 1971, the aptly named Dig, Friday, Saturday & Sunday appear on our shelves like nothing's happened, and we're still here wandering what the hell happened! "Potato Salad" is a hard nugget to find as an original, but its also such a groovy, light-hearted tune that is a perfect example of why disco was what it was, and why it was so fun - a super recommended tune. "There Must Be Something" is equally good and powerful when played out, and although it doesn't have the same charm as the A-side, it's still a rocking soul classic.

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Locklead has previously endeared himself to the underground house world with nice classy cuts on labels like Hot Haus and Rawax. On Pilot, though he sets his sights on breakbeat and cooks up a tense, thumping and throwback rave sound. 'Freekazoid (Electro 'XXX' mix)' has stiff drums and sci-fi synths with spoken word vocals making for a fun atmosphere. The Ruff Mix is paired back, a driving groove with fresh drum sounds and withering chords. 'Rumpshaker' closes out with a rasping bassline skewing about the mix over more jacked-up and electro-fried drums.

Review: Athens Of The North represent one of Australia's finest soul exponents Renee Geyer. "Be There In The Morning" comes in two forms... The 1977 version will be recognised from her most successful album of the time Moving Along. An upbeat fusion of soul and funk with mild disco nuances, it comes with confident orchestration and an instantly infectious, ultimately emphatic chorus. The real coup here, however, is the softer, dreamier earlier version that's so rare it never left the confines of her native country. It's digging like this that makes the young-but-hugely-potential rare music label Athens Of The North a very exciting prospect for record collectors.

Review: Prince Fatty's new independent record label Lovedub Limited kicks off with a super 7" from the man himself. It is in fact something of an homage to the 1970s jazz-funk of Lonnie Liston Smith but with some hefty dub and reggae treatment. Shniece Mcmenamin stars on vocals and brings plenty of summer soul to the groove which is also lit up with free-flying flute lines over steady reggae rhythms that will sink you in deep to Winston "Horseman" Williams and Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie's drums, organ and piano. On the flip is the dub with the iconic Liston-Smith melody leading you through a lazy afternoon in style.

Review: The classic 1977 album Aja by Steely Dan gets a deluxe reissue treatment from Analogue Productions, reminding us once more of its stellar jazz-inspired arrangements, complex harmonies, and impeccable composition. Known affectionately as a 'studio is an instrument' album, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were meticulous and uncompromising at the time of its crafting. It's for these reasons alone that Aja remains a masterpiece, in which titles such as Peg, Deacon Blues and Josie resounding again with blues-pop-rocky flair.

Review: When not knocking it out of the park with his garage alias Instinct, James Burnham is somehow also managing to find time to revert to his original Burnski moniker and the minimal and tech sounds with which he first made his name. On this latest 12" via his own Constant Sound label, 'Boom' is a rude boy jam for sure - the filthy bass and low-end wobble are accompanied by ragga vocals up top. 'Toxic' is a more straight-up tech pumper with slinky hi-hat designs, smart filters and bass-driven drums. As always with this powerhouse, the subtle production details really elevate this one into a standout cut.

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Trelik returns with a repackaged edition of one of the catalogue's most treasured releases. "Overcome" and "Lady Science (NYC Sunrise)" need little introduction, and now come sporting the new TR11:11 matrix number. Written and produced by Thomas Melchior and Baby Ford aka Soul Capsule, these tracks came from one of the many sessions recorded at the West London Ifach Studio in 1999. On the A Side "Overcome" is stripped back and energetic, driven by rolling and shuffling garage style beats, tight bubbling bass and atmospheric synth pads. The intermittent vocal samples and the release's signature organ set you up for the flip, "Lady Science (NYC Sunrise)". Possibly one of house music's most emotive pieces, the track builds slowly with the introduction of each part building a story of soulful optimism based around a sparse palette of deep synths, uplifting keys and warm analogue bass. The understated beauty of the main vocal riff never seems to grow old or tired with the track lending itself perfectly to either main room, peak-time play or after-hours sessions alike. Remastered by Rashad at D & M.

Review: Producer and DJ MES (aka Jason Sutton) is the man behind the Guesthouse label out of California and has overseen it serving up more than 100 releases. His own music is never far away from influential charts and record bags and now he serves up a funky number packed with soul samples. 'Soul Glow' kicks off with playful drum loops and filters, a neat bassline and infectious claps. 'Party People' has a more edgy feel with silvery drums and tumbling congas while 'Homage' is the most raw and direct and possibly the best of the lot with its chunky drums and razor-sharp hi-hats.

Review: The debut album from soul, pop and r&b singer-songwriter Teddy Swims, I've Tried Everything But Therapy, is a knowing exercise in pop humour, and an inverted critique of the 21st-Century celebrity condition. Manifesting as a concept first and foremost, Swims stated in an interview that he would put himself "into therapy" only after the album came out, and would until then continue to indulge every other soul-allaying vice - "buying myself a couple more months of freedom, of being a traumatised little s***" - building extensively on the "men will do anything but go to therapy" Internet meme. Even so, the album is a collection of healing songs, dealing with complex issues from substance abuse to tumultuous breakups and is a compelling one at that.

Review: Marius Circus is well known and loved for a signature analogue sound and once again that is laid out for us all to enjoy here on a new EP that comes with a remix from men of the moment Jazxing. First up is the deep, unhurried and dubbed out 'Lost On A Path To Nowhere,' a subtle late-night sound with wispy synths and a muted bassline that grows ever more prominent. The Jazxing Pathfinder remix is more tropical and steamy, and on the flip 'No Way Home' douses you in more blissed-out chords before the downbeat boogie of 'Space Crumbs Trail'. This is yet more essential summer goodness from Is It Balearic.

Review: Mad About Records officially reissues super rare private press Quintessence's 1981 LP. Surprisingly for the level of talent and production / recording wit that it flaunts, Quintessence was one of many original jazz LPs to remain in private circulation and thus completely wanting of the public ear. Led by Ron Ancrum, with George Sovak, David Gaedeke, Winston Johnson and Steve Muse, the band nonetheless recorded an exceptional slice of artistic pie here, bringing Rhodesy, tritoning sundowners to the then already well-fleshed milieu of 80s jazz, an unmistakably bulbous and gaudy sound to which Quintessence do much justice; our favourite here by far is 'In My Apartment', a tssking blue-jazz suite for boughed double bass and noir piano.

Review: SZA's last album Ctrl in 2017 took the American vocalist into the stratosphere and so a follow up was always going to be a big challenge. But she rises to it and then some as the GRAMMY award-winning Top Dawg artist calls upon a top draw list of collaborators including Jeff Bhasker, Rodney Jerkins, DJ Dahi, Ant Clemons and Lizzo. The album went straight in at number one on the Billboard chart and was widely acclaimed by critics for its vocal performances and mix of r&b, pop and hip-hop styles. Plenty fo SZA's own innermost feelings are fully translated into this record, making it another absurdist, ambitious work.

Review: The Bayara Citizens dropped the original 'Ju/Ru Music' 7" on Joe Clausell's Sacred Rhythm label back in 2006. It has become a rather pricey little 45 prm that now gets reissued as two different, dubbed out Afro rhythms with swirling guitar licks. The Afrikan Art opener on the a-side is full of sunshine and Latin vibes thanks to the superbly plucked strings and shuffling groves, while the flip is the Afrikan dub Drum Drums version - darker, more percussive more moody. Both sides bring something different to any dub set.

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Nenor returns to Fossils after some big releases on the mighty fine likes of Moodymann's Mahogani, Defected and Strictly Rhythm. And another fine 12" it is too, crafted from his array of vintage samplers, odd bits of music-making gear, a coveted synth collection and a mix of samples and live instrumentation. There is a mix of dusty house drums and soulful sampling to the raw opener '17 Daze', 'It's A Deep Tune' is just that with its distant bird class, jungle toms and warped bass and 'Tough Decision' brings an epic soul sample over more stripped back but compelling house drums. 'Just The Way' closes with an r&b vocal or minimal yet warm drums. The variety on this EP makes it all the more standout.

Review: Alleviated's Larry Heard reissue series has previously brought us the rough and tough acid of Gherkin Jerks and, more recently, the intergalactic downtempo grooves of his largely overlooked Alien LP. Here, they revisit one of Heard's later aliases, Loosefingers, dusting down and reissuing tracks from 2003's Glancing at the Moon EP. All three tracks are deep, warm and melodious in typical Heard fashion, with the title track delivering a sultry blend of wide-eyed chords, darting electronics, Latin-influenced percussion and tactile keys. "Deep Inside" delivers a hazy, sun-kissed take on soulful house - all jazz bass, sensual chords and gentle vocals. Best of all, though, is the tougher, synth-heavy "Lamentation", which rolls along at a near techno-tempo and is blessed with thrilling bleep melodies.

Review: This is an indie exclusive version of Heroes & Villains, the long-awaited new album from Metro Boomin that comes with a special insert. It is a widescreen and cinematic long player that will not leave fans wanting as big names like Chris Brown, Travis Scott, The Wknd, 21 Savage, John Legend and Don Tolliver feature. The 15 tunes flow well despite the many different names on it and intricate yet accessible beats define much of the rhythms. There are dramatic and dark moments next to moments of real hope with plenty of humility from Metro along the way.

Review: Danny Krivit's officially sanctioned re-edits of Earth Wind & Fire's "Brazilian Rhyme" and "Runnin" have been sought-after since they first appeared on a Japan-only 12" back in 2004. In fact, such is demand that even later bootleg pressings now go for silly money online. As this reissue proves, though, they're arguably amongst Krivit's strongest scalpel works. Certainly, his three-minute revision of the always too short "Brazilian Rhyme" teases it out to just the right length, in the process delivering a sweltering, sing-along summer anthem. The flipside revision of the equally as summery "Runnin" is every bit as good, with Krivit making merry with the original's life-affirming scat vocals and killer piano solos.

Review: Emotional Rescue turn their attention to Rare Silk and their sublime cult classic "Storm". It's one of those rare tracks with a wonderful otherworldly quality that manages to be smooth and accessible, and somehow not like anything you've ever heard before. It must be somewhere in the mix, between the dreamy harmonized vocals, lush instrumentation and curious sense of space. The original on the A side is a treat enough, but then throw in a mercurial dubbed out version by Arp on the flip and you've got yourself a 12 inch portal to a most delightful dimension.

Review: Along with the likes of Today & Tomorrow and Untitled (God), Sault are giving their five-deep album drops from late 2022 a more ceremonious release now. The music is too deep and rich to vanish into the melee of digital data streams, and each album's distinct qualities benefits from its own space to inhabit. On a mission from God and steeped in a raw, 70s kind of sound which shirks studio slickness in favour of absolute reality, on Earth this British outfit take themselves into realms of spiritual jazz atop their keen instinct for funk. The drums tumble, the chants murmur, and there's just no arguing with the power of the ensemble and their in-the-room vibe.

Review: The brand new Hyperdrive label kicks off with a mix of the old and the new - some tracks made recently, some that date back to the 90s, all of them top quality. Liquid Earth opens up with the spaced-out synths and electronic house sounds of '1_HP_D' then Art Of The State gets a little more tranced out and cosmic on '2_HP_D'. Dan Piu's '3_HP_D' is a tech house exploration with wispy sci-fi leads and a playful rhythm then Luis Malon & Seb G combine for the turbo-charged tech of '4_HP_D.' The legendary Freddy Fresh closes down with a high-speed sound on '5_HP_D.' Says the label, "Hyperdrive is dedicated to preserving the rich history of electronic music," and on this evidence, it will do so expertly.

Review: Over the last couple of years, we've been treated to numerous reissues of classic cover versions by Japanese reggae/rocksteady combo Inokasira Rangers, including takes on Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', Pharrell's 'Happy' and New Order's 'Blue Monday'. Here we're treated to another, as the band's 2017 take on Underworld anthem 'Born Slippy' gets a fresh pressing. It's certainly a revolutionary revision, with Keichi Sokabe's surprisingly Karl Hyde-sounding lead vocal rising above a lusciously languid, sub-heavy reggae groove. Over on the flip they take on 'Groove Tube', a 1991 indie-pop-meets-acid house single from Japanese outfit Flipper's Guitar, reframing it as a baggy, glassy-eyed rocksteady number.

Review: Four new originals from French Berlin-based singer and JD Stella Zekri, whose low-range, buzzing vocals are lent happily to a selection of cloudy electronic Latin beats. Produced and co-written by Ed Longo, it draws heavily on the post-zouk and disco styles endemic to the 80s French underground; our choice bit is the offbeat boogizm heard on the sonic ponderance: 'Pourquoi (Why)'.

Notes: Stellar edition of the fantastic MicroFreak adds new features as well as a limited-edition paint job. Digital voices feed into the analogue filter to create a versatile hybrid sound engine.

Supplier's Notes:
MicroFreak Stellar is a hybrid synthesizer that combines digital oscillators, analogue filters, quirky modulation, a uniquely flat PCB keybed, and expressive sequencing with a subtly out-of-this-world aesthetic design.

Interplanetary synth explorer

Discover the same loveable hybrid beast that sent the synth world into a spin, but primed for launch and ready for an interplanetary sonic voyage. MicroFreak Stellar features the same inspiring, bonkers sound but embellished with a unique space-age design.

Digital, wavetable, sampling, granular...

Treat yourself to only the weirdest & most wonderful paraphonic synth sounds with MicroFreak's multimode sound engine. Choose from numerous algorithms, including Wavetable, Chord, 4 new Sample & Granular engines and many more, and immediately customize your patches with 4 intuitive con-trols and real-time visual feedback.

Multi-mode analogue filter

Unlock truly unique hybrid tones by combining MicroFreak's digital sound engines with a crunchy resonant analogue filter, inspired by the classic Oberheim SEM. With low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass modes, you can make this 'Freak whisper, scream, or launch into self-oscillating orbit.

Modulation matrix

Quickly rewire MicroFreak's architecture and delve deep into complex sound design with its modulation matrix, offering up to 7 simultaneous destinations and 5 sources, including an ADSR envelope, cycling envelope, and 6-shape LFO.

Sequencing & randomization

Blur the lines between sequencing & arpeggiation and create spontaneous melodies, motifs, and rhythmic patterns on the fly. MicroFreak encourages musical exploration, expression, and evolution with its unique Spice & Dice randomization feature, ribbon controller, and 4 lanes of automation.

A unique keybed

Change the way you play and unlock fresh musical expression with MicroFreak's distinct PCB keyboard. It's flat, it's fast, and it's fit for everything from lightning-fast solos to instant arp creation; not only is it pressure sensitive, but it offers poly-aftertouch too!

What's in the box

Box content

MicroFreak Unit
Universal PSU
Registration card
2x MIDI port adapters

Instrument dimensions

Size : 12.2 x 9.2 x 2.2 inches (311 x 233 x 55mm)
Weight : 2.3 lbs. (1.02 Kg)

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Admirably no-nonsense house duo Dungeon Meat kick off a new label here, Slabs, which aims to serve up only the chunkiest hulks of wax aimed squarely at the club. Borren takes charge of the first platter and is the latest fast-rising talent to emerge from the ever-fertile Dutch scene. He has come up on a diet of Bret and Slapfunk parties and that shows in the tunes he presents here. 'Up Next' is heavy but silky, with gliding grooves and splashy cymbals next to cut-up vocals that will amp up any party. 'Beat My Shit' is another no-frills hardcore house assault with drums that have just the right amount of swing under old school chords and busy melodies that never rest. A fine first release.

Review: &Me and Black Coffee make for something of an Afro house dream team here. The latter has long been this sound's pin-up and has gone from playing in South African townships to producing with Beyonce and winning Grammy Awards over the last decade. Now deep in his latest Ibiza season, he unveils collaborative track 'The Rapture' (Pt III), a deep rolling cut with spine-tingling chords and a rich atmosphere. &ME then goes solo for 'LIFE', a shuffling percussive groove with spoken words and enchanting chords to make for a classy two-tracker.

Review: Jalen Ngonda is a hotly tipped soul artist who finally unveils his long awaited debut album. Come Around and Love Me was written at Hive Mind Studios in Brooklyn, NY with musicians form the wider Daptone family and producer and arrangers Mike Buckley and Vincent Chiarito from Charles Bradley's Extraordinaires. The result is a modern soul sound tinged with r&b, the harmonies of The Beach Boys and hooks of the Beatles, but all with a timelessness and classic edge that is sure to make it a lasting pleasure.