Review: Tantra II, the fourth album by Tantra, showcases the band's electric fusion of disco, funk, and electronic elements. The recording sessions were helmed by producer Celso Valli, and the record was initially unveiled in 1982 to great acclaim. The album takes the form of two extended jams, one on each side, with funk, Italo, Balearic, cosmic and more all influencing the extended dance floor jams. Now it is reissued for the first time ever on vinyl so gets the full treatment with a pressing on nice heavyweight 180g wax and is presented in a limited edition run of just 300 copies.
Review: Hands up, we're longtime fan boys of the Peoples Potential Unlimited label, Whatever they do - mostly heart aching lo-fi funk and soul from artists old and new - it's always class. Next up is a reissue of Glass Pyramid's Country Cowboy on a hand-stamped 12". It came originally on this label back in 2009 having been transferred from the original tapes which were recorded somewhere between 1982-1986 At Studio 7, Oklahoma City. It soon became a bit of a classic that still fetches above the odds on second hand markets. It's a gloriously feel good mix of disco and soul with instrumental grooves and belting vocals.
Review: The new sublabel, La Sirenetta will be celebrating the vibrant Italian Afro scene of the late 80s while aiming to elevate World Music for today's dance clubs. This initiative focuses on unearthing and reissuing hidden gems from their extensive analog collections, spanning regions from Martinique to the Ivory Coast and Nigeria to Haiti. The first release features two tracks that encapsulate this vision: 'La Danza Della Giungla' on Side-1 and 'Quella E Una Bambola' on Side-2. Both tracks are expertly edited to ensure they resonate on contemporary dance floors, presenting them in high-quality, collectible 12" formats. With this launch, La Sirenetta promises to enchant collectors and DJs alike, laying the groundwork for a series of releases designed to invigorate Afro and world music scenes.
Review: Known for their cover versions - having re-read Sly Stone, Plastic Bertrand, Les Chats Sauvages, and many more over the years - Telex managed to tread a fine line between comedy and innovation. Focusing heavily on a lo-fi synthesised sound, the Belgian alt-poppers would use plenty of humour in their work, but never allowed this to outshine or overshadow the musicality of it all. Released in 1980, Neurovision is a case in point. According to the band, this was their tongue-in-cheek entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, for which they were chosen as representatives for their home country in the same year. Deliberately banal lyrics, mostly referring to the competition itself, married to the glittering wonder of a proto-electronic soundtrack, mark it as a work of bold daring and a little genius. Sadly, it failed to secure them last place in the tournament, as they hoped, forcing them to settle for 17 out of 19.
Review: The reissue of Fratelli Malibu's "Ciro Miami" brings a refreshed take on Andrea De Fazio and Paolo Petrella's imaginative project. Known for their work with the "Nu Guinea" live band, De Fazio and Petrella infuse "Ciro Miami" with a nostalgic yet futuristic soundscape, highlighting their deep love for synthesisers and drum machines. The album's music vividly portrays the escapades of Ciro, a Neapolitan emigre chasing the American Dream. Through a blend of bright synths and punchy drum patterns, it captures the allure of neon-lit nights, opulent car culture, and the dizzying highs and lows of excess. The tracks evoke the excitement of cocktail bars and gambling dens, as well as the pulsating rhythms of video games and space fantasies. The reissue offers a chance to rediscover the album's dynamic energy and creative ingenuity. The sound palette, characterised by its retro-futuristic vibe and vibrant melodies, not only celebrates the original release but also enhances its appeal to a new generation of listeners. The album's journey from euphoria to disillusionment, all conveyed through its infectious beats and shimmering textures, remains as captivating as ever.
Review: To kick off new label Takashimashuzo, Kammoushiki - who is presumably the boss - is dropping two new 12"s in the same week. This is the second and like the first, it is inspired house music that takes its cues from the 80s Ibiza party landscape. 'Magic Hour' has gurgling basslines riding up and down the scale with innocent keys and lazy drums. It's heartwarming stuff from sundown. 'Nakanaide' then ups the Balearic quotient with even more prominent and arcing guitar licks over bongos and soulful chords.
Tim Cashion - "Shower Me With All Your Love" (3:18)
Julia Wu - "One In A Billion" (3:12)
Samuel Purdey - "Whatever I Do" (3:26)
Page 99 - "Nothing You Can Do About It" (5:14)
Anthony Strong - "You To Me Are Everything" (4:08)
Yakul - "Afraid Of Something" (3:48)
Bluey - "You Are The One" (4:32)
Workshy - "You'll Never Get To Heaven" (4:01)
Review: City Soul merges soul, AOR, and blue-eyed soul, and is akin to the enduring popularity of city pop among revivalists. Featuring ten carefully curated tracks from the extensive City Soul CD series-almost all making their world debut on analogue vinyl here-the new album from P-VINE caters to AOR fans with David Foster & Jay Graydon's rendition of Airplay's 'Nothing You Can Do About It,' and blue-eyed soul aficionados with Samuel Purdie's 'Whatever I Do.' Further tracks span 90s R&B revival to contemporary Japanese hits, so this will appeal to a diverse audience and also includes an insightful commentary by Akira Obuchi, offering a thorough exploration of the ongoing "city soul" scene.
Review: Natsu Summer is a city pop and reggae sensation who is set to go to the next level with the release of her upcoming 2024 album Orange Airmail. She now teases it in fine style with this new limited 7" vinyl that has been produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi of RYUSENKEI. Teh single, '2025' is a vibrant and danceable lovers' rock track featuring amapiano rhythms and hot stepping rhythms that make it a real gem for enlivening any dance floor through a loud sound system. The B-side includes a special cover of a hidden Japanese lovers' rock classic from the '90s which adds a nostalgic touch to this delightful analogue release.
Otto A - "Waiting For The Future" (Sun Behind The Radar part 3)
Anssi Timo - "Fantasia"
Review: Mikko Mattlar, a walking encyclopaedia of Finnish electronic music, has been responsible for some killer compilations over the years, but 'Black Hole', his latest collection, may be the best yet. It focuses on exceedingly obscure 'culth synth disco music' produced in his home country between 1979 and '91 - mostly in the early-to-mid-80s - with every track either being an unreleased oddity of a genuinely uber-rare private press record. It's both eye-opening and extremely entertaining, with the included tracks doffing a cap to heavy disco-funk, underground gospel disco, bedroom-made late '80s synth-disco and quirky Scandinavian electrofunk.
Review: For their first full-length reissue, Canopy Records brings new life to Oppressor, a rare 1987 album by Nigerian artist Myke Moul. Long a cult favourite due to its genre-blending style and hard-to-find status, this remastered edition corrects past audio issues and gives the album the sound quality it always deserved. From the opening notes of the title track, Oppressor sets a tone that's both breezy and politically aware, a mid-tempo groove riding on synth-reggae rhythms with a soulful message woven in. The album, shaped in part by reggae icon Majek Fashek and later reimagined in France with a roster of versatile session players, stands out for its seamless mix of styles: island-leaning reggae, glossy boogie, and moments that feel like they could have soundtracked a Mediterranean sunset. "Shadows in the Rain" dips into an 80s synth-funk groove, while "Heading for the Top" is a shimmering, bass-forward boogie cut, setting the tone for a collection that flits back and forth between reggae, funk and boogie.
Review: Monchan and D Briggs are two US house producers whose involvement in the New York scene has seen to many a dazzling EP release lately. Their latest for Dailysession here is a dizzying yet loose affair, with its four tracks inspired by every sound from space disco to trance to nu-jazz. Impressive textures immerse tracks like 'Eagle Eyes' in grit, while edits from Monchan and visitor Prince Klassen revisit the formerly released 'Midnight Luv Bee' and 'Ibiza' respectively. Both make for convincingly retro, night driving disco and pop versions of two very well known songs - we'll leave the guesswork to you.
Review: Italian producer GSQ adopts his given name for the very first time on a musical project here. That usually means an artist is bearing their soul and being more honest and vulnerable about the music they want to make but either way Francesco Fisotti does a fine job of captivating us here. The tress on the cover look very LA but the sounds inside are all Italo - deep house, downtempo, disco and Balearic all feature with distinctive synth melodies from Southern Europe. 'Mercedes Fantasy' has some great odds school raps, 'Bootyyy' bounces with some hip-hop charm and 'Mezza Estate' is a lush jazz-funk pearl.
Review: Berlin-based Saturns Drive is a project by New Zealand-born DJ and producer Elfy, and is one that takes its cues from a world of early sci-fi, exotica and library music, as well as coming on thick with cosmic disco synthesizers, Italo grooves and lush arps. His latest outing 'Next Stop Nebula' also brings in slide guitars and retro digital synth sounds over the top of rhythms that owe a debt to the 90s. It's a fresh and new sound that makes for expansive, immersive listening and transports you to an imagery, sun-kissed world where gentle grooves like 'Next Stop Nebula' and 'Bride Of Frankenstein' await for a nice laid-back party.
Review: This is an new EP in a series of edits that takes four obscure gems from the world of disco and flips them into absolute bangers for Das who want to make an impact. 'Maledetta Panna' is retro-future 80s pop and disco with cold analogue drums, then 'Voglio Panna' brings some loose-limbed percussive and funky vibes, 'Ancora Panna' has an Afro feel next to some lush little melodic sequences and smeared, widescreen chords. 'Tanta Panna' closes with some well known chords from Gloria Estefan with all new and impactful drums.
Review: Maledetta Discoteca closes out its year with this special blue vinyl featuring a mix of brilliant Italo disco artists. They all hail from Italy and Argentina and are editing originals that span disco, electro, proto-house and more. Hararis' 'Si No Pagan' is the first under the scalpel and is a funky cut with raw drums. Lance's 'Yo Quiero A Lucy' is a more slowed down and seductive sound with 80s synths, Marta Paradise's 'Calling' (edit) is a direct and sugar synth laced house stomper and Alan Strani's 'Tension Salsable' brings things to a closer with a nice stomping disco grove with mysterious synths and lush percussion.
Review: In most cases, a World Of Hassle is certainly not something you want, but we're sure you'll make an exception for this debut solo album by Alan Palomo, best known as the leader of the synth-pop band Neon Indian. Thoroughly on-brand for Palomo, this surprise LP flaunts just ten swanky, funky vocal disco cuts, tinged with the legacy of glam and jazz, and glimmering with the overzealous egoism of history's most volcaninc rockstars. Alan's versatile voice and neon-strobed production skills remaining present as ever, though despite the throughlines, the album marks a departure from his previous work with Neon Indian, which was more experimental and lo-fi.
Review: Orlas, a father-son duo consisting of Victor Chicri and Vic Delnur, offers a vibrant blend of Brazilian musical traditions on their debut album Viver o Mar. Named after the Portuguese word for "shores," the project is a heartfelt tribute to the ocean, weaving together elements of samba-jazz, bossa nova, fusion, and disco-funk. Victor Chicri, a seasoned maestro and pianist with deep roots in Rio de Janeiro's 70s music scene, has collaborated with legends like Gal Costa and Seu Jorge. His extensive experience, including performances with the Quincy Jones Orchestra at Montreux Jazz Festival and a Latin Grammy win, shines through in the album's sophisticated arrangements. Vic Delnur, a versatile multi-instrumentalist and producer, brings a modern touch to their sound, drawing on his global experiences playing with artists like Sessa and Mahmundi. The result is a dynamic fusion of old and new, enriched by an eight-piece orchestra that adds lush textures to the grooves. The title track, 'Viver o Mar,' is a smooth, breezy fusion of samba-jazz and disco-funk that captures the spirit of the sea. 'Alagoas,' the second single, is a soulful tribute to Delnur's grandmother, celebrating the simple joys of life in the tropical paradise of her homeland. Viver o Mar is a celebration of Brazilian music's rich heritage, delivered with a modern flair.
Review: The distinctive vocal sound of Shirley Giha aka. Ghia is both naive and infectious. Her only album Here I Am gets a reissue via Thank You, recalling the short-lived period in the spotlight enjoyed by the musician between 1987-88. Heavyweight city pop, new jack swing and slow-jam dreamers all combine in an almost oppressively 80s sound, while Ghia's vocals glide over each track elegantly and unprocessedly.
Review: Pacifico is the debut album from Italian-born, LA-based multi-instrumentalist Francesco Perini under the Pearz guise. It tracks a five-year sonic journey through Florence, London and Los Angeles and takes in all the sounds of those places so blends disco, electro, nu-jazz and Japanese City Pop into a rich, genre-spanning sound. True to its name (Pacifico means "peaceful" in Italian) the album captures the reflective calm of travel's end and has collaborations with artists like Kuntessa, VANBASTEN, Natalie Findlay, Jules Apollinaire and others bringing their own depth to the project. The result is a multicultural tapestry of sound that is full of warmth, groove and introspection.
Review: Rita And The Danger ' Io E Lui Al Lago Nassua' is a much sought after but hard to find track from Rita And The Danger. It was recorded some 44 years ago in the Italian city of Bari and for this first ever reissue has been fully restored so it sounds superb. Originally released in 1980 on the Flop Record label it has lush melodic overtones that flow into synthesized sequences that recall early electronic pop. The cult success of the track ensured that Rita and The Danger connected with an audience that reached well outside their home region of Puglia in southern Italy.
Review: Balearic scene stalwarts Chris Coco and DJ Rocca are old pals, with the pair first working together five years ago on an EP released by Faze Action's FAR imprint. Cocorocca, though, is their first collaborative full-length - a set that cannily combines Coco's love of fluid pianos, tactile downtempo grooves and sun-soaked ambient textures with DJ Rocca's passion for dubby basslines, moon-lit low-tempo nu-disco, starry Balearic synth-pop and the trippy and psychedelic ethos of Italy's 1980s Afro-cosmic scene. As a result, there's plenty of subtle variety on show - compare, for example, the dubbed-out slow acid oddness of '303/808' with the sunset-ready dancefloor colour of 'Sunshine Love' and the slap bass wielding dub disco madness of 'Night Dubbin' - as well as plenty club-ready material.
Review: Marcella Bella's 1983 album 'Nell'Aria' which translates as In The Air is a real gem amongst many in the Italo disco scene of its time. It pairs her own sensuality with evocative disco arrangements and plenty of big tunes like the title track but also the shimmering 80s synths and sentimental vocals of 'La Battaglia'. Bella is the sister of Gianni with whom she often collaborates and is bother of Antonio and Saretto. She released an incredible 28 albums and this is easily the most well known.
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