Tags: Euro House

Review: Home Hitters churn out edition 15 of their eponymous series, recollecting two noughties mainstays to a fresh white label A-and-B-sider. On the A we've 'Temperature', an experimental Sean Paul dancehall cut from the 2005 album The Trinity, although this is a faster take on dancehall than most would've heard it; the song's melody is infectious enough too, being one of those songs everyone knows as having wafted from car stereos or down-the-block house parties, and on which Paul waxes poetic about keeping the object of his affections warm. Enur's 'Calabria 2007' offered similar vibes, with its whimsical horn lead and carefree lyrical invitations.

Review: Ann Lee's '2 Times' is a Eurodance anthem that dominated the airwaves in the early 2000s and will be remembered well by anyone of a certain vintage. Released in 1999, the infectious track blends pulsating beats with catchy synth melodies that create an irresistible dancefloor vibe. Lee's silky and innocent vocals infuse the song with energy and dynamism and a cheeky, playful feel that is very easy to sing back, which is in part what helped to make it a staple in clubs and parties worldwide. '2 Times' became a chart-topping hit, earning Lee international acclaim and cementing her status as a prominent figure in the dance music scene and now gets a welcome reissue with various mixes on this 12".

Review: We all know of legendary 90s dance act Snap's 'The Power' but do you know any other of their tunes? Well, now you can acquaint yourself with this limited edition picture disc version of their World Power album. It of course features the dark but catchy and by now truly seminal hit that made them famous worldwide as well as many other euro-dance sounds such as 'I'm Gonna Get You (To Whom It May Concern)' and 'Cult of Snap!" amongst many more. What a treasure it is too, and one that will take you right back to your childhood.

Review: This career-spanning compilation features fan favorites like 'Shalala Lala,' 'Up & Down,' and 'Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!' Founded in 1996 by DJ duo Danski and Delmundo, Vengaboys first found success in the Netherlands with singles 'Parada de Tettas' and 'To Brazil!' Their breakthrough single 'Up & Down' propelled them to global fame, especially in the U.S. The follow-up hit 'We Like To Party! (The Vengabus)' solidified their international success, earning gold status for their debut album Greatest Hits! and a nomination for Best Breakthrough of the Year at the 1999 MTV Music & Video Awards. After disbanding in 2001, Vengaboys returned in 2007 with 'Rocket to Uranus,' featuring Perez Hilton, and later released the Xmas Party Album in 2014.

Review: It's a challenge to find a Euro house and dance music collection more jam-packed with hits than this one. Reminiscent of early 90s dance compilations, Music On Vinyl brings together two discs filled with iconic dance anthems and crossover sensations. Highlights include Haddaway's 'What Is Love', 2 Unlimited's stadium favourite 'No Limit', Snap!'s timeless 'Rhythm Is A Dancer', and the global smash 'Pump Up The Jam' by Technotronic. What sets this release apart is its inclusion of many other lesser-known yet unforgettable tracks like T-Spoon's 'Sex On The Beach' and Twenty 4 Seven's 'Slave To The Music'.

Review: Back in the mid-90s, Rednex dropped their global smash 'Cotton Eye Joe' as part of their album Sex & Violins and it topped plenty of charts. It was also a school disco favourite that paired euro-dance beats with country melodies and redneck vocals as well as the very singable chorus. Now it comes with a series of edits, instrumentals and remixes by the likes of Madcow on this new 12" from the ZYX label who have pressed it up to limited orange vinyl. It is still silly but lots of fun so why not cop this ultimate edition.

Review: Bob Sinclar's Born in 69 reissue for 2024 presents an album filled with joyousness and infectious energy, showcasing Sinclar's talent for turning cover songs into dancefloor anthems. Collaborating with reggae crossover artists like Shabba Ranks and Kevin Lyttle, Sinclar infuses Caribbean influences throughout the album, evident in tracks like 'Love You No More' and 'New New New.' From the spirited revamp of the lambada in 'Give Me Some More' to the funky reinterpretation of classics like 'Mr. Tambourine Man' and Adrian Gurvitz's 'The Way I Feel,' Sinclar's creative flair shines through. The inclusion of tribal beats, psychedelic sitar and Middle Eastern flair adds depth and variety to the album's sonic landscape. While some tracks may lean heavily on auto-tuned vocals, the overall vibe of Born in '69 is undeniably upbeat and feel-good. It's an album that prioritizes fun above all else, inviting listeners to let loose and enjoy the infectious rhythms. Bob Sinclar proves once again that sometimes, all you need is music that makes you dance and smile.

Review: Turin DJ/producer Gigi D'Agostino started his career in the mid-80s, spinning Italo-disco, before scoring a host of Eurodance and dancefloor-focused synth-pop hits. Back in 2006, he dropped a vast double-disc compilation entitled Some Experiments, which has now been given the remix treatment. Heavy on his own productions and remixes, much of the material combines sounds familiar from Italo-disco, synth-pop, trance and Eurodance releases with beats that vary in tempo and Italian vocals. There are plenty of genuine 'experiments' though, including his own synthesiser-based (but still classical-sounding) cover of Andrea Bocelli favourite 'Con To Partio', a chunky 21st century Eurodance take on Europe's 'The Final Countdown' by Il Folklorista and the weighty, slow-trance chug of 'Rugiada' by Lento Violento Man.

Review: Rarely are we ever lucky enough to welcome much Eurodance back to the sale stock, but 'Dreams (Will Come Alive)' is indeed an unsurprising exception to this apparent rule, one that governs what we may expect. Made in early 1994 by the Dutch duo 2 Brothers On The 4th Floor - initially made up of Martin and Bobby Boer, but later enlisting the "brand booster" lineup additions of Dutch singer Desray and rapper D-Rock - 'Dreams' was understandably a major hit in Europe at the moment of its release. The track was hilariously described as "old fashioned rave style squawking shrill girl wailed and at times inevitable gruff gruff rapped Euro hit" by Music Week, but this mentions nothing of its finger-clicking snares and tweezing square saw lead, the latter of which commands a melody that sounds suspiciously similar to Haddaway's 'What Is Love,' released around the same time. Rave communism, anyone? Hardly, probably, but there is a kind of mimesis to these things. Anyway, it's the contemporary remixes on this reissue that really take the cake, with the Lick mix standing out as the relatively torrential emo-downpour, and that's saying nothing of the aromatic, nigh nightmarish cheese that ensues on Twenty 4 Seven Trance mix: D-Rock raps away with dogged insistence to "keep going on", shining brightly on what can only be described as a rare, authentic hip-hop / Eurotrance combo moment.