Tags: Psychedelic Disco

Review: Disco-pop outfit Say She She have been having a huge year in 2023. The have broken out to new levels of acclaim and are sure to go even higher this September when their sophomore album Silver lands on Karma Chief Records. It's a record featuring 16 cuts of "feverish, operatic, and entirely mesmerizing harmonies" very much distill the glory of disco's brightest emotions. There is a special sense of Studio 54 era magic here with vocals that address pressing topics and draw on the group's experiences as modern femmes.

Review: YIN YIN, the highly touted Dutch quartet from Maastricht, returns with a sonically expansive third album Mount Matsu. Recorded collectively in their own studio in the Belgian countryside, the album is a kaleidoscope of sounds and influences, occupying a no-man's land between Khruangbin and Kraftwerk, surf music and Southeast Asian psychedelia, Stax soul and mutant 80s disco, City pop and Japanese instrumental folk (sokyoku). Mount Matsu hears YIN YIN at their most mature and adventurous stage yet; infectious pentatonic melodicism calling for multiple rewinds.

Review: The Mocambo label introduces Turkish artist Peki Momes who began recording music by chance in 2023. Despite no formal music training, she brings a fresh, authentic approach to groove music based largely on intuition. Her first two tracks reflect her versatility and feature here - 'Goc Mevisimi' combines Japanese City Pop with tropical boogie to create a global underground vibe with dirty disco grooves, jazzy flute and Turkish lyrics. 'Ruya' then delivers a gritty psychedelic Anatolian sound with fuzzy guitars and hypnotic energy. Momes is working on a debut album, we hear, and we can't wait.

Review: Naya Beat Records specialise in uncovering the otherwise forgotten sounds of 1980s Bollywood movies, shedding fresh light on the tracks that might still spark some interest for the present day. The project focuses exclusively on the musical output of CBS Gramophone Records & Tapes India Ltd: a label active during India's peak disco era and became a home for experimental, B-movie and straight-to-VHS soundtracks. 'Awaaz' compiles rare, overlooked or not-previously-on-vinyl music by composers such as Bappi Lahiri, R. D. Burman, Ilaiyaraaja, Kalyanji-Anandji, Anand Milind, Raamlaxman and Kirti Anuraag - all were released between 1982 and 1986. Shockingly catchy, the tracks are joyous fusions of both South Asian traditions and Moogy electronic and acid stylings, perfect for curios and DJ diggers alike.

Review: Led by the trio of Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown, Say She She are a band who draw on their diverse backgrounds to create a mesmerising fusion of sounds. Say She She's sophomore album, Silver, was recorded live to tape at Killion Sound studio and produced by Sergio Rios. Silver, embodies a raw authenticity that harks back to the analog era while infusing it with a contemporary edge. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Rotary Connection, Asha Puthli and Grace Jones, Say She She concocts a sonic cocktail that is both nostalgic and forward-thinking. The album radiates with joyous energy and spiritual depth, as evidenced by its infectious rhythms and thought-provoking lyrics. Say She She fearlessly tackles important issues with wit and charm, inviting listeners into a world of quirk and adventure. Silver is a celebration of modern femininity and a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us. With its intoxicating blend of humour, sincerity and musical innovation, Say She She have crafted a work that is as timeless as it is timely.