Psychemagik

Review: It's been a while since celebrated crate diggers-turned-re-editors Psychemagik treated us to some sublime scalpel works. Predictably, the two edits showcased here - both of little-known tracks discovered during their dusty-fingered digging missions around the world - are both top notch. A-side "The Trip" is a fine chunk of psychedelic-era druid funk - a veritable pagan ritual full of acid-fried, floor-friendly rock grooves, hallucinogenic flourishes and hazy, hug-a-stranger chorus vocals. Flip for "Sisters of the Moon", a drowsy, loved-up and thoroughly eccentric slice of slow bliss smothered in wavy synths, lilting steel guitar and sumptuous orchestration. It's great to have them back.

Review: You have to hand it to Psychemagik. The duo is renowned for their crate-digging skills, as showcased on the various must-have compilations they've curated for Leng and Eskimo Recordings. Those digging skills come to the fore on their re-edit releases, too. In truth, few would be able to name the source material for "Gotta Hold On Me", an undulating, dubbed-out chunk of peak-time disco-soul built around spacey synth-bass, rising horn lines - judiciously smothered in space echo - and impassioned male vocals. Flipside "Wildman" is equally impressive, with jammed out electric piano solos doing their best to raise the temperature in cahoots with a Dinosaur style leftfield disco groove.

Review: Psychemagik love Fleetwood Mac. Their love is so enduring that the dusty fingered editors/DJs/revered record collectors have gone so far as to found Fleetmac Wood, a club night dedicated to the work of Fleetwood, Nicks, McVie and the various other manifestations, where anything goes so long as it's Fleetwood Mac related. Their remix of "Dreams" has been getting playtime at the night - and by other well regarded DJs - and finally makes an appearance on this limited 12". What's immediately noticeable about the Crystal Visions Remix of "Dreams" is how much they add to the track without messing with the original's essence - it's also a lot more inventive than Psychemagik's 2009 edit of "Everywhere" which shows how far they've come in three years. Flip over for a great extension of Juno's favourite Mac moment "Big Love" from AOR Disco's Red Ken.

Review: The Magic Forest dwelling record collectors better known as Psychemagik return to Claremont56 offshoot Leng with a new compilation Magik Sunrise which is essentially a vinyl shaped sequel to last year's well received Magik Cyrkles. Though equally well presented as that compilation, Psychemagik refreshingly adopt a different sonic direction here, trading in the obscure Balearica and funk in favour of a wonderfully enlightening blend of African reggae, jazz-funk, prog rock, folk and New Age curios. Think David Holmes classic Essential Mix then crank up the weird factor to eleven and you'll have a good idea of what to expect from this fifteen track selection. The sensual twilight boogie of "The Juggler" by Fox is a particular highlight.

Review: Last year's Magic Cyrcles, Psychemagik's willy-waving exercise in psychedelic disco and rock crate digging, was something of a triumph. It's little surprise, then, that this follow-up is every bit as essential. If anything, the selections are even more obscure, while the vibe is slightly more Balearic - whilst, of course, retaining the acid-fried oddness of its predecessor. Highlights are naturally plentiful, from the woozy synths and wide-eyed, feelgood grooves of Fox's "The Juggler", and Steve and Theresa's folksy "Catching A Wave", to the horizontal pop of former porn acrtress Susana Estrada, and Joey Newman's Roxy Music-ish "The One You Love". Recommended.

Review: Magik Cyrkles invites you the listener to bask in the impressive record collections of Psychemagik, for it seems that the prolific edit and DJ duo operate a nice sideline helping to furnish everyone from Soulwax to Q-Tip to Love Fingers with rare and highly sought after vinyl. Anyone whose familiar with their output since their emergence from The Cosmic Forest in 2009 will not be surprised given the off the beaten track source material for much of their edits. This Leng released compilation veers through all manner of psychedelic funk, cosmodisco, Middle Eastern oddities and much more, with four excusive new edits from the Psychemagik duo themselves. Those with dusty fingers and a penchant for the odder forgotten gems will no doubt be entranced as soon as Intrinsic Trance's opener commences and the label have really surpassed themselves in the presentation stakes with some apt cover art from acclaimed designer Luke Insect adorning this double CD release.

Review: Following the runaway success of their Magick Cyrcles and Magick Sunrise compilations, Psychemagik return with another selection of wilfully obscure Balearic gems. There's a subtly breezy, occasionally humid feel to much of the material this time round, with the acclaimed crate diggers' selections flitting between stoned blue-eyed soul, baked west coast rock, curious, semi-spoken word pieces, and the kind of material that suggests getting horizontal as a matter of priority. It goes without saying, of course, that the selections are thrillingly deep, with a tracklist that will have even the most committed record collectors scratching their heads.

Review: There are few record collectors and DJs with crates quite as deep as Psychemagik. They've already proved this beyond doubt via a trio of brilliant Magik compilations for Paul Murphy and Simon Purnell's Leng label. Magik Sunset Part 2 continues this run, gathering together another double-album's worth of fantastic obscurities from the worlds of stoner disco, left-of-centre rock, psychedelia and Balearica. As usual, there are some genuine "how did I not know about this record" moments, from the star-kissed Balearic jazz of Fabio Fabor and saucer-eyed white boy reggae-rock of the Trepidants, to the Flamenco-tinged AOR disco shuffle of Jack Adkins' "Sunset Beach".

Review: Whatever you think of their original productions, there's no denying the continued quality of Psychemagik's compilations. Their latest epic exploration of member Danny McLewin's epic record collection, Ritual Music, is split into three parts. This volume, Love, predictably includes some genuine thrillers, from the new age electronica of Man Parrish's "Water Sports", and the global mysticism of "Amram" by The Rias Orchestra, to the breathy sleaze of Jeanette's "L'Amour Jove Au Viol", and seductive guitar solos of Bobby Lyle's jazz-funk classic "Makin' Love". We could go on. Suffice to say, there's barely a duffer in sight, and more intriguing twists and turns than your average sci-fi murder mystery.

Review: Psychemagik's Danny McLewin doesn't do things by halves. His latest crate-digging compilation, Ritual Music, is stretched across three loosely themed double-packs. The first to land, Beach, gathers together obscure, sun-kissed gems from the depths of his vast record collection. In other words, it could be considered "Balearic", an assumption given credence by the presence of JM Black's quirky, White Isle disco fave "Lipstick (Shout)". Other highlights - and let's face it, they're abundant - include the deep space electrofunk of Tony Wilson's "Hangin' Out In Space", and the discordant, odd-funk insanity of Zru Vogue's "Do The Zru". Like Pokemon, you gotta catch 'em all.