The Owl

Review: More good value goodness from the Editorial label, one of the few re-edit focused outfits that manage to retain a high level of consistency. The Funk District kicks things off with a fine re-arrangement of an organ and electric piano-focused chunk of sweaty dancefloor soul ("An Evening With El Diablo"), before Matt Hughes gets busy with some elastic slap bass on flash-fried disco-funk revision "Get Down". Elsewhere, Label regulars Ed Wizard & Disco Double Dee dip the tempo on the slow and seductive "Slippin", the Owl stomps his way through the P-funk style heaviness of "Funky Feelin" and Cody Currie offers up a hazy sample-house cut rich in jazzy flourishes and warm electric piano chords.

Review: Cardiology have already set themselves apart from the disco edit pack with their excellent previous entries, and now their fourth installment continues in fine style with another batch of smartly selected edits. You can't go far wrong when dealing with Mad Dog Fire Department's insanely funky "Cosmic Funk", which they nudge a little closer to the house side of the dance music spectrum without losing the original's killer groove. Next up is "Ms Brown", which is equally slick and bumping. Then on the flip things get smouldering with the gorgeous "We Do It" - one for contemplative wind-down moments rather than the peak of the night. "Fresh Groove" completes the set with a heavy-rolling instrumental cut to take you deep into the heart of the dance.

Review: A new Cardiology must mean more surefire disco, boogie and funk heat given an artful nudge, nip n' tuck. These four pearlers will be thoroughly useful tools in your utility belt, leading in with the singalong hook of "Only You Baby" which sports a healthy dose of boogie synth work. "You" by way of contrast is a strictly organic funker looped up to perfection. "Got To Dance" takes the tempo down but piles on the groove for this heavy dose of soul, and then "Fever" takes things out on a rolling trip of percussion and classic licks that'll have you sweating in no time at all.

Review: Fresh from a quietly impressive outing on Cardiology, John "Freak D" Devecchis dons the Owl alias once more and offers up another must-check selection of re-edits and reworks. HE begins by cannily rearranging, tightening up and beefing up a flash-fried slab of later James Brown style funk-rock (the brilliantly bluesy, housed-up "Those Kicks"), before turning his attention to a righteous chunk of what sounds like AOR disco/deep disco-funk fusion ("Chance"). "Feel The Power" is a bouncy, piano-sporting revision of what sounds like a late '80s New York house gem, while title track "Boogie Man" is a subtle, house style remake of a jaunty, honky-tonk style rhythm and blues number.